While many people are concerned about which smartphone to purchase, First Nations of British Columbia are outraged that their right to live in their traditional ways has been overlooked. Although they may be seen as a Luddite community, it is part of their culture. No other group’s cultural rights are allowed to be infringed upon to this degree, so why so often are First Nations forgotten? It is a balancing game of self-interest and social interest. There will soon be a need for more energy sources, and the First Nations groups are cooperative with projects including solar, wind, and geothermal energy in the near future. It is in the self-interest of BC residents to want this dam, but it is not socially justifiable. Building this dam would have the same effect on First Nations as destroying every Church in West Vancouver would have on any practicing Christian. As this issue has climbed up the judicial ladder, it has to be deemed unjust. Even from an economic perspective, the compensation to First Nations peoples as well as the 30 people living on the land that would be required to even remotely justify this act would cost millions.
The management of this project is going to need to find a creative way to increase the energy production possibilities while decreasing the environmental impact if this project cannot go through. Site C would potentially be able to supply 465,000 homes with power for 100 years. The project could also potentially provide 30,000 jobs. Since BC Hydro is a crown corporation, they are again focusing on self-interest of the government, neglecting the minority.
O’Neil, Peter. First Nations chiefs to stage Site C showdown. Vancouver Sun. September 18, 2014. Newspaper Article. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html
Meissner, Dirk. “B.C. Hydro presses case for Site C dam megaproject.” Times Colonist. N.p., 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.timescolonist.com/business/b-c-hydro-presses-case-for-site-c-dam-megaproject-1.58399>.