The Lac La Ronge Indian Band has distributed $75,000 to members whose trap lines were affected by the construction of a major power line.
The band was involved in two years of negotiations regarding the 300 km transmission line running from Island Falls to Key Lake and the money was paid out through SaskPower’s newly-established Trapper’s Compensation Program.
The band received notification of the project in 2012 and held a series of community meetings to identify the impacted trappers.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says it’s hoped the band can also work with SaskPower when it comes to future work which will need to be done along the route.
“They will have to notify us if they are going to be doing any cutting, or else if they plan on doing any maintenance of the power line. So we’re hoping that they will come to us and then we’ll be able to help them out in that way to cut the lines, because we do have a lot of people who are trained and willing to work.”
Cook-Searson says there may still be environmental concerns which will have to be dealt with as maintenance is done along the line in the future.
“If they are going to spray any herbicide, they do contact the office and then we contact the people that are in the area. We talk about how it will impact because if the animals are eating the plants or if people are picking berries close by, then were want to make sure to see what the impact is of whatever it is that they are going to spray.”
The chief says the amount received from SaskPower is less than originally requested, but trappers have indicated they are satisfied with the compensation.
Some of them were forced to move from their family cabins when the line was built.