9 cases of sexual assault investigated at Keeyask dam site since 2015 'tip of the iceberg,' says prof

The RCMP saythey have investigated nine cases of sexual assault at Manitoba Hydro's Keeyaskgenerating stationconstruction site in the last four years.

Of those cases, four resulted in men beingcharged with sexual assault. In the other reports, the victim declined to press charges or didn't want to take part in an investigation.

GillamRCMPinvestigated one report of sexual assault in 2015, two in 2016, three in 2017and three in 2018.

Grand Chief Garrison Settee of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak which represents Manitoba's northern First Nations saidhe believes the number of sexual assaults at the work site is higher.

"A lot of people live in fear and don't want to come forward," Settee said.

"I think a lot of the cases have not been reported because of fear of reprisal, or fear of repercussions."

This is a problem at the Keeyask construction camp right now and Hydro has to own it.- PeterKulchyski, University of Manitoba

His group has been calling for moreconcrete measures to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence at the Keeyask site.

The695-megawatt hydroelectric generating station is being developed 725 kilometres north of Winnipeg, in partnership between Manitoba Hydro andfour First Nations:York Factory First Nation,War Lake First Nation,TataskweyakCree Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation.

The four First Nations have demanded the province of Manitoba conduct a public inquiry intohistorical and current allegations of sexual violence, racism and discrimination athydroelectric projects in Northern Manitoba.

A Clean Environment Commission report released in August 2018 detailed the social impacts of hydro development on surrounding communities, includingabuse and racism as Hydro workers moved in.

'Numerous initiatives': Manitoba Hydro

A spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro said the Crown corporation would not comment on any RCMP investigations of sexual assault.

Bruce Owen said people charged by RCMP have had their site access to the Keeyasksite revoked.

He said Manitoba Hydro has developed "numerous initiatives to combat these issues."

"We have also had extensive workplace standards in place that apply to all contractors and must be followed by all employees at site," he said.

Manitoba Hydro hason-site training around sexual exploitation, with "tailored messaging" for nurses, security personnel, and emergency medical services, as well ashousekeeping, bartending and hospitality staff,he said.

"Efforts are also currently underway to develop broader communication materials for Keeyask," he said, adding that there's an existing on-site "respect" campaignthat addressesconcerns with harassment and discrimination.

Owen said Manitoba Hydrohas also sponsored a concert withRobbNash, who tackles bullying, addiction, and suicide prevention, andarrangeda visit withthe head of Winnipeg's Bear Clan citizen patrol.

Risk of potential assault ignored: prof

A researcher who warned that sexual assaults would happen at the site said Manitoba Hydro is doing the "bare minimum" to tackle the problem.

"I think the numbers are telling us it'snot adequate,"saidPeterKulchyski, a Native Studies professor at the University of Manitoba.

"This is a problem at theKeeyaskconstruction camp right now and Hydro has to own it,"he said, adding that there are likelymore sexual assaults occurring than those reported.

"This is the tip of the iceberg."

Kulchyski spoke at the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission in 2013 before the dam was built.

"I actually warned the Environment Commission and Manitoba Hydro back when they were holding hearings into Keeyaskthat something needed to be done or there were going to be sexual assaults taking place," he said.

These kind of issues in the past have been ignored and shelved and not deemed as a priority. But it keeps resurfacing.- MKO Grand ChiefGarrison Settee

He said his concerns were ignored.

"I felt like they weren't really taking the issue seriously or doing anything above and beyond doing cultural sensitivity training. There's a giant, huge construction camp with guys coming from all around Canada, and from all around the world, who have no attachment to that place," he said.

According to the RCMP, the victims and the accused in the nine cases are from a variety of communities and cities across Manitoba, as well as from outside the province: onevictim from Albertaand one accused was from British Columbia.

"The social conditions in these communities have absolutely nosedived since that camp has been placed so close to them,"saidKulchyski.

"With the resources they have, the communities are doing the best they can to keep their heads above water."

Amnesty International plans to look into issues

Grand ChiefSettee said his groupwants a concrete commitment from Manitoba Hydro on how it will handle complaints of sexual assault.

"We have never been involved in this process when it comes to these complaints," he said.

The MKO is in talks with Amnesty International about the situation. The NGO confirmedto CBC Newsit plans to conduct research on racism, discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence against Indigenous people working on the projects.

"These kind of issues in the past have been ignored and shelved and not deemed as a priority. But it keeps resurfacing," he said.

"Seventy-three per cent of northern Manitoba is First Nations," he said.

"Our involvement in any corporation is so minimal. I think weshould have more of a say in what goes on."

4 First Nations 'not being taken seriously'

Those concerns are echoed by NathanNeckoway, aband councillorwithTataskweyakCree Nation.

Neckowayis aboard member with the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership, which overseas the project and represents Manitoba Hydro and the four First Nations involved.

"We as the Cree Nation Partners are not being listened to. We're not being taken seriously about what's happening within the project. Racism, harassment, discrimination, even assaults, are happening at all levels within the project," he said.

"We as a First Nation have been telling the Hydro corporation that these contractors needto address this from the first day it occurs,"Neckowaysaid

"We do not want to tolerate this anymore. This dam is in year four of construction, and it's impacting our people."