Debate Surrounding the Naming of Site C Dam Reflects Years of Opposition
Preserving Resistance: The “Site C Sucks Museum” Legacy
Tucked away in a simple log cabin near the former Peace River in northeastern British Columbia,Ken Boon has assembled a remarkable archive chronicling over half a century of opposition to the Site C dam project. His collection features protest artifacts including apparel, mugs, posters, technical analyses, and legal papers dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
This assemblage is known as the “Site C Sucks Museum,” symbolizing persistent dissent against the dam. Even after its completion, Boon stresses that safeguarding this history is vital for future generations to grasp the depth of local resistance.
A striking photograph displayed on the museum’s entrance shows late Premier john Horgan alongside Boon and his wife Arlene holding a “Site C Sucks” sign-a snapshot from Horgan’s earlier days opposing the project before he ultimately endorsed its continuation.
The Paradoxical Naming: John Horgan’s Journey From Opponent to Namesake
This week brought an ironic twist as officials officially named the $16-billion hydroelectric facility after John Horgan. Once one of Site C’s most vocal opponents who pledged to halt construction upon assuming office in 2017-especially amid escalating costs and geological complications-Horgan later reversed his stance and backed completing it.
Boon reflects on this development with dry wit. Having lost some of his prime farmland submerged by reservoir waters, he notes that othre politicians might have been more fitting namesakes: Gordon Campbell reignited interest during his administration; Christy Clark authorized construction; or Horgan himself who saw it through despite initial resistance.
“Whether locals will adopt this official name or continue calling it simply ‘Site C’ remains uncertain,” boon muses about how entrenched community memory may resist formal rebranding tied to controversy.
Naming The Reservoir: Nááchę mege – “Dreamer Lake”
The reservoir formed by flooding an 83-kilometre stretch along Peace River was designated Nááchę mege, meaning “dreamer lake” in Dane-zaa language-a name chosen collaboratively by two nearby First Nations communities. In dane-zaa culture, dreamers are revered leaders embodying spiritual guidance and vision.
Indigenous Voices on Cultural Impact and Naming Decisions
Chief Roland Willson from West Moberly First Nation voiced strong objections regarding both inundation of ancestral lands and naming choices. He emphasized that many honored elders-the dreamers-rest beneath waters now covering their burial sites:
“It deeply disrespects our elders, prophets, and dreamers whose graves lie submerged,” stated Chief Willson emphatically.
The project sparked numerous legal challenges led by Treaty 8 First Nations citing treaty rights violations due to flooding traditional territories rich with centuries-old burial grounds.West Moberly highlighted how these impacts compounded decades-long industrial encroachments affecting Peace river’s ecosystem integrity.
B.C. Hydro’s Collaboration With Indigenous Communities Amid Controversy
B.C. Hydro reported engaging thirteen affected First Nations groups starting in 2023 regarding naming discussions; though, West Moberly did not participate in these talks due to ongoing disputes over land use rights. Despite tensions surrounding territorial claims:
- Indigenous-owned enterprises secured contracts valued at approximately $847 million related to Site C development;
- Indigenous workers made up nearly ten percent of total employment during peak construction phases;
- Signage recognizing traditional names for creeks and rivers has been installed along Highway 29 adjacent to Nááchę mege reservoir as part of efforts honoring Indigenous heritage within impacted areas.
This initiative aligns with broader provincial reconciliation commitments amid infrastructure projects affecting ancestral lands across northern Canada where hydroelectric expansion continues responding to surging clean energy demand (Canada generated close to 60% renewable electricity nationally according recent figures).
Divergent Political Perspectives on Dam Naming Controversy
Former premier Christy Clark-who approved initial groundwork beginning in 2014-noted that while honoring public servants is appropriate she found attaching Horgan’s name surprising given his early opposition:
“I remember being moved by John’s passionate efforts against proceeding initially,” she recalled witnessing him visibly emotional when cancellation became impractical.”
A Thoughtful Reflection from Andrew Weaver’s Legacy
The late B.C Green Party leader Andrew Weaver suggested John Horgan might feel uneasy having such a divisive structure bear his name:
“John was humble; I doubt he’d want this particular dam named after him considering all controversy involved,” Weaver observed.
“He’d likely prefer seeing institutions like Royal Roads University carry forward his legacy closer to home.”
Navigating Progress While Honoring Heritage: The Broader Implications
the saga surrounding Site C exemplifies complex dilemmas faced by large-scale energy projects today-balancing urgent needs for reliable power generation against safeguarding cultural landscapes deeply cherished by Indigenous peoples whose histories predate modern governance systems by millennia.
This ongoing tension mirrors challenges across Canada where hydroelectric developments expand into remote resource-rich regions fraught with unresolved ancient grievances requiring sensitive dialog among governments, corporations, communities-and activists like Ken Boon who preserve collective memory through grassroots initiatives documenting decades-long resistance shaping regional identity today.
