MMTP Monitoring Committee
Pipe Ceremony
On August 13, just south of Anola, elders from Ininewuk, Anishinaabe, and Dakota nations gathered with Manitoba Hydro staff to perform a pipe ceremony near the future site of the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP).
“It was appropriate to have all three nations doing the ceremony collectively to continue our long-standing treaty to share with all,” said David Daniels, a pipe carrier at the ceremony. “That will be our legacy.”
The MMTP is a final piece that joins Manitoba Hydro infrastructure together — it connects lines all the way from Bipole III to the United States border — and as such, Hydro staff invited elders from four representative Indigenous groups in the province: Dakota, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Metis. Since the Metis were unable to participate in the ceremony, a blanket was placed on the ground in their honour during the proceedings.
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From the onset of the planning of this ceremony, Manitoba Hydro wanted to take a step back and really let the Indigenous representatives make this ceremony their own,” said Maria M’Lot (Community Relations). “I cannot stress enough the invaluable knowledge that was shared, advice that was provided, and the time that was devoted by our Indigenous partners.”
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David Daniels, Darryl Taylor, Mike Sutherland, and Grant Manningway were the main architects of the ceremony; Manitoba Hydro mostly coordinated and provided the resources for it to take place. The ceremony was designed to respect the Creator, ensuring the spirits of the animals, birds, plants, earth, and all the beings affected by the project were taken care of.
“We’re doing this on behalf of life,” said Grant Manningway. “Because every plant here has a life — and we’ve got to respect it.”
Construction of MMTP can begin once the National Energy Board approves our submitted documents. Indigenous consultation on the project follows in the footsteps of other recent projects like Keeyask, Keewatinohk, and Bipole III.
Ceremony Leaders Darryl Taylor (above, right), Dave Daniels (above, left) and Wayne Manningway (not shown).
Lindsay Thompson (above, left foreground) and Deirdre Zebrowski (far right, foreground) providing snacks to Pipe carrier Wayne Manningway (right, foreground).
Pipe carriers preparing for ceremony.