Timeline:

For Thousands of Years CAFN dän (people) live at Äshèyi (Aishihik) in areas including Äshèyi village, Chemi and Tthe Yanlin.

 1960s  CAFN people are removed – Indian Affairs removes people from Äshèyi village to Haines Junction.

1972-1975  The dam is built

• The Northern Canada Power Commission (NCPC) proposes the AGS (also known as the Aishihik dam) to meet Yukon’s growing energy demands, including the Faro mine.
• CAFN opposes the dam with support by the Yukon Indian Brotherhood and Council of Yukon Indians.
• Concerns about impacts on CAFN people and the environment are dismissed.
• NCPC constructs the dam, the first license is granted, and the dam begins operating.
• The original life of the facility was projected to be 60 years.

1975-2002   First licence period

• CAFN Citizens’ rights and culture are impacted when high water levels and fluctuations cause impacts including erosion,  and loss of homes, graves and heritage resources.
• Low waters impact muskrat, whitefish and other species, and prevent access to the lake for cultural activities
• Damage to the environment prevents dän from connecting to the land.
• In 1987 the AGS is transferred from Canada to Yukon at no cost, and Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) is formed as the AGS owner/operator.

1995-2002   First relicensing process

• CAFN raises concerns about the effects, and many concerns are not addressed in the new licence.
• 2002 Department of Fisheries and Oceans requires YEC to raise the allowable low water level and ensure fish monitoring.
• The Yukon Water Board issues licence, with conditions and mitigations.

2002-2019   Second licence period

• In 2011 YEC installs a third turbine at the power plant, increasing its capacity from 30 to 37 megawatts.
• Winter flooding and icing throughout the Aishihik River valley and around Canyon Creek subdivision increase.
• YEC’s 2016 plan identifies future turbine upgrades that would further extend the life of the AGS past its planned 60 years
• YEC and CAFN sign a Joint Protocol Agreement to work together on the relicensing of the AGS, with the aim of reaching consensus on the future operation of the dam.
• YEC and CAFN identify and discuss a range of potential operating options, but do not reach consensus.

2019-2020

• YEC submits its application to Yukon Environment and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) for a short-term (3-year) licence.
• CAFN agrees to the short-term licence renewal to allow more time to work with YEC toward better long-term solutions.
• In 2019 and early 2020, CAFN documents many concerns with ongoing impacts with YESAB and the Yukon Water Board in an 800-page submission.
• The Yukon Water Board holds a public hearing for the short-term (3-year license) in Dakwäkäda (Haines Junction) in January 2020. Many CAFN Citizens and leaders attend and provide comments.

2020-2022   Third licence period

• YEC is granted a licence to continue operating the AGS to December 31, 2022.
• Licence conditions require YEC to work with CAFN and to collect environmental and heritage information to understand issues raised by CAFN.

2023  Fourth Licence period begins

• CAFN, the Government of Yukon and YEC continue to discuss future operations of the AGS.
• CAFN continues to seek collaborative solutions to the ongoing impacts of the dam with YEC and Yukon before the long-term licence is issued.
• YESAB has made strong recommendations that include CAFN values, such as a shorter project duration (5 years), increasing restrictions on water levels, and new indicators and thresholds for fish and wildlife.   For more details and YESAB’s full evaluation report and recommendations issued June 18, 2021, please go to: https://yesabregistry.ca/projects/45e1a736-f431-4ea3-90d9-37c03e1b1677/documents

WHAT IS CAFN’S GOAL? 

The long-term health of our land, water, fish, wildlife and people through:

• Stronger protections for our land, water, animals and people.
• Lead stewardship role for CAFN dän (people), including in monitoring and mitigation, as well as through shared decision-making.
• Changes to the long-term operation of the AGS to stop the worst impacts and to allow Äshèyi to heal.

We have an opportunity now to reconcile past wrongs by working together.

WHAT DOES CAFN WANT?

• To ensure the rights of CAFN people are upheld.
• Recognition of our rights and the value of our relationship to the land and water.
• Reconciliation through a new path forward, founded on respect, and acknowledging past harms.
• Responsible and clean energy; we must be part of the solution for the AGS and other energy options for the Yukon.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Please support CAFN in our goal to reduce the pressure on Aishihik Lake and River basin to restore healthy lakes, rivers and wetlands, and respect for the people who call this their home. It is time to address the legacy of Aishihik dam and its impacts on our land and people.