A trial began on February 9, 2026, in the Court of King’s Bench in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the Opaskwayak Cree Nation seeks compensation for damages caused by a hydro dam built in the 1960s. The community is taking the federal government to court, claiming that the Grand Rapids Generating Station destroyed traditional areas used for fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Community leaders from Opaskwayak Cree Nation argue that the dam flooded thousands of acres of land, leading to the collapse of the muskrat trapping industry and sturgeon fishing. While a settlement was reached in 1992, the community says that agreement did not account for the long-term environmental damage or the true value of the lost resources.
The trial will feature testimony from Elders who witnessed the flooding of burial grounds and trap lines between 1962 and 1968. Some court sessions may involve testimony regarding specific areas like Kelsey Lake to allow witnesses to point out where traditional trapping and fishing grounds were submerged by the rising water.
Government lawyers are defending the Crown by stating that the payment made in 1992 was meant to be the final settlement for these claims. However, the legal team for the community argues that the government has a continuous duty to protect the rights of the people living on the land.
The trial is expected to last for several weeks and will rely on historical records and water level data. The final decision could affect how future compensation is handled for other communities impacted by hydro projects across the region.
