"We wanted to have a ceremony to basically give back," says Dakota Tipi First Nation council member Kyle Pashe yesterday at Dakota Tipi.

Norm VothManitoba Hydro met with the community to hold a ceremony in traditional respect of nature and a desire to bring balance while work continues with the Bipole 3 project.

"Manitoba Hydro has been working really hard the last number of years," says Norm Voth, Manitoba Hydro community liaison officer with transmission lines civil construction. "I've seen the effort they've put into connecting with indigenous communities. I think there's a lot of hard work that's gone into building bridges with these communities."

Darryl TaylorDakota Tipi liaison Darryl Taylor says he commends Manitoba Hydro for their protocol, bird-sweeps and archaeological work associated with Bipole 3. He notes people don't realize the effort being made, and it's one of the first times the people have insight into the project and cooperation, advising what lands cannot be desecrated.

Aboriginal food provided after ceremony