Wuskwatim dam protesters end blockade

Native protesters have taken down a barricade at the Wuskwatim dam project in northern Manitoba.

Protesters on Thursday had put up the barricade at the site of the $1-billion, 200-megawatt site generating station. They said Manitoba Hydro wasn't following through on promises to hire local native workers.

Progress had been reported on Friday night in ending the barricade, but Manitoba Hydro spokesman Glen Schneider told CBC News the dispute continued into the weekend.

"Our staff and Ron Evans, Manitoba Chiefs, and Jim Moore from NCN [Nisichawayisihk Cree Nation] negotiated an agreement with the people on the blockade and they began to dismantle the blockade, however a group decided to maintain the barricade," Schneider said.

After that, Manitoba Hydro obtained a court injunction that was delivered by the RCMP. The remaining protesters complied and the blockade was taken down Saturday evening.

There's no word yet on the details of the agreement reached between the protesters and Hydro.