By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

For those following the Site C dam project closely, March 14 was supposed to be a big day. After years of negotiations and court proceedings, a six-month “mega trial” was set to begin in B.C.’s Supreme Court to determine whether the $16 billion project — the most expensive dam in Canadian history — infringes on Treaty 8 Rights. 

Instead, representatives from West Moberly First Nations, who brought forward the case  against B.C., the federal Attorney General and BC Hydro, are having  “confidential discussions to seek to settle this litigation” outside of  court, according to a BC Hydro progress report submitted to the BC Utility Commission on March 31.