Aboriginal Engagement

Northern Gateway is a boots on the ground partnership

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:35:32 -0600

Through an estimated $1-billion total Aboriginal benefits package including an unprecedented 10-per-cent Aboriginal equity ownership offer and access to an ongoing $3-million Aboriginal education and training fund, Enbridge recognizes Northern Gateway’s right-of-way Aboriginal communities as full-fledged partners in this nation-building infrastructure project.

Recently, Northern Gateway’s Aboriginal & Stakeholder Relations team gave another demonstration of the company’s trust-building philosophy — inviting 10 representatives from five project corridor First Nations from B.C. and Alberta to join a team of Enbridge engineers on a 17-day winter field trip along the pipeline route.

"The best way of building trust," notes Morgan Yates, Northern Gateway’s Vice President of Aboriginal & Stakeholder Relations, "is to get people from the local communities rubbing shoulders with our technical team — really understanding the project from a boots-on-the-ground level."

Through late February and early March, the group visited sites along the proposed pipeline route, on forestry roads and cut lines, as well as future construction facilities, camps, pipe storage areas, and pump station locations — about 50 locations in all, from the Edmonton area to Kilometre Post 1,043 in northern B.C., about 100 km from the Pacific Coast.

Following safety training and snowmobile operator certification, the group visited these sites on skidoo, on snowshoe, even via helicopter.

The primary purpose of this winter field trip was construction reconnaissance and cost estimate refinement work, with engineers checking water conditions and terrain, and anticipating specific requirements for the construction stage. But during each site visit, the engineering group also made presentations to First Nations representatives, with the guests asking questions about the potential construction process as it passed through their lands.

"The idea of this tour was to involve and inform community members, and answer any questions they may have," says Dale Swampy, Northern Gateway’s Aboriginal Consultation Director for the Central B.C. region, who accompanied the group on its trek through the proposed project corridor in the B.C. and Alberta.

"For most of these groups, this is probably the first time an extended field trip of this sort with industry has ever happened."

This winter field trip marked the second such "technical partnership" session organized by Northern Gateway. Last summer, 15 representatives from seven project corridor First Nations groups joined a team of Enbridge environmentalists, biologists, and engineers on a SWAT (Strategic Watercourse Assessment Team) tour that focused on evaluating and determining the most environmentally friendly watercourse crossings for the pipeline throughout north-central B.C.

During this recent winter field trip, says Swampy, the discussions went beyond technical topics to include questions focused on Aboriginal employment and contracting opportunities — for example, clearing contracts for test drilling work near watercourse crossings and pump station sites.

"The leaders of these First Nations sent senior staff members, youth members — individuals they felt would positively participate and transfer the information regarding the trip back to their communities," says Swampy. "I think it said a lot that four chiefs attended a short meeting with our engineering team before we started the trip.

"Some people wonder, do we really have that much interest from project corridor communities? We can see from events like this tour that yes, we do. These Aboriginal groups are highly interested and engaged in the project. Their leaders are behind this vision of engaged and informed project partnership and proactive environmental stewardship.

"They want to work with us to make this project the best it can be, and to define a new approach to partnership."

Metis youth working to realize dream

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:10:45 -0600

Tyrel Sulzer, vibrating with excitement, approached Northern Gateway’s Shane Kelly asking if he could help him realize his dream – becoming an engineer.

The sharp-minded Metis teen from Fernie, B.C. informed Kelly, a project geotechnical engineer, he had taken in his presentation at a Northern Gateway information seminar and made up his mind on his life’s ambition.

Kelly and others worked tirelessly to help him find a summer job.

And Sulzer did – at WorleyParsons engineering firm. He’s now nearly completed his first year of studies at the University of British Columbia and hopes to join the firm again this summer.

That was one anecdote the Northern Gateway (NGP) Aboriginal and community consultation panel relayed to the Joint Review Panel at the technical hearings March 18. It is one of many positive stories that the NGP Education and Training Fund has spawned, NGP’s Catherine Pennington told the Panel reviewing the project application.

The fund is about more than money, said Pennington, as in the case with Sulzer.

“That really wasn’t a financial investment, it was a human investment,” said Pennington, Northern Gateway’s specialist in connecting willing job seekers with existing and emerging opportunities.

Northern Gateway earmarked $1.5 million in November 2011 for Aboriginal skills and training. It has been such a success, NGP has now doubled it – even before project approval.

The intent of the program, said Pennington, was to work with First Nations and Metis communities to identify ways in which they might be able to prepare for work on the construction and operations of the project. NGP has set the target for Aboriginal employment on the project at 15%.

NGP has held discussions with numerous colleges and universities in Northern BC to identify programming needs to help Aboriginal people take advantage of the surge in energy projects in the region. NGP has also spent much time in communities to tailor programming to the needs of the individual communities.

“These are only enhanced by community involvement,” said Pennington, who added essential life skills are a critical part of the program. “They’re going to know best what they need in the short, medium and long term.”

Northern Gateway President John Carruthers spoke emotionally in the hearings about conversations he’s had with members of First Nations communities who are looking for solutions to some serious social challenges. He said one of the measures of success for the project is making real positive impacts on neighbouring communities.

He said the project can make a difference.

“It really hit home,” said Carruthers, of those conversations with community leaders.

Northern Gateway estimates its economic benefits package for Aboriginal groups and communities at $1 billion, including labour and procurement, a community investment fund and equity partnerships.

NGP has already engaged large contractor companies to involve Aboriginal people, including environmental field monitoring and work, geotechnical programs, logging, road building and more.

A key feature of the project is also helping Aboriginal businesses boost their capacity to fully take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them by NGP. Several business summits have been held with considerable success to do just that.

By building up Aboriginal businesses, you’re putting the foundation in place for Aboriginal employment, along the project corridor and beyond, said Pennington.

“Aboriginal businesses will, by and large, employ Aboriginal people,” said Pennington.

Skills training leads to jobs

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:25:28 -0600

At the technical hearings examining the Northern Gateway project in Prince Rupert, BC—where the topic has shifted from world class emergency response to Aboriginal and community engagement matters this week—one intervenor’s questions led to some interesting insights on the project benefits that are already happening in BC.

Working quietly on the ground throughout right-of-way communities, Catherine Pennington, Northern Gateway’s specialist in connecting willing job seekers with existing and emerging opportunities has created some impressive results.

Northern Gateway has committed to ensuring that jobs and business opportunities will be available to people living near the right-of-way. Catherine’s work is also helping the project to meet its goal of having 15 per cent of the work force come from Aboriginal communities.

Responding to questions from the Fort St James Sustainability Group, Catherine made it clear the project is working inclusively to meet the lofty Aboriginal employment objectives:

“...the unique approach that we’ve taken is very inclusive in nature…. to meet the 15 percent target that we’ve set for Aboriginal employment for the construction phase of this project… and the 15 percent operational employment for this project.”

Northern Gateway links Aboriginal people to current employment opportunities in the pipeline and construction sector. We are working with contractors and union organizations in advance of this project’s approval as a mechanism to build skills in the Aboriginal community. Building skills in advance of the project will ensure we meet or exceed the targets established for the project.

The Fort St James Sustainability Group wanted to know whether or not these opportunities and programs were only available for the communities that had expressed support for the project.

“Even in cases where communities are, at this point, still considering the Project or uncertain about the Project or have made a choice to not participate at this time, I think the understanding that we have is that there remains an interest to think about skills and training and employment opportunities,” Catherine explained. “So I think the ongoing engagement will continue to show and prove fruitful around skills and training initiatives that will help us reach that target and be mutually beneficial for both parties.”

In 2012, Northern Gateway employed an Aboriginal liaison from the Haida Nation to work on the construction of the Enbridge Woodland Pipeline Project in northern Alberta. Through this Aboriginal liaison, Enbridge was able to facilitate 28 members from 8 different terrestrial and coastal British Columbia First Nations to work on a crew for the Woodland Project. This provided First Nations members an opportunity to gain experience in the pipeline industry, which resulted in connecting them to union contractors who could facilitate future opportunities on other projects. Long-term, sustainable employment is the primary goal of our efforts.

Opportunities are available to a diverse group of communities, including union members, First Nations and other Aboriginal communities, and are not limited to only Northern Gateway project supporters. We anticipate the skills developed would position these workers well for jobs on the Northern Gateway and other pipeline projects planned for BC.

Hobbema School Builds Confidence, Cultural Ties for Students

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:47:16 -0600

Sometimes good things come in small packages.

That’s certainly true for the Ermineskin Ehpewapahk Community School. The little blue school house in Hobbema, Alberta, south of Edmonton, is a modest building with two classrooms. But what it lacks in size is made up in terms of the big difference this school—named for the Cree word for the bright morning sun—is having on the lives of 45 students.

“A lot of our students have not done well in traditional schools,” says school principal Wendy Solland of the special education students who range in age from 14 to 21. “Many have dropped out before. Some have learning disabilities. A lot are teen parents. Ehpewapahk is a small, family-oriented school. Our atmosphere gives our students an opportunity to feel secure and have excellent support at all levels.”

Like other outreach schools, Ehpewapahk provides students with literacy and math skills needed for employment. It works with community agencies to increase awareness of different career paths. But here the similarity ends. At Ehpewapahk, the vision is also to build personal wellness while fostering the students’ awareness of their Cree identity.

Solland credits Enbridge’s School Plus program for providing the extra funding that’s helping to make this vision a reality. Thanks to a School Plus grant, the school has introduced the Virtues Project, a character education program. Through discussion each day, the teachers and students explore a different virtue like caring, cooperation or courage. The students talk about what each virtue means and how they need to improve on that behavior. Posters in the classrooms provide a daily reminder of the more than 50 virtues that are closely tied to traditional Cree teepee teachings.

“A lot of our students have heard negative things about themselves and their community,” says Solland, referring to the negative media coverage that has surrounded Hobbema in the past. “This program instead teaches them a positive language. It really helps them to positively reflect on who they are and their potential.”

Ehpewapahk encourages students to connect with their cultural roots in other ways as well. The school has two Elders who visit once a week to provide counseling and lead sharing circles with the students.

Today the older students at Ehpewapahk mentor first-year students and make breakfast each day for students at the community’s elementary school. Students also volunteer to talk about their culture as part of First Nation studies at an elementary school in the nearby City of Wetaskawin.

“Our students are really focused on being leaders in the community and improving themselves. They’ve become more confident, more independent. Just to see the change makes me very proud,” says Solland of the school, which had 12 students graduate this past June.

Building skills

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:00:03 -0600

Respect has been the cornerstone of our relationships with Aboriginal groups across Canada. That’s respect on their terms, not ours. And that means having an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the values and the issues that are important to them.

When we started talking to Aboriginal communities about the Northern Gateway Project, they told us, unequivocally, that they wanted meaningful, long-term involvement in the labour force. That’s why we established a $1.5-million Gateway Education and Training Fund — and it’s not dependent, in any way, upon Northern Gateway regulatory approval.

This fund supports training initiatives based in the pipeline, construction, and energy sectors. It is not training for the sake of training; it is totally focused on employment outcomes. And along Northern Gateway right-of-way communities, Enbridge is already connecting industry and community to help create Aboriginal career opportunities.

Catherine Pennington, Northern Gateway’s Supervisor of Community Education, Training, and Skills Development, reports that we’re already co-funding training programs for surveyors and ironworkers. We’re purchasing seats in existing Aboriginal trades programs, and partnering with provincial and federal bodies to help develop skilled tradespeople in the areas of heavy equipment operation, pipefitting, welding, and construction craft labouring. We’ve also co-ordinated the first of many “workforce connections” workshops, bringing together representatives of Northern Gateway equity First Nations and companies with labour-force needs for some meaningful employment discussion.

We’ve heard, loud and clear, from Aboriginal communities that they don’t want to be bypassed anymore by economic opportunities created within, near, or around them — and we’re doing something about it. The Gateway Education and Training Fund shows our commitment to community and workforce development.

We want to be connected to the Aboriginal community and not just because it makes good business sense. It’s about partnership. It’s about responsibility. And, ultimately, it’s about respect.

This post also appeared in select publications as part of a weekly series of Northern Gateway advertisements

Actions speak louder than words

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:22:50 -0600

Talk is cheap for former NHLer Brantt Myhres.

What matters most for Myhres are the actions of the people who have made it through hard times and turned their life around.

The retired pro hockey player is now President and CEO of Greater Strides Hockey Academy. Taking positive action is at the core of the Greater Strides mission, which is all about assisting Aboriginal student athletes to flourish, develop their skills and become leaders while remaining grounded in their cultures and developing life skills.

“[The program] consists of a hockey academy, skill classes, some team bonding, some cultural grounding,” explains Brantt.

Greater Strides has held two hockey camps – one in Spruce Grove, Alta. in July and another in Prince George, B.C. in August. But these kids – who range in age from Atoms to Midgets – learn more than passing, and shooting. They learn about their culture and they learn life skills. Hockey becomes a conduit for teachings on how to be a confident Aboriginal person.

Brantt is in a unique position to share with the hockey academy’s youth participants. Of First Nations decent himself—his grandmother was a member of the Frog Lake First Nation—Brantt grew up in Cold Lake, Alta. before finding himself on a hockey journey with stops in Portland, Ore. playing for the Winterhawks Major Junior team in the Western Hockey League before spending a decade playing in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames.

As a role model and visionary, Brantt´s passion is providing practical support and equipping young aspiring Aboriginal student athletes with the necessary skills to achieve their dreams.

Brantt also leverages other Aboriginal and hockey leaders through his hockey academy.

Dr. Reg Crowshoe, an Elder with the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta, offers a unique cultural perspective for youths attending the hockey camps.

“As a group, they can identify with each other, they know we have our own language and distinct culture and those belief systems are a part of the hockey school,” explained Reg. “Some of these kids are at a point where in their mind they need to make decisions of where they want to be and what they want to do. They have challenges - today’s youth have big challenges - not only at school [and] at home, but also in their communities.”

“[The program] really gives you a sense of, that there’s another way of going,” said aspiring hockey star and camp participant Chandler Knibb. “I really want to go to college … so I have an education to fall back on, and get a good job. And that gives me a sense of stability to know that I’m trying my best and no one can put me down for that.”

Meagan Bigsnake is an instructor at the academy. Having attended college in the United States, she’s a bright-eyed, articulate role model for young female Aboriginals.

“It was a challenge getting off the reserve, and being the first female aboriginal from my community to do that,” said Meagan. “And to leave and get my bachelor’s degree and play NCAA hockey, I’m pretty sure that I pathed the way for some of the kids.”

It’s apparent from the feedback she receives from youth through social media that her lessons for them are being understood. Program participants contact her through Facebook to ask questions about school and hockey, and about her experiences playing in the U.S.

“For me that was what came first, school, and then hockey,” Meagan stated.

Dallas Stars forward Vernon Fiddler also lends his time and talents to the program, joining George Laraque, Sheldon Souray and Mike Green as its high-profile NHL player-supporters.

“Hockey taught me a lot of life lessons,” said Vernon. He lists those lessons as being “committed to your team, never quitting, showing up to not only represent yourself, but what’s on your jersey, and that’s your team name.”

The program’s ultimate goal is to create leaders, to equip the participants with the skills they’ll need to grow and benefit from life’s experiences. Academy officials hope the program will equip these youths to return to their communities and create lasting, positive impacts on other young people.

“The old people always said our young people are going to leave, and when they come back, we’re going to live a lot better in our communities,” said Reg, the Elder. “And I still hold onto that dream.”

Enbridge Northern Gateway is proud to support the Greater Strides Hockey Academy

Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building a Strong Future

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:08:55 -0600

Representatives from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) and Niagara Gas Transmission Limited (NGTL), an Enbridge company, gathered on June 22, 2012, to plant three sugar maple trees at the A'nowarako:wa Arena in Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island, Akwesasne).

The trees, which symbolize “remembering the past,” “celebrating the present,” and “building a strong future,” were a gift from NGTL representatives, who presented them to MCA officials in January 2012 at a ceremony at which members of both parties were celebrating the cooperation and land use agreement they had jointly signed in 2009. The June 22 gathering marks the return of NGTL representatives to the Akwesasne community to actually plant the trees.

The growing positive relationship that the two groups have nurtured made the cooperation and land use agreement that they jointly signed possible. Under the agreement, NGTL paid a one-time infrastructure-related fee of $1 million to the MCA, and will pay annual payments of about $100,000 for the next 20 years for the use of Akwesasne land through which a NGTL pipeline travels.

The agreement represents a commitment by both parties to work together and build a stronger relationship based on cooperation and mutual respect. “Akwesasne has been engaged in a process to define and re-define its relationship with external agencies and governments that recognizes our jurisdiction and decision-making authority to determine how our lands will be utilized for the benefit of the Mohawks of Akwesasne,” said MCA Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell.

“I’m extremely proud of the relationship between the MCA and NGTL,” said NGTL President Lisa Lawler. “Through this agreement, we’re building a relationship that we can use as a model to demonstrate how working together in an open, transparent and respectful manner can achieve outcomes with mutual benefit.”

Both Mitchell and Lawler said the agreement between MCA and NGTL is the result of a decade of work. For nearly five decades, NGTL operated a pipeline that traversed through Cornwall and across Cornwall Island to New York State. Previously, a pipeline had crossed the north channel of the St. Lawrence River via a bridge owned by Federal Bridge Corporation Ltd. (FBCL), a government agency. When FBCL announced plans nearly a decade ago to replace the bridge, NGTL began exploring alternative crossing options. NGTL’s exploration led to negotiations with the MCA, starting in 2007.

“This relationship has become as strong as it has because people took the time to get to know one another. We demonstrated respect for each other and, at the end of the day, have built a true friendship,” said Peter Valiquet, Enbridge’s Manager, Work Management Centre Operations, who participated in the negotiations. “At Enbridge, we learned a lot about Mohawk culture. And the MCA and the community learned a lot about Enbridge and the pipeline.”

According to MCA Kanatakon District Chief Larry King added, “The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne hopes to build on the strong relationship that is beginning to take shape with NGTL—one based on a foundation of cooperation, mutual trust and respect and the agreement reflects that new relationship.”

In 2009, on the strength of this effort, the two groups signed the agreement. Two years later, the agreement paved the way for the installation of a new underground pipeline under the North Channel, using horizontal drilling technology.

To build the crossing, Enbridge and NGTL worked closely with the MCA’s Department of the Environment on a harmonized environmental assessment report, which incorporated traditional knowledge into project plans. Action items required by the report included removal of the abandoned pipe and the protection of culturally important trees during construction.

“We chose to give the MCA a gift of sugar maple trees because of the significance that they have amongst all trees, which represents the high value we place on our continuing relationship with the Akwesasne community,” said Lawler.

In the future, the agreement provides for an ongoing relationship between with the MCA and NGTL/ Enbridge that will contribute to long-term economic opportunities. As part of the agreement, NGTL has agreed to work with the MCA to conduct an economic development study on the merits of the MCA commissioning and operating a natural gas distribution enterprise in its community.

Kawehnoke District Chief Abram Benedict added, “We are pleased that the agreement contains provisions that will provide additional benefits and services to Akwesasne, such as exploring the distribution of natural gas to the community in the near future."

NGTL also plans to continue to invest in local initiatives, provide bursaries to local students and sponsor the community’s annual powwow.

“Our agreement is just one step in a long-term relationship,” said Lawler. “Today’s tree planting signifies that we are committed to the Akwesasne community and that we have strong roots here.”

Today we celebrate National Aboriginal Day

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:07:55 -0600

Please take this opportunity to celebrate the rich history and culture of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit people — and to reflect on how, together, we strengthen our country through our diversity.

Making a difference with our Enbridge School Plus programs

Several years ago, a team at Enbridge led by Teresa Homik, Manager of Aboriginal Affairs, National Policies and Programs, began looking for a way to develop an education program that would provide strong value to our Aboriginal neighbours. In working with education experts at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), they determined that we at Enbridge could help stem the high dropout rate in Aboriginal schools by enriching local education programs with extra activities or resources.

And so began the Enbridge School Plus program in partnership with the AFN.

Helping more than 8,900 Aboriginal students. Investing $2.2 million in grants

Here are some examples of how School Plus is working to encourage kids from K to 12 to stay in school:

The Enbridge Eco-Kids on Campus program is an innovative partnership with the University of Winnipeg, in which children in Grades 5 and 6 from several inner city schools with high Aboriginal populations receive enriched science programming at the university once a week for 10 weeks.
The MacKenzie Art Gallery School Plus program is supporting an urban outreach program that provides quality arts education to on-reserve and inner city students in Regina.
Teachers at the Ermineskin Ehpewapahk Community School in Hobbema, Alberta, are providing the personal wellness and skill development programs that their students need for future success.
Under School Plus, teachers received financial support for programs such as cultural camps, sports programs, the arts, traditional and outdoor activities, and Aboriginal language studies.
School Plus has also funded the purchase of valuable instructional technology such as computers and SMART Boards.

These investments are helping to generate a new spirit in Aboriginal communities by building skills and confidence, involving young people in health, fitness and cultural activities, and encouraging them to think about university and college as real possibilities for their own future. This year marks the conclusion of a very successful three-year pilot for School Plus.

School Plus expanded to Ontario and Quebec

And, today, National Aboriginal Day 2012, I’m pleased to announce that Enbridge will continue to invest in School Plus – and that we’ll be expanding it to include First Nation schools near our operations in Ontario and Quebec. With this expansion, nearly 90 schools will be eligible to participate across Canada.

That’s something to be proud of!

Equity agreements and Northern Gateway

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:11:53 -0600

Yesterday Enbridge Northern Gateway announced a significant milestone in our efforts to achieve broad public support for our pipeline project. I’m extremely pleased to tell you that a clear majority of the Aboriginal groups eligible to participate in our equity plan have signed agreements to do so.

Almost 60 percent of eligible Aboriginal communities along the proposed right of way, representing 60 percent of the First Nations’ population (and 80 percent of the combined First Nations’ and Metis’ population) have agreed to be part owners of the proposed Northern Gateway pipelines. Half of the equity units taken up went to groups in British Columbia, and the other half to groups in Alberta.

Naturally, some very vocal opponents of the project are questioning our agreements. That’s what they do—opponents oppose. We understand some people have concerns and have already made up their minds about the project rather than wait to see the regulatory review process proceed and wait for all of the facts to be fairly and carefully reviewed by the Joint Review Panel. That is their right.

Some opponents are asking which First Nations have signed agreements. We have been clear from the beginning: equity partnership agreements are a matter for individual First Nations to disclose. In fact, at the current juncture, it is a contractual obligation that we allow our partners to self-disclose, or remain confidential, as they choose, as is their right. It’s clear from some commentary we’ve seen that some opponents don’t respect these First Nations' right to keep their business matters private. We ask that respect be shown to all First Nations and Aboriginal groups on this matter.

We’ve also seen claims made by some opponents that signing an equity agreement means a First Nation or other aboriginal group is no longer able to participate in the JRP process or other opportunities to have their concerns heard and addressed. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is quoted straight from the agreement:

Participating First Nation’s obligations are without prejudice to the Participating First Nation’s right to participate in the applicable regulatory hearing process at which Transporter Approvals will be considered, in order to provide input or express concerns regarding the manner in which the Northern Gateway Project is designed and will be constructed and operated with respect to (i) the use of land for traditional purposes, (ii) the socio-economic circumstances of members of Participating First Nation (iii) the environment and (iv) Participating First Nation’s aboriginal and treaty rights and/or title, including Participating First Nation’s right to suggest measures to be taken to mitigate the potential effects of the Northern Gateway Project.

Despite the rhetoric suggesting otherwise from organized opponents, Enbridge is firmly committed to engagement with all First Nations groups along the right of way and near the planned coastal shipping routes. We actively encourage their participation in the regulatory process. There are First Nations who have signed equity agreements who have also participated in the JRP hearings, bringing forth concerns via oral and/or written submissions.

We have been consulting in relation to the Gateway project for the past decade. Over this 10-year period, the Project concept has evolved and the proposed route has been modified and refined based on input from those consultations. The multi-year process of consultation and engagement has helped us to understand the interests and concerns of dozens of Aboriginal groups with nearby communities and with traditional uses in the proposed Project corridor.

The signed equity partnership agreements are a direct result of our consultation efforts. We believe these commitments break new ground by providing an unprecedented level of long-term economic, environmental and social benefits to the communities located within the Project consultation corridor.

Please note, the original title of this blog post was Aboriginal support and Northern Gateway. We have changed it to avoid confusion.

Birdtail Sioux: Sustaining our People

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:33:05 -0600

Birdtail Sioux First Nation was once one of too many First Nations communities in Canada suffering the heartbreaking combination of alcoholism, school dropouts, hopelessness and suicide. But a transformation has taken root. Here is the story of Birdtail, the last in a four-part series of how a small First Nation found a path to a brighter future through partnership and collaboration.

Birdtail elder Hilliard Benn says he didn’t know Enbridge or whether the company should be trusted.

When Enbridge approached Birdtail Sioux First Nation prior to a pipeline expansion through territory they view as their traditional lands, Benn was skeptical. So was the community.

“I wasn’t quite sure really what Enbridge is or how they worked,” says Benn, remembering the early days when the community located in southwest Manitoba was getting acquainted with Enbridge.

At the time, Birdtail was battling some very difficult social issues of alcoholism, unemployment and a workforce that was largely uneducated. Birdtail had only graduated 4 people in 40 years.

Birdtail Chief Ken Chalmers saw a path to a brighter future, one that favoured partnership and collaboration over obstruction and confrontation. But it wasn’t just he who saw this path. It was a community decision to build partnerships with Corporate Canada.

“They were very apprehensive, our people,” says Chief Chalmers. “And my people decided, not chief and council.”

That early engagement built a relationship that has since set in motion a series of events involving other corporations, other businesses and various levels of government. The results are striking.

A school, a health clinic, a general store, renovated homes, a water treatment plant and a host of economic development initiatives both on and off the reservation are all either already achieved or what Chief Chalmers still has in store for Birdtail.

Engagement with industry and government has not always been popular with some of his First Nations neighbours but he’s convinced it’s the right direction.

Chief Chalmers is adamant, these initiatives have not resulted in a relinquishment of rights, and he’s resolute in his belief that his traditional territory and his culture have not been compromised.

“We’ve just finished our annual hunt for the reserve and now our fridges in just about every household are full of those meats,” says Chalmers.

He points to the picturesque Assiniboine River valley he says is in the direction of the rights of way of two pipelines, one of them Enbridge’s.

“We’re still doing the stuff we did a thousand years ago in our traditional territory.”

Birdtail Sioux: A healthy community

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:48:39 -0600

Birdtail Sioux First Nation was once one of too many First Nations communities in Canada suffering the heartbreaking combination of alcoholism, school dropouts, hopelessness and suicide. But a transformation has taken root. Here is the story of Birdtail, the third of a four-part series of how a small First Nation found a path to a brighter future through partnership and collaboration.

There were 116 First Nations communities across Canada living under a drinking water advisory as of January of 2012. Birdtail was not one of them.

When Birdtail Sioux First Nation Chief Ken Chalmers was first elected to the community’s top office, he made it a priority to ensure the children in his community were educated, properly housed, and healthy.

For Chief Chalmers, a healthy community meant clean drinking water.

So while so many of his neighbours and First Nations across Canada grapple with “disease and flu epidemics,” Chief Chalmers says his does not.

“The water supply here I worried about so we built our water treatment plant,” says Chief Chalmers of the facility with enough excess capacity to handle population growth decades into the future.

Health is a major issue on many First Nations communities. The Aboriginal population has higher rates of chronic and contagious diseases as well as shorter life expectancy than the general population in Canada.

First Nations people also have a 1.5 times higher rate of heart disease and three to five times higher rate of Type 2 diabetes. Tuberculosis is also eight to 10 times higher.

Chief Chalmers, whose first job at Birdtail before his political career was as health centre administrator, has seen firsthand the inextricable link between a healthy population and a healthy community.

“I’m proud to say we are one of the First Nations that can show its accountability through transparency and we can show the success we’re having,” he says.

The water treatment plant on Birdtail, a maze of pipes, gauges and pumps, is clearly a facility requiring a staff with much training and expertise.

“It’s all totally First Nation run and owned. We have the qualified people to do it,” says the Chief.

This is Part Three of a Four Part blog series on the inspirational transformation of a First Nations community. Click to read Part One: Bringing back our Children and Part Two: Building for the Future.

Birdtail Sioux: building for the future

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:43:42 -0700

Birdtail Sioux First Nation was once one of too many First Nations communities in Canada suffering the heartbreaking combination of alcoholism, school dropouts, hopelessness and suicide. But a transformation has taken root. Here is the story of Birdtail, the second in a four-part series of how a small First Nation found a path to a brighter future through partnership and collaboration.

Marcel Benn returned home to Birdtail Sioux First Nation after 23 years of city life.

Life in this picturesque prairie community in southwest Manitoba offers an opportunity to reconnect with the land.

Deer, elk and moose are plentiful in the treed edges of the Assiniboine River valley, as are fish in its winding waters.

But at least as important to Benn is the other big reason he came back to Birdtail after so long a hiatus.

“I found work here, labour work and a lot of carpentry work,” says Benn, who proudly proclaims his family has recently grown by one to include his first granddaughter.

“I’m happy to have this job to support my daughter and my granddaughter.”

Benn is part of a construction troupe of about a dozen hired to construct a $1.3 million 4,000 sq.ft. general store and renovate over 100 homes in the community.

All of this construction work is part of Chief Ken Chalmers’ larger plan to take care of the foundation of his community – housing.

The ambitious project he started over a year ago is to renovate all the homes in the community – both inside and out.

The Chief points as he drives throughout his community to each home with a green roof, signifying that it has been outfitted with new windows, doors, insulation and roofs.

Now, his task is to refurbish interiors of all 115 homes to clean out mould and other remnants of the formerly leaky, drafty structures.

This mission is daunting enough. But there is another monumental challenge on the horizon for Chief Chalmers.

Birdtail School has 150 students from Kindergarten and Grade 5. This mini-population boom will require nearly that many new homes in about 10 years just to keep up.

“Good chiefs think seven generations ahead…seven generations from now,” he says. “For me to think about it, just a couple of generations ahead is huge.”

Building for the future, for Chief Chalmers, means ensuring the children of his community have the necessities of life now.

“What I worry about is our children having safe homes to live in while they go to school so they can concentrate on school without worrying about freezing,” says the Chief.

“If you don’t get these kids now, the ones that are in school, we’re going to have the same cycle repeating itself – alcoholism, no future, quitting school. There’s no future when you go to a home with no windows and doors.”

This is Part Two of a Four Part blog series on the inspirational transformation of a First Nations community. Click to read Part One: Bringing back our Children. Part Three is here: A healthy Community

Birdtail Sioux: bringing back our children

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:21:04 -0700

Birdtail Sioux First Nation was once one of too many First Nations communities in Canada suffering the heartbreaking combination of alcoholism, school dropouts, hopelessness and suicide. But a transformation has taken root. Here is the story of Birdtail, the first of a four-part series of how a small First Nation found a path to a brighter future through partnership and collaboration.

Chief Ken Chalmers of Birdtail Sioux First Nation stands before the new school he championed, holds his hand up to his ear and asks, “You hear that? That’s a sound we hadn’t heard for over a hundred years in our community.”

It is the sound of children’s laughter as they scamper around a playground at Birdtail School, a Kindergarten to Grade 12 facility the Chief lobbied hard to build a few years ago.

Bringing back the children is also something Chief Chalmers astutely viewed as critical to break the cycle of hardship and pain on the small reservation of about 300 near the Saskatchewan border in southern Manitoba.

Prior to Birdtail School, the children were bussed to the schools of neighbouring towns.

That wasn’t a strategy for success. Birdtail high school graduates numbered just four in the last 40 years.

And for decades prior to that, the children of his people were educated in residential schools.

“This is my most (crowning) achievement,” says the Chief, pointing to the grand structure replete with architectural symbolism that harken back to Birdtail’s Dakota roots.

“Every kid that should be in school is in school,” says Chief Chalmers. Birdtail will graduate 14 this year and 21 the next. Dakota language and culture is alive in the classrooms.

Children’s laughter feeds the soul for Chief Chalmers. The school filled with laughing children is also the most striking illustration of the transformation of Birdtail, from a community plagued by alcoholism, hopelessness and suicide to one that now boasts a health clinic, a general store, an adult education centre, over 100 freshly renovated homes and a host of economic development prospects on the horizon.

If you ask the Chief where the metamorphisis began, his one-word answer is “industry.”

He may point to his engagement with Enbridge and other corporations as the catalyst. But really, it would be more accurately attributed to the Chief himself. He made a decision a number of years ago that he was going to “do something different” for his community. He’d adopt a different strategy as he sought a better life for his people by foregoing obstruction and confrontation in favour of partnership and collaboration.

When Enbridge approached the Chief to discuss the expansion of its mainline pipeline system through Dakota traditional territory, the Chief was cautious but receptive. Those early discussions eventually paved a path of mutual respect, benefit and partnership. It has become a template, for Chief Chalmers, in his dealings with other corporations, businesses and the various levels of government.

“We’ll partner with everybody we can to make a better life for our people,” he says.

The Chief’s work is far from done. He’d say it has only just begun. Birdtail may have turned a corner but the Chief is still pursuing his vision for the community.

“I see business opportunities wherever I look and it’s my job to bring those children up so they have that chance. It is just great to have these young people that are excited about these opportunities.”

This is Part One of a Four Part blog series on the inspirational transformation of a First Nations community. Click to read Part Two: Building for the future and Part Three: A healthy Community.

2011 Business Summit attracted overflow crowd

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:51:53 -0700

A late boost in interest in the Summit held Nov. 1-3 had organizers quickly adjusting to accommodate an additional 150 to 200 delegates – including from some 30 First Nations communities from Alberta and B.C. The additional crowd was over the 200 scheduled to attend the event at the River Cree Resort on the Enoch First Nation near Edmonton.

“From the get-go at this event, it’s just been tremendous momentum and positive buzz.”

Building on the success of Enbridge’s first Northern Gateway Business Summit in 2010, the 2011 edition aimed to connect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members, leaders and businesses with industry.

The Northern Gateway Project, if approved, promises to generate 62,000-person years of employment during construction across both provinces and beyond. The 1,177-km pipeline and marine project connecting northern Alberta’s prolific oil sands region to a marine port at Kitimat, B.C. aims to have 15% of the construction workforce comprise of Aboriginal people.

The promise of parlaying well-paying construction jobs in the $5.5 billion Northern Gateway Project into long term careers is one of the things that attracted Elmer Derrick, Chief Negotiator for Gitxsan First Nation in B.C., to the event. Derrick, who is also the hereditary Chief of Gitsegukla First Nation, says it is incumbent upon First Nation leaders to seek out opportunities with industry.

“What I’m reminded of every day by young people is that we have to strive for more economic activities that they can become engaged in,” said Derrick.

Alfred Goodswimmer, Director of Operations for Sturgeon Lake First Nation, made the trip to learn opportunities in industrial support jobs such as trucking and construction but also in energy industry operations.

“As community leaders, we don’t go out and make demands on industry. We establish relationships, have dialogue, and come to agreement on how we are going to work together because it’s the people we want to make sure benefit from these projects,” said Goodswimmer.

Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, stressed the importance of inclusion of Aboriginals in the new economy – not just for the sake of good jobs today but for vibrant communities into the future.

Described as a resounding success, organizers hailed the delegate list that included members of some 30 First Nation and Metis communities from Alberta, B.C. and a number of signed agreements.

More and more Aboriginal groups are seeking information from industry to better their communities and offer opportunities for their people. Northern Gateway has held two Business Summits and both have been successful in bringing together people intent upon connecting Aboriginal people and the energy sector. The latest Business Summit, held in Edmonton in November of 2011, attracted an overflow crowd as representatives of some 35 Aboriginal communities across B.C. and Alberta came together to see how business connections could be made.

“People are seeing opportunity. We can no longer live in a world of shame and blame. It’s about how we collaborate, set targets for our communities and then achieve those targets together ,” said Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, who also stressed the importance of inclusion of Aboriginal people in the new economy – not just for the sake of good jobs today but for vibrant communities into the future.

“Success for me is measured in two ways. Success is measured by attendance and it’s measured by buzz,” said Morgan Yates, Enbridge Northern Gateway Vice President of Aboriginal and Stakeholder Relations.

“From the get-go at this event, it’s just been tremendous momentum and positive buzz.”

Chief Vern Janvier of the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation talks Northern Gateway

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:01:32 -0700

Chief Vern Janvier, of Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation in northern Alberta, says his people have not only learned to get along with the energy industry, but they've thrived.

In his interview with Sun TV, Chief Janvier says much of the band's income comes from oil and gas activities. And this symbiotic relationship has not hindered the ability of his people from practicing their traditions.

Watch the interview and tell us your thoughts about what Chief Janvier has to say in the comments.

School Plus helps First Nation students

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:10:43 -0700

The Enbridge School Plus Program was established in 2009 in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations to support enrichment programming and extracurricular activities in First Nations schools near major Enbridge pipeline routes and our wind farm in Ontario. About 50 First Nations schools are currently eligible for the program.

The overall goal of School Plus is to encourage First Nations youth to stay in school by funding enjoyable extra curricular programs to which students would not otherwise have access.

The School Plus Program provides substantial financial support each year to teachers who wish to undertake programs and activities that are not fully funded as part of each school's standard curriculum. Projects from all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school, are eligible for support. Teachers in eligible schools may apply for financial support, up to a maximum grant of $20,000 per project.

Over the last two years, the program has awarded over 1.3 million in School Plus funding and benefitted more than 6,500 First Nation students in Western Canada and Ontario.

The program expanded in 2010 to include initiatives that build strength and sustainability in Métis and urban Aboriginal communities. Enbridge is proud to partner with the following organizations:

Métis Child and Family Services in Edmonton to provide the Enbridge Hot Lunch program at Highlands School in inner city Edmonton.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatchewan to support a teaching resource on the history of the Métis people for public and Catholic schools near our right-of-way.
The University of Winnipeg to fund the Enbridge Eco-Kids on Campus program to enable youth from two inner city schools in Winnipeg to receive enriched science programming at the University of Winnipeg once a week for 10 weeks.
Stardale Women’s Group to support the Honouring the Girls’ Stories program that builds mentoring relationships and nurtures artistic expression among Aboriginal girls in Calgary.

MacKenzie Art Gallery to support an urban outreach program that provides quality arts education to on-reserve and inner city students in Regina.

In addition to the current partnerships above, Enbridge also sponsored in 2010 the Gabriel Dumont Institute in support of a teaching resource on the history of the Métis people for public and Catholic schools near our right-of-way.

Answers to questions about benefits and the environment

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:40:19 -0700

We received a few questions and comments on our Facebook page the other day, thanks for these Dylan.

Dylan stated: “Very little revenue will actually go towards the First Nations who's lands you are apparently stealing and that most of the jobs are only temporary construction jobs lasting one or two years.”

Dylan, respectfully we disagree with the assertions in this comment. Northern Gateway is offering Aboriginal people a 10% share in a $5.5 billion project. The long-term financial benefits for participating Aboriginal shareholders will be significant. Aggregate equity ownership is expected to generate approximately $280 million in net income to neighbouring Aboriginal communities, over the first 30 years.

Becoming an owner in this project means Aboriginal groups are going to see cash flow within the first year of operations. Through equity ownership, Aboriginal people will be able to generate a significant new revenue stream that could help achieve the priorities of their people – such as improved health care, education and housing.

Dylan also showed his concern for the environment when he said: “the presence of tankers and heavy marine traffic will highly disturb wildlife in the area, including a humpback whale population which has only recently recovered from two digit populations and the spirit bear, which has been reported in the video by opponents of this plan to be almost if not equally as rare as the panda.”

Dylan, we agree protecting the environment and the animals is very important. The Northern Gateway Project understands the long-term success of the project depends on our ability to construct the project in an environmentally responsible way. A team of over 200 environmental experts and scientists have conducted a comprehensive analysis throughout the project area in aspects such as marine biology, wildlife, water resources, fish and others. The findings of this analysis have been incorporated into our planning to ensure that construction proceeds safely and responsibly and that our environmental impact is minimized throughout the operational life of the project.

To best address the wildlife issues Dylan raised, we’ve organized them in two parts: marine mammals and land animals.

Here are some of the specific measures we propose to reduce potential effects for marine mammals:

Using specified vessel transit approaches, taking into account navigational safety, so that acoustical disturbances are constrained to similar and predictable areas during marine transportation
Reducing vessel speed to 10 to 12 knots throughout the channels to the terminal
Reducing vessel speed to 8 to 10 knots, unless otherwise required for safe navigation, in the core humpback whale area during May to November.
In the initial years of operation, introducing a whale-monitoring vessel during months of peak humpback whale abundance in the core humpback whale area.
Investigating the use of remote detection techniques. This would be used to support the visual observation program from the whale-monitoring vessel.
Using the best commercially available technology at the time of design/construction of the tugs (primarily in engine vibration reduction and propeller design) so that escort and harbor tugs produce the least underwater noise possible.
Develop and implement a marine mammal protection plan specific to the Project that would outline measures to limit the effects of underwater noise on humpback whales and other large marine mammals in the shipping channels.
Operators of project-related vessels will report all sightings of whales in the shipping channels via a ship communication system, so other marine traffic is made aware of whale locations.
Implementing cooperative planning and research to address important data gaps.

With regards to the Spirit Bear, it’s important to note that the proposed pipeline route does not go through the area environmental groups call the Great Bear Rainforest. That said, there are some potential effects on wildlife wherever the right-of-way (ROW) is built. To reduce the risk of these effects occurring, Enbridge Northern Gateway will implement the following mitigation measures:

Reduce disturbance by routing the ROW along areas where other infrastructure development already exists (e.g., roads, seismic lines and pipelines)
Use existing access roads wherever possible
Limit the area cleared for temporary workspace and then re-vegetate these areas using native species
Protect wetlands using a variety of measures:
- using existing water course crossings where possible
- minimizing disturbance of soil and sedimentation
- reclaiming areas to the pre-construction profile
- allowing wetlands to regenerate naturally
- monitoring effectiveness of wetland reclamation, making adjustments as necessary
Survey important wildlife habitat features (grizzly bear dens, nests of sensitive bird species, dens of other animals, mineral licks [i.e. salt licks], and elk migratory paths) and implement measures such as construction setbacks to avoid them
Maintain habitat connections between key forested areas, where possible, by placing coarse woody debris on the ROW after construction or facilitating the re-growth of vegetation along the ROW
Track and report all wildlife incidents (wildlife vehicle collisions, bear encounters or problems) and engage the appropriate wildlife authority as required

Aboriginal partnership is key

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:10:42 -0700

How can we justify this pipeline’s approval when so many First Nations are opposing it crossing their traditional territory?

There’s no other way to say it—partnership with the Aboriginal community is key to the success of Northern Gateway. At the end of the day, we want Aboriginal groups to benefit from this project. We are working hard to understand and appreciate the potential concerns of all Aboriginal groups with a vested interest in Northern Gateway — and these communications represent one of Enbridge’s most important ongoing discussions regarding the project.

We’ve spent 60-plus years successfully operating pipelines, and we also have a long history of working harmoniously with Aboriginal communities. In other words, we’re committed to Aboriginal consultation. We’re familiar with Aboriginal rights, as set out in Canada’s Constitution, and Treaty rights, where applicable — and we already have in place a detailed, inclusive Aboriginal Peoples policy that identifies paths to mutual success.

We want to accommodate the interests and objectives of all Aboriginal groups all the way along the pipeline corridor, including those in coastal communities.

Some First Nations have expressed opposition to the Northern Gateway project. We respect those positions, but we want to continue the dialogue. We began reaching out to all Aboriginal groups along the pipeline route back in 2002, and we intend to continue the consultation throughout the entire life of the Northern Gateway project.

Through our Aboriginal engagement program, we’re committed to providing project information, answering project-related questions, identifying and addressing issues and concerns, and gathering community input into our project plans. To date, we’re encouraged by the response we’ve received from First Nations — and we look forward to a fruitful partnership in the long term.

Are there reasons for First Nations to support Gateway?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:45:53 -0700

Q: Would Northern Gateway really make a meaningful difference to Aboriginal groups given their opposition based on environmental concerns?

The economic opportunities are plentiful. One of our most fervent wishes at Enbridge is for Aboriginal communities to reap some meaningful benefit from Northern Gateway—not just in the short term, but through the entire life of the project.

Put simply, we want Aboriginal economic participation in this project. We’ve used the input we received from Aboriginal communities to develop a package of economic and social commitments—creating local and regional opportunities, and enabling long-term sustainability.

Enbridge is offering 10 per cent equity ownership in the $5.5-billion Northern Gateway project to eligible Aboriginal groups. And for those groups who don’t have the wherewithal to finance an equity partnership, Enbridge is finding their financing for them—allowing them to share in the net income. That equity ownership is expected to generate about $280 million, in total, to Aboriginal communities through the first 30 years of the pipeline’s operation, and Aboriginal shareholders will see cash flow within the first year of operation.

Enbridge is also committed to hiring local residents to build the Northern Gateway project, and Aboriginal workers, we anticipate, will make up about 15 per cent of the construction labour force. We’ll be identifying direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents of neighbouring Aboriginal communities, and we’ll be helping to provide access to education and training for all Aboriginal communities in the project area.

We’ll also be depositing one per cent of annual pre-tax earnings into the Northern Gateway Community Trust—which will generate more than $100 million through the pipeline’s 30-year economic lifetime, and fund community initiatives in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities alike.

Join the conversation

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:54:02 -0700

We recently launched this blog to provide a place to engage in a fact-based conversation about the Northern Gateway Project. We have kicked off the conversation by responding to a few frequently asked questions we receive from the media and from our direct engagement with the people who live along the proposed route—you'll see this in the next blog post, so check back soon.

We will respond to your questions or point you directly to the places and people who have answers for you.

We look forward to the conversation.

The Gateway Team