b'TRAILBLAZERSNations must be very clear on theirPartnerships also serve to help expectations and stay within theirbuild capacity in Indigenous spaces. principles, Kenequanash explains.Kenequanash explains, You have A shareholders agreement wasindustry resources that have all finally inked with FortisOntario inof the resources in front of them. 2015 for a 51/49 partnership in FirstThey have legal, they have tech-Nation favour. nical, [they have] financing for their capacity. But our people did not In addition to finding the rightnecessarily havethat.partner for their $1.6-billion project, Wataynikaneyap had to navigateIf you want a successful project to the complicated energy landscapedevelop on Indigenous homeland, in Ontario. There are no regulationsyou need the partnership, she out there that would be supportiveadds. We should be the wealthiest of First Nation ownership, and wepeople in this homelandand yet, had to work through that processwere not.with Ontario as well, KenequanashThere are a few key elements says. Wataynikaneyap brought bothto begin building relationships;Davis, explains, The partnership the federal and provincial govern- listening, understanding, transpar- started early by way of a really good ments to the table to assist withency, trustworthiness and commit- dialogue between Pattern, the First overcoming regulatory hurdles.ment are the building blocks toNation and Nigig. We were able to establishing successful partner- demonstrate that we believe in our ships with Indigenous communi- values as a company.ties. Kenequanash sees a successful partnership like theirs as enablingThe billion-dollar project started as the vision of our people.an idea in the community and grew into a possibility in 2009 with the Tim Lavoie, Vice President ofintroduction of the Green Energy Corporate Services and IndigenousAct in Ontario. Developers were Relations at FortisOntario, weighsknocking on Henvey Inlets door in on Indigenous partnerships.due to the initial Indigenous incen-Indigenous partnerships are verytives originally in the Act, which important, not only for Fortis,included a $0.015 per kwH price but for our country, he says. Weadder for Indigenous projects. believe that Wataynikaneyap is an example for First Nations, compa- Like Wataynikaneyap, due dili-nies and communities alike thatgence was performed, along with show how we can all work togethera few other steps. HIFN had to toward a brighter future anddevelop an environmental stew-achieve better outcomes.ardship regime under their newly Though not the majority owner,implemented Lands Management HIFN has an equal partnership withAct, and the search for a devel-Pattern Canada through its subsid- oping partner began. HIFN also Henvey Inlets 300 MW wind farm, a partnership withiary, Nigig Power Corporation.stayed true to their vision of a Pattern Canada, went online in October 2019. Head of Pattern Canada, Frank50/50 partnership. INDIGENOUS OPPORTUNITIESOur goal is to attract the best suppliers and contractors available and provide as many benefits as possible for Indigenous owned businesses.Indigenous businesses interested in contracting and procurement opportunities Indigenous communities, organizations and economic development corporations SCAN MEFor more information, visit our booth orgo to: www.bird.ca/indigenous-relations14 FORWARD MAGAZINE | VOLUME 1 2022'