First Nations prosper through energy projects: Moose Cree First Nation, Waban Tribal Council see hydro-related success.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: ABORIGINAL

The Moose Cree First Nation have hit upon the secret to true independence.

The community is shaking out the final details of a $2.5 million landmark deal struck with Ontario Power Generation (OPG)to redevelop four generating stations on the Lower Mattagami River.

Located on the island of Moose Factory near of Cochrane, the community negotiated a 25 per cent stake in the project, according to Fred Hunter, executive director of the Moose Cree First Nation.

Through OPG, the province intends to add 440 megawatts (MW) of power to the Kilpling, Harmon, Little Long and Smokey Falls generating stations, which already provide 480 MW. Officials with OPG have referred to this project as the potential cornerstone of the province's renewable energy strategy.

The First Nation's position will translate to roughly $500 million over a 50- year period, though this could potentially double if the community increases its investment. As long as the community is willing to continue purchasing larger equity stakes, "the sky's the limit," says Hunter.

"When you look at Aboriginal - government relations, they're pretty disastrous, so if people don't see that this is a model of how to do business, they got their heads in the sand," he added.

"Ontario Power Generation was serious about working with us, and they accommodated a lot of things other people don't want to deal with and they toughed it out at the table. Negotiations were really tough and long, but they stuck it out, and people kept it civil and professional."

Coming to this kind of agreement is about "shifting your mindset," says Hunter, who takes pride in the knowledge that it was achieved without blockades or protests, but with mutual respect.

This kind of arrangement is representative of the Moose Cree's mentality that any work or interest in its territory must be about ownerships and revenue sharing, rather than a few jobs and a few dollars, says Hunter.

Not that jobs aren't one of the anticipated benefits: the projects is expected to require a 600- person camp for the five- year construction period, with timelines and general contractors still to be finalized.

The limited partnership between the Moose Cree and OPG has been named Amisk- oo- skow, which translates roughly to "an environment where there's an abundance of beaver," something which once characterized the area surrounding the power project.

"Before the damn came, that was the situation, and it was a very rich area," says Hunter. "Although we...