York Factory Future Development

Transcription

1 F YORK I R S T FACTORY N A T I O N York Factory Future Development August 2012 Recognize someone? Want to learn more? Read inside about the bert brown Photo project! Keeyask update. Employment + Getting a Job on Keeyask or with Manitoba Hydro Environment + Keeyask EIS Submitted + Kipekiskwaywinan + Government Review of Keeyask EIS + What is Environmental Monitoring? Business + YFFN Investing in Keeyask + Direct Negotiation Contracts Important Projects + Sturgeon + Youth Gathering + Conawapa + Bert Brown Photo Project

2 YORK FACTORY A message from Chief & Council F I R S T N A T I O N Hello Everyone, On behalf of the Council, greetings to all our members! As a partner in building the Keeyask Generating Station we have prepared a newsletter for you. This newsletter has been prepared to provide you, our membership, with an update of our participation in the Keeyask Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and YFFN s supporting volume, Kipekiskwaywinan. It also provides a background and progress on the EIS and the next steps in the environmental assessment process, as well as information on employment and business opportunities. The Environmental Impact Statement was filed with the Regulators on July 6, It is available online for your review and is located at the Future Development Office. The EIS material reflects input from our Future Development staff who worked hard to ensure YFFN s concerns were addressed. While the EIS addresses many of YFFN s outstanding issues and concerns it also reflects our skepticism of Manitoba Hydro s future predictions. These will be addressed through an Environmental Monitoring Program that YFFN is currently working on with Manitoba Hydro. That is a significant departure from past practice by Manitoba Hydro. That will be part of next steps in our partnership with Manitoba Hydro, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, and Fox Lake Cree Nation. Please feel free to contact any of our staff at the Future Development Office. It is your right to know where we are in the environmental process with Manitoba Hydro and our sister Nations. Ekosi! Chief Louisa Constant Councillors Phyllis Contois, Gordon Wastesicoot, Jeffrey Beardy, Sam Cook York Factory First Nation A message from the Future Development Office Tansi to everyone! We are bringing to you this newsletter with updates on Future Development activities. Our staff have been very busy with Keeyask-related work described in this newsletter. Recently, we had a community meeting with a focus on the Direct Negotiation Contracts, Trust and Investment and the Sturgeon Stewardship Initiative. We plan to have another community meeting very soon to focus on all of our environmental activities. I encourage everyone to come out to our meetings! We do need the members input and guidance on issues that are of utmost importance because they affect and continue to affect our people s future. We will also be continually updating our website at so please check it out! We use this website to provide updates on our various activities and links to other sites such as our First Nation, Manitoba Hydro and the other Cree Nations in the Keeyask partnership. We do welcome feedback and questions on our website. Again, for further information on any of our activities, I encourage everyone to attend our community meetings, visit our website, drop by the office or call any one of our staff members! Ekosi!! Wayne Redhead Project Coordinator York Factory Future Development 1 Keeyask update Keeyask update 2

3 I would like to remind everyone that registrations will expire within six months of activation, so you must renew your registration before the six months is up if you still wish to be referred to employment opportunities. The documents needed to register with the JRS for work with Keeyask or Wuskwatim can be downloaded from the Job Referral Service website or you can contact me at for information. I look forward to working with you! Ekosi! What are Operational Jobs? Operational Jobs are permanent or term position jobs with Manitoba Hydro in the ongoing operations of Manitoba s hydroelectric system. What is the Job Referral Service? The JRS matches qualified job seekers with employment opportunities related to construction activities. These include a range of jobs related to the construction of Wuskwatim, Keeyask and the Keeyask Infrastructure Project. Employment. Keeyask Infrastructure Project s temporary bridge Want a Job with Keeyask? Apply with the Job Referral Service (JRS) Tansi, my name is Wendy Saunders. I am the Job Seeker Coordinator for York Factory First Nation. I can assist YFFN job seekers in registering for work with Hydro projects, specifically with the Keeyask Infrastructure Project (KIP), Wuskwatim and/or Keeyask dam. JRS is the referral service that has been developed by the Province of Manitoba and is currently administered by Employment Manitoba and by the Keeyask Cree Nation (KCN) Job Seeker Managers. The JRS matches qualified job seekers with employment opportunities related to construction activities. These include a range of jobs related to the construction of Wuskwatim, Keeyask and the Keeyask Infrastructure Project. In the past few months, I have held open houses for YFFN members in Churchill, Thompson, Winnipeg, and York Landing. I strongly encourage YFFN Members to register with the Job Referral Service. With the Keeyask Partnership starting phase one of construction of the Keeyask Infrastructure Project, there will be employment opportunities with Keeyask, such as carpenters, electricians, iron workers, laborers, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers. There will also be employment opportunities in catering, security and employee retention services through YFFN and FLCN s Direct Negotiation Contracts (see page 12). Want a Job with Manitoba Hydro? Apply with Operational Jobs Operational Jobs are employment positions in the ongoing operations of Manitoba Hydro. These positions are located anywhere in Manitoba, including jobs as clerks, engineers, surveyors, linesmen, and many other positions. Under the terms of the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement (JKDA) there is a target of 36 jobs for members of YFFN between 2009 and In order to count towards this target, a member has to be employed with Manitoba Hydro for two years or more. Theresa Beardy has been hired as the Operational Jobs Coordinator to identify and register members who are available for employment or on-the-job placement on and off reserve. Theresa attends monthly meetings of the Operational Jobs Employment Working Group. This group is overseen by an Operational Jobs Advisory Group that meets four times a year. Martina Saunders acts as YFFN s representative on the Advisory Group. The Operational Jobs program has developed a community profiles database as an inventory of skill sets. Information sessions have been held in York Landing, Thompson, Winnipeg and Churchill. Hands-on sessions were held in Thompson and York Landing to demonstrate the skills used in positions within Manitoba Hydro. Sessions are also held for resume writing and mock interviews for both students and adults registered with the program. Recently, Operational Jobs held an open house in York on July 25th with UCN and Employment Manitoba present for registration and information. A BBQ was held for all who attended. Operational Jobs activities fall under 7 themes: 1) Systemic Foundations - Eg. Community skills profiles, employment targets 2) Manitoba Hydro & Career Awareness - Eg. Early & middle school programs, career days 3) Career Exploration - Eg. Middle & senior school programs, tours, apprenticeships, workshops 4) Career Preparation - Eg. Career counseling, hands-on sessions, work experience 5) Employment Preparation - Eg. Internships, summer employment, mentoring, scholarships 6) Employment Bridging for Pre-Project Trainees - Eg. Gap Training, apprentice transitions 7) Recruitment & Employment - Eg. Recruiting, worker orientation, work coaching 3 Employment Employment 4

4 PR 280 Keeyask Cree Nations (KCNs) This term is used to describe the four First Nations that have partnered with Manitoba Hydro on the Keeyask Project. This includes York Factory First Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, and Fox Lake Cree Nation. Askiy Over the last year, KCN Elders met to discuss Cree culture and worldview (how the Cree view the world). One of the most important words they taught about was Askiy, which is the Cree word for the land, water, people, animals, plants and everything that exists in the world. This word has its own meaning in Cree, but it is similar to the English words "Mother Earth", "earth", "environment", and "world". 100m ROW PROPOSED ROAD Environment. TEMPORARY BRIDGE AT LOOKING BACK CREEK Keeyask Infrastructure Project Construction on the Road to Keeyask has Begun The Keeyask Infrastructure Project (KIP) is also called the North Access Road (NAR). The licensing and construction of KIP is separate from the Keeyask Generation Project. The Province licensed the KIP in March 2011, and construction began in January The 23-km roadway has been cleared, materials have been placed for the road, and a workers camp has been set up at the junction of the PR 280 and the KIP road. A temporary bridge has also been placed at Looking Back Creek so work can continue on the last section of road and the main camp at the Keeyask Rapids. TCN and WLFN have contracts for KIP construction, and their members have been working at KIP. YFFN and FLCN are currently working together to negotiate contracts with Manitoba Hydro for Employee Retention and Support Services as well as Catering and Security (see page 12 for information about Direct Negotiation Contracts). The Keeyask EIS has Finally Been Submitted As reported in the last YFFD Newsletter (July 16, 2012), the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership, made up of Manitoba Hydro and the Keeyask Cree Nations, submitted the Keeyask Generation Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the provincial and federal governments on July 6th, The Keeyask EIS is part of an application to the federal and provincial governments for environmental licenses and approvals for the Keeyask hydroelectric dam that the Partnership is proposing to build at Gull Rapids on the Nelson River. What s in the Keeyask EIS? 1. Keeyask: Our Story This video tells the story of the Keeyask Cree Nations history and experience of hydroelectric development and the Keeyask Project. 2. Executive Summary This short summary of the EIS is currently available in English. French and Cree versions will also be produced. 3. Response to EIS Guidelines This is the main technical document that includes detailed information about the Keeyask Project, the predicted environmental effects, plans for reducing the effects, environmental monitoring, and the Public Involvement Program. 4. Keeyask Cree Nations Evaluation Reports These include YFFN s Kipekiskwaywinan (Our Voices), and Cree Nation Partners Keeyask Environmental Evaluation Report. FLCN s Evaluation Report has not been completed at this time and will be submitted later. 5. Supporting Volumes These include the Project Description, Public Involvement, Physical Environment, Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Socio-economic Supporting Volumes. What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)? Environmental assessment is a process to predict the environmental effects of a large scale project, before it is carried out. This process is required under provincial and federal environmental laws. As part of an environmental assessment, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for any project likely to cause significant environmental and socio-economic effects. An EIS is a document that describes the effects of the proposed project and explains how the proponent plans to avoid, reduce, mitigate, and monitor changes resulting from the project. The developer planning a project and applying for a license for that project is called a proponent. A proponent must submit an EIS to the government as part of the environmental assessment process to inform government decisions about licensing the project. The government departments that assess the proponent s EIS are called the regulators. 5 Environment Environment 6

5 The Provincial and Federal governments will review the Keeyask EIS Over the next two years, the provincial and federal governments (also called the regulators ) will be reviewing the Keeyask EIS. YFFN will participate in the Keeyask review process as a partner and co-proponent. There are 3 streams of government review: + NFAAT + Federal licensing + Provincial licensing Provincial licensing of Keeyask The provincial regulators have received the Keeyask EIS and are currently inviting comments and questions from the public and government experts. The deadline for comments is September 20, The provincial and federal governments are expected to decide whether to license the Keeyask Project in the summer of If licensed, construction of the Keeyask Generating Station will begin at that time. Keeyask EIS available in York Landing The Keeyask EIS documents are now located at the Future Development office, and copies of Keeyask: Our Story will be distributed to all York Landing households. FLCN s Evaluation Report will be available when it has been finalized. The Keeyask EIS documents are also located in Winnipeg, Gillam, Split Lake, Ilford, and Thompson (e.g. public library and MKO). You can also view and download the Keeyask EIS documents, including Kipekiskwaywinan, from the Keeyask Partnership s website at wp/the-project/environmentalassessment-process/eis. What is NFAAT? This fall, the provincial Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship is expected to establish a Clean Environment Commission (CEC) panel to conduct a full public and government review of the Keeyask EIS. This will involve public hearings in Winnipeg, Thompson, Gillam and other locations, which are expected to take place in YFFN representatives will participate in these public hearings as part of the Keeyask Partnership. They will speak on behalf of YFFN and respond to questions. The CEC will provide a report to the Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship who will decide whether to license the Keeyask Project and what conditions to put in the license. The Province will conduct a review process called Needs For And Alternatives To (NFAAT) to determine if the Keeyask project is economically justified. Because Manitoba Hydro is a Crown Corporation, the Province must decide whether it allows Manitoba Hydro to invest in Keeyask. Federal licensing of Keeyask The Canadian Environment Assessment Agency (CEAA) is coordinating the federal environmental review which involves various federal departments, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Transport Canada. The CEAA will provide a Comprehensive Study Report to the federal Minister of the Environment. The federal Minister will then decide whether to license the Keeyask Project. DFO and Transport Canada will need to issue authorizations under the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act. 7 Environment Environment 8

6 What is Environmental Monitoring of Keeyask? The Keeyask EIS describes the Keeyask Project s predicted effects, both positive and negative. If Keeyask is licensed and built, it is important to determine the actual effects of the Keeyask Project by monitoring different parts of the environment. So, monitoring will test the predictions made in the Keeyask EIS and identify if there are unexpected effects. Planning is currently underway for both scientific and traditional knowledge monitoring programs. Manitoba Hydro is planning technical/scientific monitoring for effects on the physical, aquatic, terrestrial, and socio-economic environments. The KCNs will be involved in scientific monitoring in a similar way as the Keeyask and Conawapa environmental field studies. YFFN and its partners have also been discussing how to monitor from a Cree perspective, using traditional knowledge. In some cases, YFFN might conduct monitoring activities by itself. In other cases, YFFN will likely monitor along with the other KCNs or Manitoba Hydro s technical teams. Fish Passage Workshop - discussing potential environmental effects Wayne Redhead, Eric Saunders, Sam Cook, Isaac Beardy traveling up the Aiken River Kipekiskwaywinan - Our Voices Kipekiskwaywinan means Our Voices in the Cree language. YFFN decided to use this Cree word as the title for its Keeyask report that has been included in the Keeyask EIS. Kipekiskwaywinan has been one of YFFD s most important areas of work related to the Keeyask EIS. Kipekiskwaywinan is now available online and at various Manitoba locations as part of the EIS (see page 7 for details). YFFD will be hosting a community meeting in the coming weeks to present the final version of Kipekiskwaywinan. In the evening, there will be a feast to celebrate its completion as part of the Keeyask EIS and mark a major milestone in York Factory s participation in the Keeyask partnership. Copies of the final version of Kipekiskwaywinan will be handed out to community members. Evelyn Beardy and Russel Beardy - documenting traditional knowledge 9 Environment Environment 10

7 YFFN Negotiating Contracts for Keeyask Three separate Direct Negotiation Contracts (DNCs) are currently being negotiated between Manitoba Hydro and York Factory First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation (The Fox and York Keeyask Joint Venture). 1) The Employee Retention & Support Services DNC will play a crucial role in making sure KCN Members who are working on either the KIP or the Keeyask Generating Station are treated with dignity, respect and fairness and that overall retention rates are enhanced. Business. YFFN Investing in Keeyask The Keeyask Project will be owned by the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership (KHLP), made up of YFFN, Manitoba Hydro, FLCN, and the Cree Nation Partners (TCN and WLFN). The JKDA entitles each group to own a different portion of the Keeyask Project. Manitoba Hydro can own at least 75% of the Keeyask Project. TCN and WLFN, as the Cree Nation Partners, can own up to 15%. FLCN can own up to 5%. YFFN can own up to 5% of the Keeyask Project. 2) The Catering DNC includes a third partner SODEXO who will work with York and Fox to provide food service, housekeeping, janitorial and related management services for the Keeyask Project. 3) The Security DNC also includes SODEXO as a third partner. This contract will provide security and related management services for the Keeyask Project. Various meetings have been held over the past few months that involved representatives from Fox Lake, York Factory, D Arcy & Deacon, Loewen & Caine, HTFC and staff from Wuskwatim. We anticipate that all three DNCs will be completed prior to the end of August, To obtain employment with these DNCs, YFFN Members need to first register with the Job Referral Service (see page 4). South Access Road South Dam South Dyke Spillway In order to become a business partner and part owner of the Keeyask Project, YFFN is required to: 1) Establish the York Factory First Nation Limited Partnership (YFFNLP); and Dewatered Area Central Dam FLOW Powerhouse North Dyke North Access Road 2) Make three payments to the KHLP: a. Nominal Subscription Payment - $350 b. Initial Closing Payment - $450,000 c. Final Closing Payment between $2,049,650 (minimum) and $4,549,650 (maximum) Generation Outlet Transmission Lines Transmission Tower Spur North Dam Service Bay YFFN has already established the YFFNLP and made the Nominal Subscription Payment. YFFN is currently exploring options to make the Initial Closing Payment if and when the Keeyask Project is licensed. This could be as soon as July YFFN would then be required to make the Final Closing Payment when the final turbine is installed at the Keeyask Generating Station. This is expected to occur in Artist's Rendering - Concept Only Transmission Lines to KN36 Proposed Keeyask Generating Station 11 Business Business 12

8 Other Important Projects you Should Know About. What About Conawapa? YFFN has been heavily focused on the Keeyask and KIP Projects over the last six months. Work related to Conawapa has continued, but at a lower level than the Keeyask Project. Now that the Keeyask EIS has been submitted, work related to Conawapa is expected to increase in the coming months. Taking Care of Nameo on the Lower Nelson River NAMEO is the Cree word for sturgeon. Since September 2011, YFFN has been meeting with Manitoba Hydro, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation to talk about how to take care of nameo (sturgeon) on the lower Nelson River (from the Kelsey dam to the Hudson Bay). Have you seen Bert Brown's Photos of York Factory? Over the last year, YFFD has been working with Mr. Bert Brown to digitize and describe hundreds of photos that he took at York Factory between 1952 and Mr. Bert Brown has generously offered to share digital copies of some of his photos with YFFN for its use. This photo history project is very important for YFFN to document its history at York Factory prior to its relocation to York Landing in In January 2012, YFFN signed a Letter of Intent with these First Nations and Manitoba Hydro, which describes their commitment to develop a formal agreement for the protection and enhancement of lake sturgeon populations on the Lower Nelson River. Shamattawa First Nation also joined this group in the spring of Manitoba Hydro and these five First Nations are discussing creating a new group called the Lower Nelson River Sturgeon Stewardship Committee which would do work similar to the Nelson River Sturgeon Co- Management Board that looks after sturgeon upstream of the Kelsey dam. As part of this initiative York Factory is conducting a Sturgeon Traditional Knowledge study. For this study, Jimmy Beardy is learning from York Factory members about the community s knowledge and experience of sturgeon on the lower Nelson River, Hayes River and in the Split Lake area. Keeyask Cree Nations Youth Gathering YFFN and FLCN organized a 3-day KCN youth gathering from August 20 22, 2012 in Bird, MB. This gathering brought together Elders, adults and youth from the KCNs to participate in workshops. The gathering began with lighting a fire that was maintained over the 3 days. The gathering included opening remarks from the Chiefs, a one-day career fair and various workshops, such as family history, story telling, and the history of Manitoba Hydro. Want more information? For more information visit our website ( or the Keeyask Partnership s website ( You can also contact the Community Liaisons (Evelyn Beardy and Marie Ryle-Beardy) at the Future Development office at Important Projects Important Projects 14

9 F YORK I R S T FACTORY N A T I O N Keeyask update.