GETTING IT RIGHT. Community Engagement for the proposed LNG Project. Huu-ay-aht First Nations. A Rich History, A Bright Future.

Transcription

1 GETTING IT RIGHT Community Engagement for the proposed LNG Project Huu-ay-aht First Nations A Rich History, A Bright Future.

2 Community Engagement On May 2, Ta yii Ha wilth Tl iishin (Derek Peters), along with Huu-ay-aht Executive Council, signed an Opportunity Development Agreement (ODA) with Steelhead LNG on behalf of the H aw iih Council. This Agreement began the partnership between Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht First Nations. From the beginning of the proposed Project, the Huu-ay-aht Government and Steelhead LNG have been committed to making sure Huu-ay-aht citizens are engaged and informed about the proposed Project and that Huu-ay-aht citizens have many opportunities to provide their input and express their questions, concerns and comments in order to help better shape the proposed Project. H aw iih Huu-ay-aht Citizens As caretakers of the Ha houlthee, it was important to begin our engagement process on the proposed Project with the H aw iih. Our H aw iih have been at the forefront of all engagement efforts and have provided input at several crucial stages. Beginning with an announcement of the partnership in Anacla, our next goal was to sit down with our Huu-ay-aht First Nations citizens and share information about the proposed Project. Similar announcements took place in Vancouver and Port Alberni for citizens in those communities. This community engagement has been ongoing since we announced our partnership. HOW DID THIS RELATIONSHIP START? Huu-ay-aht has an ongoing relationship with the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) as a result of the work we did together on the transshipment hub. PAPA introduced the Huu-ay-aht Executive Council to Steelhead LNG, and Steelhead LNG proposed the project. 2

3 Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht have committed to get it right. That means that we need to have the full engagement of citizens, other First Nations potentially affected by the proposed Project as well as the public and stakeholders. We need to understand the concerns of citizens and listen to their input in order to make sure that, should the proposed Project move forward, it is designed in a way that takes all of that into account. Huu-ay-aht Government Staff and Committees and HDC Staff Neighbouring First Nations General Public After Huu-ay-aht staff were advised of the proposed Project and a media release was issued, details about the partnership were shared with neighbouring First Nations communities. Finally, the general public was informed through various events such as a presentation to the Port Alberni Chamber of Commerce and an information booth at the Fall Fair. Input from Huu-ay-aht citizens is essential both now and if the proposed Project moves forward after the People s Assembly. This engagement would continue through development, into operation and during decommissioning. 3

4 How can feedback influence the design of the proposed Project? Already, there are some examples of how early engagement on the proposed Project has influenced the potential design of the LNG facility, if the proposed Project moves forward. Santa Maria Island: Huu-ay-aht told Steelhead LNG early on that Santa Maria Island cannot be touched or negatively affected. Cemetery: Huu-ay-aht told Steelhead LNG that the cemetery at Sarita Bay cannot be touched and it needs to keep accessible. Because we were able to express this to Steelhead LNG through early engagement, they have respected and agreed to both of these commitments. Feedback and participation from Huu-ay-aht citizens through the next phases of the proposed Project will ensure that it is developed in a way that respects the culture, environment and Nation. SARITA RIVER THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE Early in our engagements, the Nation told Steelhead LNG that the Sarita River is the Heart of the People and cannot be negatively affected by the proposed Project. Because of the importance of our Sarita River, one of the conditions of the proposed Project, as listed in the LNG Motion at the People s Assembly, requires that some income generated by the proposed Project is used to enhance the natural resources throughout the ha houlthee of our Hạw iih. Specifically this funding needs to restore and enhance the Sarita River and the marine and aquatic resources in the surrounding area, including the full return of the Sarita River salmon run. This condition was developed through engagement with our Hạw iih. 4

5 What engagement has been done so far? Since July, Huu-ay-aht and Steelhead LNG have held monthly Community Engagement Sessions in Port Alberni, Anacla and Vancouver. Due to requests from our citizens we also began hosting Community Engagement Sessions in Nanaimo and Victoria in October and November. These sessions offered citizens an opportunity to get information on the proposed Project and ask questions of both Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht representatives. Throughout the process, representatives from Huu-ay-aht and Steelhead LNG were available for home visits, brochures and other materials were mailed out, videos were shared and information and FAQs were posted on the Nations website and Facebook Page. We have organized site visits to both Sarita Bay and Kiixʔin. On November 19, Huu-ay-aht citizens, a member of Executive Council, Steelhead LNG CEO Nigel Kuzemko, and staff members from the Huu-ay-aht Government, Huu-ay-aht Development Corporation and Parks Canada enjoyed a tour of Kiixʔin. The Opportunity Development Agreement signed with Huu-ay-aht First Nations includes a commitment of $25,000 from Steelhead LNG towards the preservation of Kiixʔin. 5

6 If the proposed Project continues after the People s Assembly, what engagement will happen? Stage 1: Preliminary Assessment and Screening (2014) Stage 2: Feasibility ( ) Stage 3: Basis of Design ( ) Stage 4: Front End Engineering and Design ( ) Final Investment Decision (2018) Ongoing Huu-ay-aht Citizen Engagement If the proposed Project continues into the next stage, the Huu-ay-aht Government and Steelhead LNG have committed to continuous and extensive engagement with citizens to ensure that concerns are understood, feedback is incorporated into the design of the proposed LNG facility and any environmental studies and ensure that citizens are informed on the results of studies being conducted. Huu-ay-aht and Steelhead LNG will also be engaging with neighbouring First Nations, the public, including the communities of Bamfield and Port Alberni, and stakeholders who may be affected by the proposed Project. DID YOU KNOW... during the Environmental Assessment process, the Huu-ay-aht Government, through its own internal process, will be a regulatory body with decision-making authority just like the provincial and federal governments? (see the Caring for our Ha houlthee Brochure for more information in the Environmental Assessment process). 6

7 Facility Construction ( ) LNG Plant Operates (25-40 years) Plant Decomissioned Next Steps for Sarita Bay What are some examples of what engagement will look like, if we move forward? Community engagement sessions at least every two months to share information and listen to feedback from citizens Newsletters at least every two months, alternating with the community engagement sessions to share information and provide updates to citizens Establishing a committee of Huu-ay-aht citizen representatives to provide advice and feedback to Steelhead LNG and the Huu-ay-aht Government on the proposed Project Including Huu-ay-aht citizens in the fieldwork for the environmental studies to make sure Huu-ay-aht input is incorporated from the beginning of the studies Sharing the results of the environmental, technical and other studies conducted to get citizen s feedback Formal consultation through the Environmental Assessment process with citizens, neighbouring First Nations, the public and stakeholders to understand concerns and work together to develop measures to address those concerns Huu-ay-aht s engagement with citizens will continue to evolve as the proposed Project moves forward. In response to feedback from its citizens, the Nation is planning to put together a committee of citizens who would play an active role in the proposed Project, including through reviewing and providing feedback and advice on studies, helping develop community engagement plans, and participating actively in the Environmental Assessment process. If the proposed Project moves into Stage 2, Huu-ay-aht would investigate ways to develop such a committee. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THIS RIGHT! We want to hear from you! Do you have suggestions on how we better can engage our citizens if the proposed Project moves forward? Please contact us by , facebook, phone, in-person, text message or twitter. 7

8 For more information, please contact: Annie Merritt Huu-ay-aht First Nations Port Alberni Government Office 3483 Third Avenue Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4E4 Phone: Fax: Facebook: Huu-ay-aht First Nations Tiffany Murray Steelhead LNG Howe Street Vancouver, BC V6C 0B4 Phone: Facebook: Steelhead LNG Huu-ay-aht First Nations A Rich History, A Bright Future.