Aboriginal Portal

Waterpower Working Group Logo

The OWA proudly co-chairs the Waterpower Working Group. This group was established in 2004 to:

  • Provide advice and assistance to Government with respect to the Waterpower Site Release and Development Review Policy;
  • Foster collaboration and cooperation between Aboriginal communities, Government and Industry with regard to the development of new waterpower sites in Ontario;
  • Raise awareness and understanding of the value of waterpower production in achieving Ontario’s renewable energy targets; and
  • Work in collaboration to build capacity within the waterpower working group partners and among those who have an interest in participating in the development of waterpower opportunities.

The Waterpower Working Group includes representation from Aboriginal organizations, the provincial government, the federal government and industry. Visit the WPWG website at www.wpwg.org

The group has worked on several initiatives designed to assist Aboriginal communities in becoming partners in, or proponents of, waterpower development opportunities, see a sample of the groups various initiatives below.

Visit the Waterpower Working Group Website at www.wpwg.org.

Aboringinal Funding Continuum

The Aboriginal Funding Continuum is one of the several resources developed by the Water Power Working Group (WPWG). The need for such a tool was clearly identified following a survey of First Nations communities conducted in 2009 by the WPWG. The assessment identified there were significant gaps between First Nation's aspirations and their ability at the community level to participate in waterpower project opportunities. 

The Aboriginal Funding continuum is a live web-based visual tool which clearly identifies all funding opportunities available for First Nations interested in becoming a partner in or a proponent of a waterpower project. The continumm is based on the typical development cycle of a waterpower project, and is categorized based on the type of funding being applied for. 

The goal of the Continumm is to create an effective, user-friendly tool to assist potential First Nations proponents, partners and industry in navigating through the various funding opportunities, to quickly identify potential funding programs and to understand the criteria to apply. 

Access Continuum

Chiefs of Ontario First Nations Environmental Assessment Toolkit for Ontario

On September 28th - 29th, 2011, the OWA and the Chiefs of Ontario hosted a joint workshop focused on the new First Nations Environnmental Assessment Toolkit for Ontario. The workshop was attended by First Nations, Industry and Government and focused specifically on Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge. The workshop was captured on video, below please links to the various segments.

For further information regarding the Toolkit or to purchase a copy, please visit http://www.cooeatoolkit.org/

Workshop Presentations - Day 1

Workshop Presentations - Day 2

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNITY BASED APPROACHES TO EA, Gertie Beaucage, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle
 

Waterpower 101 Presentations

Waterpower 101 (video - wmv)

Download PDF version of this presentation (pdf)

Waterpower 101 Cree Translation (mp3)

Waterpower Opportunities for Aboriginal communities (pdf)

 

Waterpower Videos

The Story of Waterpower (English)
The Source of Waterpower (Cree)
The Benefits of Waterpower (Ojibwa)

For more videos, see our video page or check us out on YouTubeYouTube

Aboriginal Resources

Wabun Tribal Council's Kapuskasing River Hydro Project (pdf)

 Aboriginal Community Guide to Waterpower Development

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This guide is an overview of the many considerations involved in a waterpower project. It is designed to support Aboriginal communities who will be proponents (i.e., the developer), partners or participate otherwise in waterpower projects. The information is also of value for other groups new to waterpower development and those who want to partner with Aboriginal communities.

For ordering information, check out our OWA Resources page.

 Building Capacity Together - An Introduction to Waterpower (DVD)

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This 16 hour self-directed learning DVD is the result of a video recording of the Building Capacity Together Workshop held in Northern Ontario in 2007. The Aboriginal communities and organizations who participated in the 2 ½ day workshop received training regarding several subjects including:

  • An overview of Ontario’s energy system and targets;
  • Waterpower development and Crown land opportunities
  • Aboriginal business relationships
  • Waterpower procurement
  • Environmental considerations and mitigation
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Prefeasibility and Hydrology
  • Engineering concepts
  • Transmission
  • Financing analysis
  • Project development

This video can be viewed in its entirety or by individual subject as selected in the root menu. Additionally, this video has also been translated in to both Ojibwa and Oji-Cree.

For ordering information, check out our OWA Resources page.

 Building Capacity Together - An Introduction to Aboriginal Relationships (DVD)

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This video is the result of a video recording of the Building Capacity Together in the Waterpower Sector – An Introduction to Aboriginal Relationships workshop held in 2008. Speakers cover such topics as:

  • Historical perspective on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights
  • Recent Case Law and its application
  • The Crown’s Duty to Consult
  • An introduction to Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge
  • Aboriginal Community Economic Development
  • Case Example, Wabun/Hydromega

This video can be viewed in its entirety or by individual subject as selected in the root menu. Additionally, this video has also been translated in to both Ojibwa and Oji-Cree.

For ordering information, check out our OWA Resources page.