SaskPower and the Saskatchewan First Nations Resource Centre of Excellence have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), pledging to work together to find additional opportunities to include First Nations in the province’s power system.

The announcement was made today at the Saskatchewan First Nations Energy and Natural Resource Forum and Leadership Summit, which explores the potential for First Nations leadership in the North American energy sector.

“Our government, and SaskPower, remain committed to building respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships with First Nations people and businesses as we work to advance economic reconciliation,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for SaskPower. “We look forward to working with the Centre for Excellence to strengthen and expand the vital role that First Nations already play in Saskatchewan’s power system.”

“This MOU signals First Nations’ openness to prosperity through partnerships and co-development of opportunities and outlines a pathway forward for working together,” said Sheldon Wuttunee, President and CEO of the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence. “Opportunities to support the planning and build out of the power system in Saskatchewan will transform our communities, by growing our economic participation and revitalizing relationships between First Nations and the province.”

The MOU focuses on six areas: engagement, workforce development, supply chain development, energy development, Indigenous equity participation, and use of EXPORT, a database of training, employment and supplier opportunities.

“SaskPower respects the rights of all First Nations and we appreciate the opportunity to work with organizations such as the Centre for Excellence as we support Indigenous involvement in the power system,” said Rupen Pandya, SaskPower President and CEO. “In 2023, SaskPower committed to spend $1 billion with First Nations and Métis suppliers over 10 years, and we are well on track to meet that target.”

The Saskatchewan First Nations Centre of Excellence is wholly-owned by 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. It was founded in 2009 by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and has a mandate to support First Nations participation in the responsible development of energy and natural resources within their Treaty lands and traditional territories.

Learn more at skfncentre.ca.

At a glance...

• SaskPower and The First Nations Resource Centre of Excellence have signed an MOU on First Nations participation in the power system
• Learn more at skfncentre.ca