Renewing what’s possible

We believe in building relationships based on dialogue and trust. From the start of our British Columbian wind projects, we have engaged local communities through a transparent and effective public consultation and information distribution process with the following principles:  

• Commitment to consultation early in the project development process, and ongoing consultation through Environmental Assessment application, construction, and operation of our wind projects
• Open and honest dialogue about potential project impacts
• Identify and resolve potential issues

Finavera has raised awareness about the proposed projects to ensure those potentially affected by, or interested in, the project have had the opportunity to voice their opinions, provide support and allow emerging concerns to be addressed.

Finavera has developed a comprehensive stakeholder list that includes:  

• All representative community groups in the project areas
• Other land and resource, tenure, and permit holders
• Local governments
• Local businesses
• Educational institutes and emergency responders
• Members of the general public

First Nations Consultation

First Nations engagement and consultation is intended to be an ongoing and transparent process. By engaging the First Nations and Aboriginal communities at an early stage of project planning, potential concerns brought to the fore can often be addressed adequately and efficiently to the satisfaction of all parties early in the project design process.

The overall objectives of Finavera’s First Nations consultation are to develop positive long-term business relationships between Finavera and the First Nations that the company has the opportunity to work with.  These long-term business relationships provide Finavera with the ability to consult and resolve potential concerns specific to project-related impacts, and to earnestly explore ongoing First Nations opportunities for sustainable business development, employment and capacity building.

Milestones to date:    

• Memorandum of Understanding signed with Halfway River First Nation
• Participation Agreement signed with McLeod Indian Band
• Relationship Protocol signed with the Saulteau First Nations
• Developing internship and apprenticeship programs

Surrounding Aboriginal Communities

Saulteau First Nations    

The primary community for the Saulteau First Nations is located on the northeast side of Moberly Lake, which is ~20km from the community of Chetwynd. The Saulteau First Nations speak two traditional languages: Cree, an Algonquian language, and Dunne-za (Beaver), an Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit language.

West Moberly First Nations  

The primary community for the West Moberly First Nations  is located on the northwest side of Moberly Lake ~30km from the community of Chetwynd. The West Moberly First Nations’ traditional language is Dunne-za (Beaver).  

Halfway River First Nation

The Halfway River First Nation community is located ~75 km northwest of Fort St. John on Highway 97 neighbouring the community of Wonowon, British Columbia. The Nation’s traditional language is Dunne-za (Beaver). 

McLeod Lake Indian Band

The McLeod Lake Indian Band members are known as "Tse'Khene" - the people of the rock, in reference to the Rocky Mountains. The Tse’Khene have a small reserve adjacent to the historical trading post on the shore of the McLeod Lake located 137 km north of Prince George on Highway 97. The native language of the McLeod Lake Indian Band is a dialect of the Sekani language, which belongs to the Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit language.  

Doig River First Nation

The Doig River First Nation takes its name from the Doig River running through the reserve and has strong ties with the Blueberry River First Nation. The Doig River First Nations traditional language is Dunne-za (Beaver).

Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society

The Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society is the only historic Métis settlement community in recognized in British Columbia. The community is located at Kelly Lake, which is approximately 80 km southwest of Dawson Creek. While Michif, a mix of Cree and French, is the traditional Métis language, Cree is predominantly the language spoken in the community.