Education / training initiatives

Electricity Canada and our members are committed to finding new ways of engaging and building respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians Section 92 of the TRC Calls to Action specifically notes Indigenous Peoples should have equitable access to education opportunities in the corporate sector . It also recommends the corporate sector provides education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal Peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and Indigenous Crown Relations

Electricity Canada members offer many education-related opportunities for management, staff as well as Indigenous Peoples Various companies are implementing Indigenous-based cultural competency guidelines and training into their corporate framework . Below are a few examples of member education initiatives .

ATCO supports First Nation, Inuit and Métis students across Canada

ATCO’s Indigenous Education Awards Program provides financial assistance to Indigenous youths in their quest for higher education . These awards, bursaries and scholarships are given to students who demonstrate leadership capabilities and strive to be role models in their schools and communities There are three different awards available: Merit Awards ($500) – for students completing Grades 10 – 12, including upgrading; Bursaries ($1,000) – for students enrolled in trade, diploma or certificate programs; and Scholarships ($1,500) –for students enrolled in degree or graduate programs .

BC Hydro provides cultural awareness training & educational support

BC Hydro offers in-depth cultural awareness training programs to employees and contractors, with materials and content developed by the utility's own Indigenous employees . The company has set a five-year objective to have at least 80 per cent of employees take Indigenous awareness training . As of December 2022, 64 per cent of employees have completed one or both courses, exceeding its 2023 target of 55 per cent .

In addition to these training courses, BC Hydro hosts cultural awareness training events throughout the year, and continues to provide educational funding to support Indigenous youth pursuing post-secondary education The scholarships and bursaries program offered 37 awards in 2021-2022 valued at $180,000 . Since 2018, over 150 students have received awards for their studies in degree, diploma, certificate, or technical/trades programs .

Capital Power provides scholarships to Indigenous students

In British Columbia, Capital Power provides scholarships to members of the McLeod Lake Indian Band, Saulteau First Nations, and West Moberly First Nations The first grants (four annually) were awarded from the Capital Power Scholarship Fund for Haudenosaunee Youth through the Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office . The scholarships focus on supporting students pursuing educational opportunities in environmental studies, engineering, and business .

Elexicon Energy takes action to increase Indigenous-related cultural competencies

Elexicon Energy, an Ontario based electricity company, is taking steps with Indigenous partners to increase Indigenous-based cultural competencies throughout the organization The organization has hired an Indigenous-owned consulting firm to commission maps of the organization’s service territory overlayed with information on treaties and the Indigenous communities that have inhabited the land for millennia . Maps were shared with all staff as a resource for increasing awareness and understanding about the history of the land that the organization operates on and its intersection with Indigenous communities . The organization also created a Land Acknowledgement that was shared with all staff . Elexicon Energy has also begun work on a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that will continue into 2023 . In the early stages of the RAP, all executive leaders met with Indigenous consultants to increase their awareness about the impacts of colonization and residential schools, but also to learn about how to be partners in building respectful and mutually beneficial relationships

FortisAlberta implements mandatory webbased training for staff

FortisAlberta has implemented a mandatory web-based education initiative on the history of Indigenous Peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Treaties and Indigenous rights, Indigenous law and Crown relations . Additionally, FortisAlberta has created land acknowledgment plaques for each of its offices throughout the province . These plaques are a reminder of its commitment to treating the land, and each other, with respect and honor now and into the future FortisAlberta has also been active in educating the communities on how regulated utilities operate

Hydro One invests in Indigenous student scholarships

On National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2022, Hydro One announced the recipients of the Leonard S (Tony) Mandamin Scholarship A group of 20 Indigenous students from Ontario who are enrolled in a recognized university or college program were selected to each receive $10,000 and an opportunity to complete a paid work term at Hydro One . The scholarship is named after the Honourable Justice Leonard S . Tony Mandamin, one of the first Indigenous electrical engineering graduates in Ontario . The Leonard S . (Tony) Mandamin Scholarship is part of Hydro One’s commitment to advance meaningful action on reconciliation which includes building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse communities found across Ontario This includes increasing the number of Indigenous employees at Hydro One by creating education and employment opportunities for future generations

Manitoba Hydro invests in Indigenous cultural awareness for employees

As part of Manitoba Hydro’s reconciliation journey, it shares and supports opportunities for all employees to expand their knowledge and awareness of Indigenous cultures and history In spring of 2021, a dedicated Indigenous Initiatives Advisor position was established to implement a range of learning activities for employees across the organization . These have included virtual presentations, smudges and hands-on learning opportunities like bannockmaking and learning about and harvesting medicines from our Indigenous roof-top garden at our downtown Winnipeg corporate headquarters

In addition, Manitoba Hydro has offered a two-day Indigenous cultural awareness workshop and, more recently, has developed a mandatory e-learning course to help employees better understand Manitoba Hydro’s history and ongoing relationships with Indigenous communities throughout the province . Through these offerings, employees learn how Manitoba Hydro is addressing the legacy of its early developments, why having strong relationships with Indigenous communities is a priority for the company, and what they can do, in their own jobs, to support Manitoba Hydro’s efforts to build strong, respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples

New Brunswick Power offers cultural awareness programs to employees

New Brunswick Power (NB Power) offers various avenues to employees to build cultural awareness and sensitivity to New Brunswick’s Indigenous Peoples These range from orientation sessions developed internally with input provided from Elders and Indigenous representatives, to experiential exercises conducted by Indigenous Peoples to inviting employees to attend Pow Wows and other culturally significant events . Additionally, in partnership with the Province of New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick and the Mi’kmaq/Wolastoqey Center, a mandatory comprehensive online cultural awareness session is also under development .

Nova Scotia Power Inc. invests in Indigenous history awareness

Nova Scotia Power Inc (NSPI) and its parent company, Emera, have recently committed to investing $50,000 over the next five years in the Downie Wenjack Fund, an organization dedicated to providing resources to educators across Canada to help teach students about the legacy of residential schools Through this collaboration, NSPI is also installing a Legacy Space at its head office in Halifax to provide employees, clients, and guests the opportunity to learn about Mi’kmaw culture and the true history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Ontario Power Generation Invests in John Wesley Beaver Scholarship Awards

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) awarded six scholarships to talented and deserving Indigenous students in 2022, which marked the second year of a three-year agreement, whereby Indspire has assumed the administration of OPG’s annual John Wesley Beaver Scholarship Awards (JWBSA) . As part of the agreement, OPG contributed $100,000 for the JWBSA through Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards program . OPG’s investment with Indspire activates a fund matching program by the Government of Canada, raising the JWBSA fund to a total of $200,000 . OPG’s strategic partnership with Indspire allowed OPG to increase the JWBSA from $5,000 to $10,000 per award and will increase the number of scholarships annually awarded to Indigenous students, from two to six both 2021 and 2022 and eight awards in 2023 – for a total of 20 awards over three years

Ontario Power Generation invests in Indigenous education

In October 2021, OPG made a $5-million investment in its decade-long partnership with Durham College and Ontario Tech University This funding will assist in recruiting and retaining under-represented students, such as women and Indigenous Peoples, to build a diverse pipeline of graduates for the energy sector in skilled trades, science, engineering, and technology Future initiatives are a one-week camp in 2023, Minds Over Metal (MOM) for Secondary Schools students with a goal to fund all Indigenous MOM camps with support from OPG’s Corporate Citizenship Program As well as establish formal relationships with Indigenous Law Student Associations to develop summer work experience and articling opportunities

SaskPower undertakes Indigenous awareness training

SaskPower employees from across the company engaged in Indigenous Awareness Training sessions throughout 2021-2022 More than 300 employees participated in the full-day training offerings The interactive sessions provided education on Indigenous terminology, myths and truths of Indigenous communities and aimed to break stereotypes . Participants learned the journey and challenges faced by First Nation and Métis people . SaskPower business divisions can continuously take part in training as ongoing professional development . In addition, SaskPower invested more than $150,000 toward Indigenous education opportunities in 2022 .

TC Energy supports youth education

The University of Calgary is known for its research, engineering and business programs and supports Indigenous students via the Indigenous Students Circle, Office of Indigenous Engagement, and the Native Centre . TC Energy partnered with the University with its sponsorship of their Ótáp ímisskaan Youth Leadership Program, Indigenous Graduation Celebration, and Indigenous Student Emergency Financial Support In addition, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology supports Indigenous students with a tailed upgrading program, the Indigenous Students Alliance, and through the Chinook Lodge Resource Centre TC Energy also sponsors their Career Trades Program and Metis Education Fund TC Energy provides funding to enable tutorial assistance and a tutoring program, student success seminars, student emergency funding, and sponsored luncheons at the Chinook Lodge and the Indigenous Student’s Centre

TC Energy invests in pre-apprentice programs

TC Energy sponsors the Trade Winds to Success’ Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, which provides Indigenous Peoples access to pre-apprenticeship training and shop experience in construction trades TC Energy is also a supporter of the Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (caISES), which provides networking, peer support and mentorship to Indigenous students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers In addition, the company sponsors the caISES National Gathering and the caISES 2021 Partnership Agreement

TransAlta partners with Indigenous communities on education

Each year, TransAlta provides $30,000 in bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous postsecondary students In addition, TransAlta has partnered with the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity to facilitate educational opportunities through the Indigenous Leadership Programs, a partnership that has been in existence for almost 40 years . TransAlta’s commitment to making education the focus of their relationship-building initiatives is a two-way road, providing opportunities to Indigenous communities while creating awareness about these communities and their unique culture to staff .