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Relations with Indigenous Peoples

Enbridge is committed to respectful relations, early engagement and meaningful dialogue with our First Nation, Inuit and Métis neighbors in Canada and Native American neighbours in the United States, where we have existing operations or new projects that may in some way affect them. We share a high regard for the environment, and Enbridge is committed to respecting the land, indigenous peoples’ heritage sites, and traditional knowledge and land use. Enbridge remains committed to fair and equal access by indigenous peoples to employment opportunities that result from our operations, and we will foster their greater participation in our operations and projects.

Enbridge’s commitment is clearly stated in our Indigenous Peoples Policy, which expresses key principles for relations with indigenous peoples and was established to guide Enbridge and its employees to conduct business in a manner that recognizes and respects indigenous peoples.

In the United States, our Southern Access, Southern Lights and Alberta Clipper mainline expansion projects cross through or near three Native American reservations. New or expanded easements across these sovereign nations require permits and land agreements from the respective band governments. In 2006, we consulted with representatives of the Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe, the Fond du Lac Band of the Ojibwe and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of the Ojibwe. Consultations with the Leech Lake and Fond du Lac bands will continue in 2007 as planning for the expansion projects progresses.

In Canada, we received regulatory approval for the Waupisoo Pipeline, Stonefell Terminal and Hardisty Merchant Tank projects. We also advanced field engagement and consultation activity in preparation for the Alberta Clipper and Southern Lights mainline expansions and developed plans for Aboriginal engagement for new upstream development initiatives.

The Waupisoo Pipeline project is now under way and proceeding with the participation of First Nations and Métis communities. Some rather unique participation initiatives were developed to take into account the high value that Aboriginal communities place on the environment and arising from traditional land use studies that were carried out during the regulatory processes.

Our mainline system crosses through the Swan Lake First Nation in Manitoba. The Southern Lights and Alberta Clipper mainline expansion projects would also cross this land, and we are consulting with Chief and Council of the Swan Lake First Nation government and with the federal government regarding land agreements or expanded easements.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, Enbridge announced a slowdown on the Gateway project. Enbridge Gateway Pipelines had signed 15 agreements involving 25 Aboriginal communities and associations along the proposed right of way. In addition, Enbridge has an agreement with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, who conducted and completed an Aboriginal Interest and Use Study in 2006. We remain committed to Aboriginal skills development and training in cooperation with existing institutions and programs to ensure that Aboriginal people will have the skills necessary to participate in the Gateway project or other opportunities.

Enbridge Gateway Pipelines joined with Royal Roads University and the Government of British Columbia to support a 10-month community governance and employment readiness program with Yekooche First Nation. Also, Enbridge Gateway Pipelines has entered into a three-year commitment to assist the Haisla Capacity Development Society to support Haisla students enrolled in training at the Kitimat Valley Institute.

In 2006, Enbridge again was the lead corporate sponsor of the Dominion Institute of Canada’s Aboriginal Writing Challenge, a national short-story contest through which young Aboriginal Canadians representing two age categories showcase their creative writing talent and compete for cash prizes. The 2006 winners were Sable Sweetgrass (age 19-29 category) from Kainai First Nation (Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta for her story “Maternal Ties”; and Alicia Eliott (age 14-18 category) from Osweken, Ontario, for her story “Across the Barricade”.

For many years, Enbridge has provided funding for scholarships at the Leech Lake and Fond Du Lac Tribal Colleges in northern Minnesota. In addition, an Enbridge grant helps underwrite the participation of Leech Lake band members in the wildland firefighting school offered at Itasca Community College, also in Minnesota.


The Inuit and Dene Games 2007
History was made in Whitehorse in the winter of 2007. For the first time, traditional Inuit and Dene games were included as demonstration sports in the Canada Winter Games. It was also the first time the games were hosted north of the 60th parallel. Enbridge was extremely proud, as the official sponsor of the traditional games, to celebrate and showcase the history, culture, athleticism and sportsmanship the athletes demonstrated. As the only pipeline company operating in Canada’s north, we are also very proud that our participation in the games will help provide all Canadians with a better understanding of the diversity of our vast country.

In 2006, Enbridge provided funding of $200,000 in support of the establishment of the Chair in Aboriginal Economic Development in the faculties of Business and Law at the University of Victoria. The Chair will work with Aboriginal communities, businesses and governments to foster Aboriginal economic development across Canada. This initiative was endorsed by the First Nations Summit, the B.C. Treaty Commission, the B.C. Business Council, and the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board. Specifically, the Enbridge Outreach Fund will be used to support a number of projects, symposiums and other programs of the Chair.

In 2001, Enbridge provided $150,000 in support of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology scholarship program called the Enbridge Northern Student Entrance Awards and the Enbridge Northern Student Apprenticeship Awards. In 2006, 15 scholarships were awarded for $2,750 each. In 2002, Enbridge established the endowed Enbridge Scholarship for Aboriginal Leadership at Calgary’s Mount Royal College in perpetuity in recognition of aboriginal students assuming a civic leadership role in their communities. This scholarship for $2,000 is awarded annually.

In 2003, Enbridge established the Enbridge Inc. Scholarships at York University in Toronto to support talented undergraduate students in financial need. When fully endowed in 2010, the awards will benefit annually three second-year undergraduate students: a Canadian Aboriginal student in any course of study; an Environmental Studies student; and a student in the faculty of Science and Engineering. The award is valued at $2,500.

In 2007, Enbridge was a sponsor of the traditional Inuit and Dene Games as showcased in the 2007 Canada Winter Games. In recognition of all gold medal winners, athletic scholarships were awarded to winning athletes to pursue further athletic training and cultural and personal development opportunities. Bursaries totalling $52,500 were provided to the winners.

 

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