First Nations

We believe in the power of partnerships. We also believe we have a responsibility, whenever possible, to help create opportunities that can benefit all Yukoners, including the territory's First Nations citizens.

Mayo-Dawson Transmission Line

When the decision was made to build the transmission line from the Mayo hydro facilities to Dawson City, Yukon Energy signed a benefit agreement with the First Nation of the Nacho Nyak Dun and the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation to ensure local employment and business opportunities.

The Nacho Nyak Dun Development Corporation (the business arm of the First Nation) worked with a Mayo company to form Silver Trail Contracting. In partnership with a Whitehorse firm, Silver Trail Contracting won a major clearing and burning contract for the project.

Training Program

Training dollars also flow from the Mayo to Dawson Transmission Line Benefit Agreement. Annually, Yukon Energy gives the Nacho Nyak Dun and Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nations $15,000 each for apprenticeship and training opportunities. This money is going a long way in helping the First Nations achieve their training needs and find meaningful employment.

Scholarships

Another part of the benefit agreement we signed with the Nacho Nyak Dun and Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nations involves financial opportunities for beneficiaries who are pursuing post-secondary studies. Each year, Yukon Energy awards two $1,000 scholarships (one to a member of each First Nation) to help towards tuition, books and other educational expenses.

Carmacks-Stewart Transmission Project

Part of our work towards getting the necessary approvals for the Carmacks-Stewart Crossing transmission line involved meaningful and on-going consultations with the Northern Tutchone First Nations, project area residents, Renewable Resource Council members, government departments and other members of the public. We worked closely with them to select the route for the proposed transmission line. With their input, the route design was refined to avoid – wherever possible -- wetlands, traplines and associated camps/cabins.

Yukon Energy also reached a project agreement with the Northern Tutchone First Nations, which addressed such issues as land use and socio-economic benefits for their members. The First Nations partnered with other companies to do the line clearing and construction, which began late in 2007.

Yukon Energy entered into a timber salvage agreement with the Yukon government and Northern Tutchone First Nations that allowed for more than 5,600 cubic metres of timber to be salvaged using environmental best practices.

In total, it's estimated that approximately 200 Yukoners worked on this project in one way or other, many of those workers being First Nations members.

Yukon Energy is now working with the Northern Tutchone First Nations on Stage 2 of the transmission line, which will run from Pelly Crossing to Stewart Crossing. The Stage 2 line is expected to be in service by late 2010 or early 2011.