I was honoured to join the Sayisi Dene First Nation, Chief Kelly Ann Thom-Duck and council members, provincial ministers, at Manitoba Hydro headquarters in Winnipeg for the announcement of new $21.5 million federal funding supporting the renewable energy project by Dene communities, on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Sayisi Dene is building a renewable energy microgrid for Tadoule Lake: solar power, battery storage, and smart controls working together for clean, renewable energy. This first-of-its-kind project is a proof of what is possible when Indigenous communities lead their own solutions.

Our government is proud to support Sayisi Dene First Nation as they lead the way toward cleaner, more reliable energy for their community. Projects like this one reflects the Nation’s vision for greater energy independence, a cleaner future and lasting prosperity.

 

  1. I joined federal ministers, Grand Chief Garrison Settee, Chief David Monias, and the Cross Lake Council in Pimicikamak to see firsthand the aftermath of the power crisis that devastated this community over the new year. We had a serious roundtable discussion on action plans to ensure this never happens again – not just in Cross Lake, but in any of our northern communities.

This included representatives from:

Thank you for allowing us into your community during this difficult time. Your strength and resilience are remarkable, but you shouldn’t have to be this strong. You deserve infrastructure that works, and leadership that shows up when you need them. I’m committed to making sure the conversations we had result in real change. Migwetch to Chief Monias and the Council for your leadership during this crisis and for hosting us and being resilient in these times.

#CrossLake #Pimicikamak #ChurchillKeewatinookAski