“The bear print is not just a symbol. It’s a movement that affirms our identity,” states the First Nations Identification website.
As a non-profit organization owned by Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, Développement PEK is proud to perpetuate the culture of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh. Our collaborations with other nations also enrich this culture.
Over the past few months, Développement PEK has given a great deal of thought to ways of further emphasizing this unique identity to team members and collaborators alike, in order to carry out our role successfully.
Obtaining First Nations Identification certification is an important step in this process, which will take us even further in our evolution.
Développement PEK is proud to operate and develop community energy projects with this vision in mind.
Economic reconciliation represents an avenue for many First Nations to take charge of their own development, using the resources of their ancestral territory. One of these avenues is through partnerships to establish fair and equitable relationships.
In an article published in Le Devoir, Alexandre Bacon, founding president and senior advisor of the Ashukan Institute, cites as an example the Mashteuiatsh community’s decision to develop its territory’s energy resources at the turn of the 1990s. This decision led to the construction of the Minashtuk power station on the Mistassibi River. This first project paved the way for other partnerships to develop mini-power stations.
Today, the community is taking advantage of this experience to develop new renewable energy projects, and is looking to the future.
Chief Gilbert Dominique of Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, ChiefVivianne Chilton of Conseil des Attikamekw de Wemotaci, Grand chief Rémy Vincent of Nation huronne-wendat, and Guy Veillette, mayor of Saint-Narcisse and prefect of the MRC des Chenaux. (Photo : Énergie communautaire de la rivière Batiscan)
The Saint-Narcisse municipality, the Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci, the Nation huronne-wendat, Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan and the MRC des Chenaux have entered into an historic partnership to carry out the project to revive the Saint-Narcisse generating station currently owned by Hydro-Québec under the community energy formula.
The five communities have ratified their agreement to create the limited partnership Énergie communautaire de la rivière Batiscan. This new organization will be responsible for bringing the project to fruition.
“We are more mobilized than ever to breathe new life into this power station. I’m particularly proud of the relationships we’ve built with our partners in the Atikamekw, Huron-Wendat and Innu nations to bring this project to fruition. There are still a number of stages to go through before we can hope to get the power station up and running again, but today’s event gives us every hope of succeeding, and thus fostering the development of our respective communities“, noted Guy Veillette, mayor of Saint-Narcisse and prefect of the MRC des Chenaux.
“First Nations must be involved if we are to achieve our energy transition objectives. This project proves that it is possible to unite our efforts and establish true nation-to-nation relations,” said Vivianne Chilton, Chief of the Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci.
“The Huron-Wendat Nation is proud to join forces with its Atikamekw and Innu brothers and sisters, as well as the municipality of Saint-Narcisse and the MRC des Chenaux, for the relaunch of the Saint-Narcisse power plant. By generating tangible spinoffs for the local environment, both allochthonous and aboriginal, this community project will provide tangible proof that true reconciliation with First Nations depends in large part on economic development. The Huron-Wendat Nation is recognized as a key partner in the economic projects that take place on its territory, and this one is no exception,” says Rémy Vincent, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
The Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation was invited to join the project because of the expertise it has developed over more than 20 years in renewable community energy projects. With this formula, the benefits generated by the projects accrue entirely to the partners. Développement PEK, a non-profit organization 100% owned by the community, will provide the resources and expertise needed to carry out such a project.
“Our First Nation is very proud to be part of this partnership. It’s a great recognition of the expertise we’ve developed in this field. The community energy model has proven to be a winning approach for all partners. We hope that our model will continue to be exported, so that we can continue to create development opportunities for other communities and other First Nations,” says Gilbert Dominique, Chief of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation.
The municipality of Saint-Narcisse holds a 30% stake in the limited partnership. The Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci, the Huron-Wendat Nation and Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan (Lac-Saint-Jean Innu First Nation) each hold 20%. The MRC des Chenaux owns 10%.
Next steps
The incorporation of Énergie communautaire de la rivière Batiscan, a Limited Partnership, is one of the first steps in the project. Each partner will appoint non-elected directors to represent them on the partnership. It is this board of directors that will make the decisions concerning the project from now on.
Hydro-Québec is currently analyzing the possibility of allowing the community to bring the Saint-Narcisse hydroelectric facility back into operation, as well as the conditions surrounding this eventuality. An initial visit to the facilities was made in recent weeks, and discussions are continuing.
A development plan will be drawn up in the near future to provide a clearer picture of the costs involved in the refurbishment, as well as a more precise timetable. More details will be released in the coming months.
We will ensure that the public and organizations concerned by the project are well informed and consulted at every stage.
During the presentation of Hydro-Québec’s 2035 action plan to elected officials in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, Mathieu Johnson, Hydro-Québec’s Vice-President of Strategy and Development, pointed out that there were several possible ways of achieving the set objectives.
By 2035, Hydro-Québec aims to add 8,000 to 9,000 megawatts of power.
One way of doing this is through community energy development projects.
The realization of community energy projects for Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan and its partners is at the heart of Développement PEK’s mission. This openness can only benefit communities.
The Chief of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, Gilbert Dominique, wants his community to develop wind power projects. The Chamouchouane sector near La Doré has a development potential of 600 MW. He hopes to develop an equal relationship with Hydro-Québec. He also believes that his community is capable of developing wind power projects in the same way it has developed mini-hydro projects.
Développement PEK, a non-profit organization created to support the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation in the development of energy projects, is preparing to play an important role in the development of this sector, in keeping with the mandate entrusted to us by the council.
After developing community dam projects in Lac-Saint-Jean, Mashteuiatsh is now being asked to share its expertise with other regions of Quebec.
Le Quotidien features a series of articles on the expertise developed by the community, the projects currently under development and the benefits generated by the projects.
Among them is the project developed by Énergie Matawak, which was confirmed on February 7, 2024.
Hydro-Québec recently unveiled its action plan entitled « Towards a Decarbonized and Prosperous Québec ». In addition to increasing production and developing new projects, the company also mentioned that working more closely with Aboriginal communities was among its priorities.
As a non-profit organization 100% owned by Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, Développement PEK will closely follow discussions between the company and Indigenous communities. We will be ready to play the role entrusted to us by the council.
In his column, Ken Rock illustrates the challenge of economic reconciliation with Hydro-Québec. To read the article, click here.
On November 2, 2023, Hydro-Québec unveiled its development plan, which calls for the addition of 60 terawatt-hours of energy by 2035 and 200 terawatt-hours by 2050 to meet Quebec’s energy needs.
Hydro-Québec CEO Michaël Sabia mentioned that he would like Hydro-Québec to partner financially with Indigenous communities to carry out projects, rather than offering them compensation.
The revenues generated by the mini-hydropower plants are an important aspect of Mashteuiatsh’s financial autonomy. Profits can be used to develop or finance projects or organizations that play an important role in the community.
In recent years, the community of Mashteuiatsh has invested a great deal of effort and funds in the hydroelectric power sector, enabling it to develop credible expertise in the field. Développement PEK manages the Minashtuk, Val-Jalbert, Onzième Chute and Shipiss mini-power stations for its corporate clients. The funds generated represent an important lever for development.
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