“The process that FNPA has selected (specifi-
cally with Flying Dust First Nation and their
partner) allows us to provide helpful guidance
and criteria to make each project economical,”
says Lonechild. “This will provide a template
for other First Nations to follow when it comes
to getting into the finer nuances of finalizing
a power purchase agreement, a project path-
way to get into the procurement processes.”
Indeed, FNPA has formed strategic partner-
ships with other First Nations in the procure-
ment process, for example Bullfrog Powers'
solar power projects in remote First Nations
communities across Saskatchewan, including
in Fond-du-Lac and Hatchet Lake.
LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
“I want to believe that our long-term relation-
ship going forward with SaskPower will be one
that we see enhanced participation from First
Nations in the energy sector, and a long-term
commitment (beyond our ten-year commit-
ment that expires in 2022),” says Lonechild.
“We see the same vision as SaskPower, who
are committed to increasing its target for
renewable-energy generation capacity from
25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2030 is striving
for 50 per cent renewable energy sources by
2030. We have a real commitment to seeing
that through.”
Looking forward is what FNPA does: through
prescient leadership, FNPA’s work can con-
tribute to meaning wealth creation for First
Nations and environmental stewardship for
all. Says Lonechild, “The new vision for FNPA,
from vision to implementation, can be applied
all over Canada. There are many people wait-
ing to see what can happen when we coop-
erate and work together and I think Saskatch-
ewan and Alberta are really good markets to
do that.”
FNPA sees expansion into Eastern and North-
ern Ontario as viable options going forward.
“We want to become a truly national organiza-
tion to deliver a lower costing electricity, build
green infatuation and wealth creation oppor-
tunities for First Nations.”
JULY 2018 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 11
