Wuikinuxv Nation

placing Wuikinuxv in a deficit situation,” says Smith. For over 40 years, there was a vision to harness clean hydroelectric from the Wannock River for the community, a vision that came to fruition in the form of the Nicknaqueet Hydro Project, a 350kW hydropower project that came online in 2018. The hydro project now supplies 97 per cent of Rivers Inlet’s electrical needs. “To the credit of Indigenous Services Canada and other funding sources who contributed to clean energy, Wuikinuxv will have a reliable and sustainable source of energy that costs less for today and future generations,” says Smith. “The people are happy about the hydro proj- ect as it is a relief not to continue worry- 6 BUSINESS ELITE CANADA | MARCH 2019