“Indigenous communities
like Atlin want to decide
their future, and experiences
elsewhere show encouraging
results for self-governance.”
Peter Kirby, CEO of the Atlin Tlingit
Economic LP
filled wild rivers,” says the Taku
River Tlingit (TRT) representa-
tive. “As responsible decision
makers we are embarking on
a course necessary to ensure
the preservation of our wildlife
and fisheries. This will assist us
in ensuring the preservation of
what is Tlingit.”
Taku Group of
Companies
The philosophy of sustain-
ability is the foundation of the
Taku Group of Companies. One
of the companies in that group,
Atlin Tlingit Economic Limited
Partnership, works to create
capacity building within the
community, empowering TRT
citizens to develop sustainable
careers, and upholding Tlingit
values that maintain the physi-
cal and spiritual values of the
TRT Traditional Territory.
Peter Kirby, CEO of the Atlin
Tlingit Economic LP, spoke
with Business Elite Canada
about the community’s focus
on clean energy as a catalyst
for economic development
and environmental preserva-
tion and sustainability. Kirby
has lived in Atlin for nearly
two decades, and has contrib-
uted a to human resource and
economic development, plan-
ning, training, and capacity-
building.
Addressing
Energy Issues
A major objective of the ATELP
was developing a community
energy plan
to
address
c h a l l e n g e s
in
energy
ava i l ab i l i t y
and a depen-
dence on diesel. ATELP’s sister
company, Xeitl LP (pronounced
“Shayckl” and means ‘light-
ning’ in Tlingit) built a 2.1 MW
hydro facility in 2009. These
efforts have resulted in a new
source of economic develop-
ment, investment and training,
and a 25-year energy purchase
agreement with BC Hydro.
“The hydro facility will meet
the projected energy demand
up to the year 2035, account-
ing for a two percent annual
population growth,” says Kirby.
Until then, there is an excess of
energy—and that is potential
revenue for the town."
JUNE 2019 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 5
