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-
82 BUSINESS ELITE CANADA | MARCH 2019
