Building Relationships

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Long-term relationships and open dialogue

BC Hydro has long recognized the importance of its relationships with First Nations in B.C., first creating an Aboriginal Relations department in August of 1992.

In 2005, BC Hydro's board of directors adopted a company-wide First Nations 20 year goal [PDF, 20 Kb] to "Establish relationships with First Nations built on mutual respect and that appropriately reflect the interests of First Nations."

BC Hydro's Aboriginal Relations' objectives are to:

• Build sustainable long-term relationships with First Nations
• Listen and respond to First Nations’ interests

First Nations and BC Hydro

Aboriginal people hold a distinct historical, legal and cultural status within Canada and represent our country's fastest growing population.

They are BC Hydro's customers, employees, contractors, service providers and landlords. They are our neighbours and we have much to learn from them both as an organization and as British Columbians.

First Nation traditional territories encompass the entire land mass of British Columbia. BC Hydro's facilities are situated on First Nation traditional territories, reserve and treaty settlement lands. Aboriginal peoples' rights and title are protected within the Constitution of Canada.

BC Hydro recognizes that building relationships that represent the priorities of aboriginal people and First Nations are critical to BC Hydro's vision of powering B.C. with clean, reliable electricity for generations.