Principles
BC Hydro uses a principle-based approach to establish mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations. Hydro's Board of Directors has adopted the following Statement of Principles to serve as instructions for staff and management in their day-to-day dealings with First Nations.
BC Hydro recognizes that the Aboriginal population of British Columbia has a distinct legal, historical and cultural status and is committed to working with the Aboriginal population according to the following principles:
Co-operation
Communication
Impact of Hydro operations
Resolution of disputes
Community and economic development
Employment
Co-operation
BC Hydro respects Aboriginal aspirations to self-government and will, wherever possible, deal with Aboriginal authorities.
BC Hydro will consult, where appropriate, with Aboriginal peoples in the early stages of project, policy and program development and will seek joint resolution of issues.
Communication
BC Hydro acknowledges that it has much to learn and gain from the diverse cultures of the Aboriginal population of the province. BC Hydro will provide cross-cultural training and support and guidance to its employees to help them understand and work more effectively with Aboriginal peoples.
BC Hydro will also provide training to Aboriginal groups in order to increase their awareness of Hydro's business purposes, practices and constraints.
BC Hydro commits itself to listening and communicating with its employees and the Aboriginal community about events, issues and other matters of mutual interest.
BC Hydro will consult and co-operate with provincial and federal ministries on Aboriginal matters of mutual interest and concern, as appropriate.
Impact of Hydro operations
BC Hydro will endeavour to be a good tenant of Aboriginal properties over which its transmission lines pass and lands on which BC Hydro facilities are located, paying fair compensation and maintaining the properties in environmentally responsible ways.
BC Hydro will endeavour to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive impacts of existing and future Hydro projects on Aboriginal communities.
Resolution of disputes
BC Hydro favours negotiation over mediation and mediation over litigation in its efforts to resolve disputes or reach new agreements with bands. It will work with bands towards achieving negotiated relationships based on mutual respect and trust, open and frank sharing of information and ideas and determination to reach settlements, which are of mutual benefit to bands and BC Hydro.
BC Hydro will move in a timely and orderly fashion to correct permit deficiencies and resolve grievances. Where third parties (such as Provincial ministries or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) need to be involved, Hydro may seek direction from the Province and/or may seek to establish multi-party resolution processes.
Community and economic development
As part of planning for new projects, BC Hydro will encourage Aboriginal peoples to take advantage of economic, social and other opportunities the new projects may present.
Through means such as contracting opportunities, workshops, local procurement policies and promoting business networking, Hydro will support the development and viability of Aboriginal contractors who can provide goods and services to Hydro.
In response to the many changes and developments within Aboriginal communities and of the pending land claims settlement, BC Hydro is open to participating in innovative initiatives such as joint stewardship proposals for resource use planning.
Employment
BC Hydro will co-operate with Aboriginal peoples and educational institutions to develop initiatives that support Aboriginal peoples in acquiring knowledge and skills that will prepare them for employment with BC Hydro and its subsidiaries.
BC Hydro will develop employment equity programs with a goal of increasing Aboriginal representation in the Hydro workforce to a level proportional to their working population in B.C.
Last Modified: Oct 14, 2010
