Building relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities

The power of partnership

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is committed to building and growing long-term, mutually beneficial working relationships with Indigenous communities near our current and future operations.

Explore how OPG works with Indigenous communities to create innovative partnerships.

“Ode to the Canoe” by Patrick Hunter, a two-spirit Ojibwe painter, graphic designer and entrepreneur from Red Lake, ON.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan

See how we intend to work in partnership with Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations to advance reconciliation.

A male indigenous worker in coveralls and a hard hat examines valves in a power station.

Indigenous programs and initiatives

See how OPG's programs and initiatives with Indigenous communities creates opportunities all across Ontario.
A group of workers gather on a bridge celebrating the successful construction of Peter Sutherland Sr. hydroelectric station.

Our Indigenous partnerships

Learn more about OPG’s development partnerships with Ontario Indigenous communities.
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The Climate Challengers

EP05 - Chief Whetung and Sean Willy: Indigenous perspectives on cleaner energy

EP05 - Chief Whetung and Sean Willy: Indigenous perspectives on cleaner energy

Andrea is joined by two Indigenous leaders for a fascinating look at the role of Indigenous communities in our journey to net-zero.
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OPG’s Indigenous Relations Policy

Our Indigenous Relations group helps to build these relationships in keeping with OPG’s Indigenous Relations Policy, first developed in 2007.

The policy sets out:

  • OPG’s objectives for respecting rights and interests.
  • Rules for developing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities.
  • Policies that require engaging in community relations and outreach.
  • Paths to providing capacity-building support, including employment and business contracting opportunities.

Our relationships are developed on a foundation of respect for the languages, customs, cultural institutions, and rights of Indigenous communities in Ontario. Our goal is to build and preserve openness, transparency, and trust.

Jenna Driscoll is a Senior Administrator for Infinity Generation Services, a certified Indigenous and woman-owned company offering multi-trade contracting services to Ontario’s clean energy sector, including OPG.
Our stories · 9 min read

‘Truly refreshing’: OPG’s ION program helps Indigenous administrator find new career path

Thanks to OPG’s Indigenous Opportunities Network (ION) program, Jenna Driscoll is now working in the energy sector as a senior administrator.
Kakabeka Falls Generating Station is the second-oldest hydro station in OPG's fleet. It is set to be redeveloped in the coming years.
Our stories · 9 min read

OPG’s Kakabeka Falls GS, one of Ontario’s oldest hydro stations, set to be redeveloped

In northwestern Ontario, near Thunder Bay, one of OPG’s oldest hydroelectric generating stations is set to be redeveloped.
OPG is nearing completion of the Little Long Dam Safety Project, about 90 kilometres north of Kapuskasing.
Our stories · 9 min read

Important dam safety project nearing completion in northeast Ontario

In northeast Ontario, a major dam safety project is heading into the home stretch.
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Indigenous community initiatives

We’re committed to strengthening our relationships with Ontario's Indigenous communities.

Throughout the year, OPG participates in many initiatives as part of this goal.

One way we engage with Indigenous communities is through our Corporate Citizenship Program (CCP), which undertakes grass roots community initiatives/partnerships with organizations located close to our generating facilities. CCP funding focus areas include: education, environment and community initiatives.

Since 2006, OPG has supported Frontier College and the Lt. Governor’s Indigenous Youth Summer Reading Camp Program.

This provincial program helps build reading and computer literacy skills of youth/elementary students living in remote First Nations. The camp curriculum includes reading, writing and computer skill development, storytelling, music, and arts and crafts. The program incorporates traditional culture and learning.

As an extension of our support of the summer reading camp program, OPG staff host “Reading is Cool” events each summer, where OPG employees attend camp for a day and engage in reading, activities and mentoring with the participating campers.

OPG has supported the Little Native Hockey League Tournament (Little NHL) since 2009.

Since the tourney’s inaugural puck drop in the town of Espanola in 1971, the Little NHL event, has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the event attracts more than 200 teams and 3,000 players, a far cry from the 17 teams that played in the first tournament.

Our support of this initiative highlights the important role sport plays in the development of youth by promoting physical fitness, self-confidence, respect, skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Tournament sponsorship helps demonstrate OPG’s support of its First Nation partner communities, their tradition of hockey, and the development of Indigenous youth through sport.

Elephant Thoughts celebrates Indigenous culture while integrating both traditional and contemporary knowledge. It hosts science camps in communities across Canada, including Northern Ontario, with the ultimate goal of empowering students and building science literacy.

Spearheaded by the Friends of Laura Secord community group, the First Nations Peace Monument was unveiled on Oct. 7, 2017, the 254th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which formed the basis of land claims of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The monument stands as a symbol of reconciliation and recognition of the important role First Nations played, and continue to play, in Canada’s history.

More on our Indigenous activities

A group of workers gather on a bridge celebrating the successful construction of Peter Sutherland Sr. hydroelectric station.

Our Indigenous partnerships

Learn more about OPG’s development partnerships with Ontario Indigenous communities.

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