Nuclear ambassadors helping to build Indigenous relationships
At a glance
- Indigenous Chiefs got a warm reception earlier this year at the Canadian Nuclear Association Conference thanks to ambassadors from the nuclear industry.
- The unique program helped make the year’s biggest nuclear industry event more welcoming for Indigenous leadership in attendance.
- OPG continues to work to build positive relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities through its Reconciliation Action Plan.
Earlier this year, at the Canadian Nuclear Association’s (CNA) annual conference, nuclear ambassadors were on hand to give leaders from First Nations communities a warm reception and help bridge the divide.
The premier trade show for Canada’s nuclear industry launched the unique ambassador program last year to provide greater inclusion for Indigenous leaders.
As key rights holders, Canada’s Indigenous Nations and communities play a major role in nuclear power, its future, and the safe handling and storage of its by-products.
OPG’s Skye Anderson and Ryan Gray-Brady, both Indigenous Relations Advisors, were two of the five ambassadors at this year’s event, which ran Feb. 28 to March 1.
“The way the CNA hosted us as Indigenous ambassadors as well as the Chiefs, they made all of us feel special,” said Anderson. “They made the whole show more approachable. It was a really thoughtful approach to welcoming the Chiefs and making sure they were able to engage in a meaningful way with the industry and its leaders, and get their voices heard and questions answered.”
It was a really thoughtful approach to welcoming the Chiefs and making sure they were able to engage in a meaningful way with the industry and its leaders, and get their voices heard and questions answered.Skye AndersonIndigenous Relations Advisor with OPG
This year’s CNA conference, titled “Foundations for Success,” brought together more than 800 industry experts, government representatives, and other speakers to highlight the essential role nuclear power plays in helping Canada achieve its climate goals.
For her part, Anderson spent much of the event hosting a Chief from one of the communities OPG works with. As it was the Chief’s first experience at the industry show, Anderson helped make sure the leader felt comfortable and connected with those who may want to work with her community in the future.
“Eventually, we were able to help her engage with many from the nuclear industry, from vendors to big proponents like OPG and Bruce Power,” said Anderson. “She was able to get a better understanding of what nuclear energy is, what its impacts are, and hopefully get her and her community more knowledgeable about the industry and its future.”
For many years, meaningful Indigenous engagement like this was the missing piece at the conference, which has been running for decades, Anderson said.
Having ambassadors help Indigenous leaders learn more about nuclear power and how the industry operates has been crucial in helping to bridge the gap between Indigenous communities and industry.
“It definitely takes the edge off of being in a new place, in a new industry,” said Anderson.
As Ontario looks to expand its low-carbon nuclear fleet to meet the demands of electrification and fight climate change, Indigenous communities and businesses will play a major role in realizing this future.
OPG continues to engage with Indigenous communities as it works to deploy a fleet of Small Modular Reactors at its Darlington Nuclear site and explores future opportunities for large-scale nuclear development. Guiding this work is OPG’s Reconciliation Action Plan, which sets the road map to help grow the company’s economic impact on Indigenous communities and businesses by $1 billion by 2031.
Part of this engagement is answering questions and being transparent about nuclear power, its benefits, and how the company safely handles and stores nuclear waste, which is fully accounted for and funded to support its long-term management.
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