With Manitoba Hydro’s proposed Bipole III transmission line passing through Swan Lake First Nation’s traditional territory, HTFC was engaged by the First Nation to review the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the effects of the Project on cultural, traditional, and ecological resource land and water use. This technical review of the EIS involved community consultations undertaken to inform community members and gather a deeper understanding of their concerns, perspectives, and key values relevant to the technical review.
HTFC’s work involved a careful balance of technical and cultural messaging with protection of the First Nation’s indigenous knowledge and resource use in the preparation of the report. The final report was shared publicly with the Province of Manitoba, which helped to influence both the Province’s regulatory review and Swan Lake First Nation’s subsequent negotiations with Manitoba Hydro.