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PROPOSED LITTLE JACKFISH RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT On November 23, 2008, Ontario Power
Generation (OPG) and the Chiefs of the six Lake Nipigon First Nations (Animbiigoo Zaagiigan Anoisshinaabek, Binwii Neyasashi Ahnishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, Red Rock
Indian Band and Whitesand First Nation) signed a
Protocol Agreement related to the proposed Little Jackfish River
Hydroelectric Development Project. OPG
has stated that the current proposal is a completely new design based on a
smaller footprint that dramatically reduces its environmental effects from
the proposal in the 1980’s. This
agreement commits both parties to work cooperatively over the next few years
to define and assess the cultural, environmental, social, economic and
long-term sustainability of the proposed venture. In the coming weeks OPG will be
publishing a notice in local papers to announce that it is starting an
environmental assessment and consultation about a new proposal to build hydroelectric
generating stations on the Little Jackfish River, North of Lake Nipigon. This notice will inform all interested
parties about the start of environmental assessment of the proposal and is
not targeted specifically at our First Nation. Detailed information about the new design
and all of its environmental effects will be presented to our community for
input and feedback later this year. UPCOMING CONSULTATION ACTIVITIESRed Rock Indian Band consultation
activities for this project will be determined by our members. This will include a consultation protocol
and consultation plan for 2009 or 2010.
Our community has hired a Resource Development Advisor (RDA) to
determine how we should be consulted about proposal with OPG to ensure
meaningful consultation occurs.
Consultation with our community must occur before a decision is made
about whether we will support the proposal. The contact person for the Little
Jackfish project is: Sam Sobush Resource Development Advisor Red Rock Indian Band (807)
887-2510 Email: rda193@shaw.ca Further information will be provided
in the coming weeks. NOTICE TO ALL RED ROCK BAND MEMBERSBelow is the Employment Skills
Inventory Survey for all members of Red Rock Indian Band. The survey is designed to assess your
skills and abilities giving us a better idea as to the type of job that you
may be capable of doing and what training you may need to prepare for
upcoming employment opportunities. Assessing the skills and abilities of our
members is essential in order to ensure that you are equipped with the
training that is required for some of the potential jobs that may be coming
our way in the future. In the next few
years, with the potential construction of the hydroelectric generating
stations on the Little Jackfish River, as well as other potential resource
development projects, Red Rock members may have many opportunities for
employment. But without a record of
what skill levels are held by our members, we will be unable to determine the
type of training that we will need to provide for them. Without it we will be incapable of knowing
what your skills are, whether or not you are in need of further training or
even if you are looking for work at all. We cannot promise you a job simply by
completing the survey however by filling out this brief survey, you are
helping us determine what we will need to do in order to ensure that future
employment opportunities do not pass by our members simply because we are not
trained for the work at hand. Thank you for taking the time to
complete Red Rock’s Employment and Skills Inventory. Sincerely, Sam Sobush Resource Development Advisor |