LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1998 to 2009
CLIENT: Cree Nation Partners (Tataskweyak Cree Nation / War Lake First Nation)

Led negotiations and managed the expert financial, technical and legal advisors in the development of the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement (JKDA) with Manitoba Hydro with focus on social and economic benefit-sharing arrangements related to the planned construction of a 695 Mw Generating Station at the Keeyask rapids on the Nelson River in Northern Manitoba. Responsible for negotiation of all components of the JKDA and subsequent Adverse Effects Agreements. Key elements included strategic planning, community consultations, multi-stakeholder deliberations, and senior management of Environmental Assessment and Socio-economic Impact Assessment studies and reports. Notable features of the Agreements include the development and implementation of higher and lower risk income participation/ownership structure options for the First Nation partners, a Limited Partnership Agreement, a Power Purchase Agreement, training and employment programs with focus on benefits from the generating station’s construction, community and regional capacity-building programs, business development initiatives, and programs to facilitate Members’ access to their traditional territories as protected by their Section 35 rights.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2009 to Present
CLIENT: Cree Nation Partners (Tataskweyak Cree Nation / War Lake First Nation)

Currently providing strategic advice with respect to Cree Nation Partners’ role in working with Manitoba Hydro, as stipulated in the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement, in community and public consultations to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) required for obtaining provincial and federal regulatory licences and approvals for the Keeyask Generating Station. Key elements include assessing bio-physical baseline and projected impacts, conducting community based socio-economic fieldwork studies, review of all studies and reports underlying the EIA, and finalizing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) based on Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge to be incorporated in the Keeyask EIS.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2009 to Present
CLIENT: Cree Nation Partners (Tataskweyak Cree Nation / War Lake First Nation)

Currently leading the implementation of the terms of the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement, including the negotiation of a series of Direct Negotiated Contracts for direct and indirect project work related to building and operating the Keeyask Generating Station. Other key elements include training needs assessment and training program development including funding identification, commercial assessment of proposed operations, and the development of business and operational plans and contracts.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2004 to Present
CLIENT: Cree Nation Partners (Tataskweyak Cree Nation /War Lake First Nation)

Responsible for negotiations for the advancement of a joint development with Manitoba Hydro with focus on social and economic benefit-sharing arrangements related to the construction of a 1485 Mw generation station on the Nelson River in Northern Manitoba. Responsible for negotiation of all components of the proposed joint development agreement and related agreements. Key elements include strategic planning, community consultations, multi-stakeholder deliberations, and senior management of Environmental Assessment and Socio-economic Impact Assessment studies and reports.

LOCATION: Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2001 to Present
CLIENT: Tataskweyak Cree Nation

Responsible for the development of a comprehensive strategy to identify impacts and maximize the social and economic benefits provided by the construction and operation of a proposed 1360-kilometer high voltage direct current transmission line through the traditional territory of Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1984 to 2009
CLIENT: Mosakahiken Cree Nation

Represented Mosakahiken Cree Nation (MCN) in negotiating and implementing the terms of two comprehensive settlement agreements (1992 and 2008) with Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba to resolve grievances related to the environmental and socio-economic damages on MCN reserves and traditional territory attributable to the 1964 Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project. Key elements included strategic planning, community consultations, land selection, trust fund creation and multi-stakeholder deliberations.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2004 to 2006
CLIENT: War Lake First Nation / Tataskweyak Cree Nation / Missinippi Cree Nation (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation), collectively Keewatin Railway Corporation

Advised a consortium of three First Nations from Northern Manitoba in negotiating the purchase of the Sherridon Line between The Pas and Lynn Lake from the Hudson Bay Railway, utilizing a package of $7.6 million in Federal, Provincial and First Nation money. Responsible for corporate and government relations and strategic planning toward forming the Keewatin Railway Corporation and purchasing the rail line.

LOCATION: Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2002 to 2006
CLIENT: Missinippi Cree Nation (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation) / Barren Lands First Nation

Advised on seeking claim settlement agreements with SaskPower to resolve grievances related to the environmental and socio-economic damages attributable to the original Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting hydroelectric generating station at Island Falls, and the associated Whitesand control structure at the outlet of Reindeer Lake. Key elements included development of settlement agreement negotiation framework, multi-stakeholder deliberations, and senior management of analyses of pre-existing environmental and hydrological studies and preliminary Environmental Assessment and Socio-economic Impact Assessment studies.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2002 to 2006
CLIENT: Missinippi Cree Nation (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation)

Represented Missinippi Cree Nation (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation) in negotiating the terms of a settlement agreement with Manitoba Hydro to resolve grievances related to the environmental and socio-economic damages attributable to the operation of two hydroelectric generating stations and associated water control structures on rivers and lakes in the Cree Nation’s traditional territory. Key elements included strategic planning, historical research, community consultations, and multi-stakeholder deliberations. Also managed a pre-feasibility study on the restoration/remediation of Loon River flows.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2001 to 2005
CLIENT: Chemawawin Cree Nation

Provided a written expert opinion on behalf of the Chemawawin Cree Nation (CCN) of Easterville for their case before the Federal Court of Canada based on historical research and direct experience representing this Cree Nation in negotiating claim settlements with Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba which addressed the adverse impacts of the 1964 Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project on CCN reserves and traditional territory.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1984 to 2004
CLIENT: Chemawawin Cree Nation

Represented Chemawawin Cree Nation (CCN) in negotiating the terms of two comprehensive settlement agreements (1990 and 2003) with Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba to resolve adverse impacts directly related to the environmental and socio-economic damages on CCN reserves and traditional territory attributable to the 1964 Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Project. Key elements included strategic planning, historical research, community consultations, land selection, trust fund creation and multi-stakeholder deliberations.

LOCATION: Central Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1994 to 2004
CLIENT: Pinaymootang First Nation

Represented the Pinaymootang First Nation of Fairford in negotiating settlement agreements with Canada and, separately, with Manitoba related to the environmental and socio-economic damages caused by the operation of the Fairford Control Structure on the Fairford River in this First Nation’s traditional territory. Key elements included strategic planning, historical research, community consultations, multi-stakeholder deliberations, and senior management of Environmental Assessment and Socio-economic Impact Assessment studies and reports.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 2001 to 2004
CLIENT: O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation

Developed negotiating strategy and framework to obtain formal recognition by Canada of the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation at South Indian Lake, Manitoba and subsequent negotiation frameworks for the establishment of a resource co-management entity with Manitoba to jointly manage natural resources in their traditional territory and a municipal services development agreement with the Northern Community of South Indian Lake. Key elements included identifying funding sources, community consultations, multi-stakeholder deliberations, and senior management of designing capacity-building programs.

LOCATION: Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1998
CLIENT: Pinaymootang First Nation

Confirmed by Federal Court as qualified to provide expert testimony on behalf of the Pinaymootang First Nation of Fairford in their case before the Federal Court of Canada, Fairford First Nation v. Canada, based on extensive knowledge in the area of assessing adverse impacts of resource development on Indigenous people.

LOCATION: Nova Scotia, Canada
YEAR: 1992 to 1995
CLIENT: Pictou Landing First Nation

Represented Pictou Landing First Nation in providing advice and support in the negotiation process leading to the completion of the settlement agreement in the amount of $35 million, and the Trust Agreement to compensate for Canada’s breach of fiduciary duty with respect to damages to Pictou lands, waters and people caused by Scott Paper Company.

LOCATION: Northwestern Ontario, Canada
YEAR: 1992 to 1995
CLIENT: Mishkeegogamang First Nation

Developed negotiating strategy and framework to pursue claim settlement agreement with Ontario Hydro to resolve grievances related to the environmental and socio-economic damages attributable to hydroelectric development on the Mishkeegogamang reserves and traditional territory. Specific grievances included detrimental flooding and failure to restore flow down the Albany River in the 1950s and further damages resulting from the 1957 Root River diversion.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1990 to 1992
CLIENT: Tataskweyak Cree Nation

Represented Tataskweyak Cree Nation in negotiating the terms of a comprehensive agreement with Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba and Canada to implement obligations under the Northern Flood Agreement (1977), including enhanced land and money compensation, and to effectively place decision-making authority and resources to effect change directly in the hands of the Cree Nation.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1990
CLIENT: Community Association of South Indian Lake

Provided strategic advice and managed the technical impact studies, including the process of community information gathering, in support of the Community Association of South Indian Lake for their negotiation of a comprehensive settlement agreement with Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba to resolve irreversible damages suffered by the community as a result of the Churchill River diversion in the early 1970s.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1984 to 1990
CLIENT: Tataskweyak Cree Nation / York Factory Cree Nation / Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation / Norway House Cree Nation / Cross Lake First Nation

Developed global negotiating strategy and framework on behalf of five First Nations to develop implementation terms of the Northern Flood Agreement (1977). Key elements included increased amounts of land and money as well as a variety of institutional arrangements under First Nation control.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1989
CLIENT: Mosakahiken Cree Nation / Chemawawin Cree Nation

Represented Mosakahiken Cree Nation and Chemawawin Cree Nation in negotiating the terms of a specific claim settlement agreement with Canada to compensate for loss of use related to the taking of the Cree Nations’ original reserve at North Arm Narrows.

LOCATION: Northern Manitoba, Canada
YEAR: 1986 to 1988
CLIENT: Tataskweyak Cree Nation / York Factory Cree Nation / Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation / Norway House Cree Nation / Cross Lake First Nation

Represented five First Nations to secure $88 million from the federal government to build sewer and water facilities in all five communities under the terms of the Northern Flood Agreement (1977), including the establishment of the First Nation governance institution to construct the facilities.