Water and Energy Planning Strategies and Resources for Fisher River Cree Nation
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Water and Energy Planning Strategies and Resources for Fisher River Cree Nation 1 By Robin Beukens, Shengxu Li, Jennifer Pritchard, and Johanna Washchyshyn CITY 7440 Indigenous Planning Studio Department of City Planning University of Manitoba December 2011 This project is a product of partnerships between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Fisher River Cree Nation and the University of Manitoba, Department of City Planning. Thank you to Fisher River Cree Nation for their cooperative work on this project. Thank you to all those who contributed their time, energy and resources into this project. 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 • Spark! Sustainable Energy Solutions • Energy Alternative Ltd. Introduction 5 • First Power Community Involvement 6 Federal and Manitoba Renewable Energy Funding Water 10 Opportunities 43 Watershed Mapping using Local Knowledge 10 • The ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern • Purpose Communities Program • Participants • Manitoba Geothermal Energy Incentive • Tools, Methods, and Process Program • Results • Solar Thermal Energy Incentives • Solar Water Heating Loan Water Education 23 • Clean Energy for First Nations • The Water Cycle • Environmental Education in Schools Steps to Take for Different Options 45 • Lake Friendly Products • Wind and Solar Energy • EcoLogo Certified Household Cleaning Products • Run-of-River Hydro (Small-Scale Hydro) • Natural Cleaning Products • What You Can Do To Conserve Water First Nations Community Energy Plan Precedents 46 • What You Can Do To Protect Water • Swan Lake First Nation Wind Energy Project Jurisdictional Responsibilities and the Environment 31 • T’Sou-ke First Nation Solar Energy Project • Responsibilities Lessons from the two renewable energy precedents 47 • Emergency Phone Line • What to do for a Spill Conclusion: Going Forward 48 Watershed mapping 48 Energy 32 Energy 48 Energy Conservation 32 • Bathroom Waste Management 49 • Bedroom Knowledge exchange 49 • Kitchen Our Experience with Fisher River Cree Nation 49 • Living Room Renewable Energy 35 References 51 • Solar Energy Appendix I Educational Pamphlets 53 • Wind Energy Appendix II Fridge Magnets & Recipe Cards 58 • Run-of-River Hydro Appendix III Meeting Minutes 62 • Bioenergy • Geothermal energy Appendix IV Community Engagement Notes 68 Renewable Energy Products Suppliers Directory 39 • Rain City Strategies • Innovative Air Solutions Inc. • Solar Solutions Inc. • GeoSmart Energy • Ice Kube Systems • CleanField Energy • Bergey Wind Power Products Dealer • Homewood Solar and Wind • Rocky Mountain Solar Co. 3 Executive Summary This report focuses on community planning initiatives related to water and energy for Fisher River Cree Nation. It best functions as a resource guide that is accessed selectively as needed. The projects in this report make an effort to tie into existing planning initiatives already underway in the community. The watershed mapping and water education projects tie into the Integrated Watershed Management Plan that Fisher River Cree Nation and other communities in the Fisher River Watershed are developing in conjunction with Manitoba Conservation and Manitoba Water Stewardship. The renewable energy and energy conservation projects help lay the foundation, next steps, and research potential options for FRCN as the community moves forward with community energy planning initiatives. Students met with Fisher River Cree Nation Chief and Council, as well as community members, multiple times over the course of the semester. Initial meetings focused on topics of interest and potential projects. Once the projects were confirmed, the meetings focused on gaining community input for the projects. Chief and Council were updated on project progression throughout the process. The end product includes watershed maps of local knowledge based on community members’ concerns, solutions, and ideas; water related educational materials; community energy planning information regarding energy conservation; and options for renewable energy. There is a particular emphasis on education, as Chief and Council emphasized that this was a high priority. It is also hoped that this report and other supplementary materials (www.firstnationshousinginitiative.ca) can be used to contribute to the knowledge exchange the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is facilitating, contributing to building community planning knowledge in First Nations communities throughout Manitoba. 4 Introduction This document is a guide containing a collection of works on the topic of water and energy. Information on water includes: watershed mapping, water education and juristictional resposibilities. Information on energy includes: energy conservation tips and renewable energy sources, products, funding opportunities and precedents. We have also included copies of education material that can be printed from the jump drive and distrubuted on mass scale. The materials, including the magnets, pamphlets and recipie cards are included for educational purposes. The information and style can be adapted anytime using the electronic copy provided. They were created to help bring environmental awareness to the wider commnity. The planning process between FRCN and U of M planning students has resulted in much more than this document could possibly convey. As students, we have merely stepped into an already active planning process, as there are ongoing environmental plans unfolding with CIER, the Community Health Work Plan, as well as the environmental vision facilitated by last year’s U of M planning students. Now more than ever, the words energy and environment are moving to the forefront of community agendas. For Fisher River Cree Nation, there is an image of the land and all of the natural and cosmological systems that live there: The sun, the moon, the water, the soil, the rocks, the wind, the rain and the snow. These are all natural and clean ecological systems that can be uncovered and harvested as renewable energy. We are also beginning to truly see the value in raising environmental awareness through education in schools and environmental committees in communities. Understanding the link between oil, chemicals, water, animals, food and our health as humans is key to making positive choices and respectful decisions. Our decisions and actions are engrained in the perceived value of economic gain. Our traditional economic systems have not been favourable to the natural environment. Thankfully, we can see a change happening: one that affixes greater value to the remediation and sustainability of the earth. As governments continue to invest in the clean economy, jobs and employment are being made available in what is called the green collar sector. Green collar workers may include work that is related to the securing, financing, teaching, engineering, recycling and documenting of natural energy systems. For example, trade-level workers who install solar panels, plumbers who install solar water heaters, and construction workers who build energy-efficient green buildings would all be a part of the green-color division of labour. They also include organic farmers, renewable energy engineers, environmental lawyers and educators and eco-technology workers. As fossil fuels become more expensive to find, extract, and bring to market, the economy of work transitions from that of the short-term extraction and processing of nature to that of long-term protection and adaptation of nature. The shift into the new economy is an easy decision to make, especially when the measurable financial benefits to improving energy systems are tangible and all around positive – starting with improvements to our physical, mental and spiritual health and 5 transpiring into our larger political, economic, social and cultural realms. People are beginning to understand the connection between cutting emissions and saving money and how it all adds up to a recipe for balance and health. Fisher River has already started a unique long-term journey on the path towards environmental protection and adaption. This document is a testament of the journey and may serve as a symbol of the story that is unfolding. Last year’s students with the water and climate change initiatives provided us with inspiration and direction in both the material and immaterial sense: stories, collective memories and dreams permeate and complement the more tangible entities, like the water maps, the tool kits, the power predictor, the magnets and pamphlets, the long-term relationships, and on-going knowledge exchange. It is hoped that these deliverables serve as a touchstone for moving conversations about Fisher River Cree Nation’s land towards a balanced and sustainable economy of living. Community Involvement The Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba began its relationship with Fisher River Cree Nation in 2010-11 academic year. The first group of Master’s students worked on several plans for the community: Cemetery Design Project, National Cree Gathering Site Plan, Housing Report and Maintenance Quick Reference Guide, Street Naming and Addressing Plan, Watershed Report, and Climate Change Adaptation Plan. This year, four new Master’s students worked with FRCN on two new projects, outlined by Chief and Council: Water Pollution and Conservation, and Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Options; with a heavy emphasis on education in both projects. Beginning in September of 2011, the group began meeting with FRCN Chief and Council, as well as other