Explore the Opportunities

Services and Programs of Potential Interest
to Aboriginal Communities

Forestry - Building on Success

Energy - For You and Your Community

Earth Sciences - Knowledge for Decision Making

Minerals and Metals - Breaking New Ground

Services and Programs of Potential
Interest to Aboriginal Communities

Forestry — Building on Success

The First Nation Forestry Program (FNFP) — Funded jointly by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and NRCan, the FNFP is supplemented by First Nations and partners. The purpose of the program is to improve economic conditions in Status Indian communities through forestry-related initiatives. This is achieved by enhancing the capacity of First Nations to sustainably manage reserve forests and participate in forest-based businesses; increasing First Nation cooperation and partnerships; and exploring new cooperative ways to finance forestry development.

Contact: Jack Smyth, (613) 947-7380, Canadian Forest Service
Web site: http://www.fnfp.gc.ca

Canada's Model Forest Program — Created in 1992, this program sponsors 11 model forests across the country, managed by some 400 partners. The partnerships reflect diverse interests, including Aboriginal communities, educational institutions, industry, all levels of government, and environmental and recreational groups. The Model Forest initiative encourages the practical applications of the principle of sustainable development to Canada's forests; the participation of Model Forest partners in national and international networks; and the sharing of knowledge gained from the program with the broadest possible audience.

Contact: Brian Wilson, (613) 947-9053, Canadian Forest Service
Web site: http://www.modelforest.net

Enhanced Aboriginal Strategic Initiative — The social, cultural and economic future of many of Canada's Aboriginal communities depends on sustainable forest management. The aim of the Enhanced Aboriginal Strategic Initiative is to support and strengthen Aboriginal participation in Canada's Model Forests to better incorporate Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives into the goals and objectives of Model Forests.

Contact: Wendy Vasbinder, (613) 996-0759, Canadian Forest Service
Web site: www.modelforest.net/cmfn/en/initiatives/partnerships/default.aspx

Energy — For You and Your Community

Renewable Energy for Remote Communities Program — The program's goal is to help encourage the use of renewable energy technologies in remote communities (many of which are Aboriginal) by assisting with the selection and implementation of reliable and cost-effective projects. The program is administered and implemented in collaboration with a number of stakeholders, including Aboriginal and/or community organizations.

Contacts: Greg Leng, (450) 652-5154 or
Ron Alward, (450) 652-7102, Energy Sector

RETScreen® — This software is a standardized and integrated renewable energy project analysis tool that evaluates energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emission reductions for eight different renewable energy technologies. It allows communities to prepare community energy plans in a much more cost-effective and timely manner. RETScreen® has helped identify and initiate cost-effective projects in some 40 Aboriginal communities to date.

Contacts: Greg Leng, (450) 652-5154 or
Ron Alward, (450) 652-7102, Energy Sector
Web site: http://retscreen.gc.ca

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Awareness Course — NRCan collaborated with the Assembly of First Nations and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to develop this course for Aboriginal and remote communities. It promotes awareness of techniques and technologies available for immediate application, their energy costs/benefits, and implementation approaches. The course content explores how and where energy is used in the home and community, explains total energy and life-cycle costs, describes energy efficiency measures, reviews renewable energy technologies, and provides information sources.

Contacts: Greg Leng, (450) 652-5154 or
Ron Alward, (450) 652-7102, Energy Sector

Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) — REDI seeks to stimulate demand for renewable energy for heating and cooling (e.g., solar air heating, solar hot water, high-efficiency/low-emission biomass combustion) by providing an incentive for the purchase and installation of renewable energy technologies. This incentive amounts to 40% of eligible costs in remote communities and 25% in all other communities, to a maximum of $50,000.

Contact: REDI, 1-877-722-6600 (Toll Free), Renewable and Electrical Energy Division
Web site: www.reed.nrcan.gc.ca

Community Energy Systems — NRCan assists with the identification, evaluation and design of community heating systems (district heating and cooling, co-generation, waste heat recovery, thermal storage and local sources of renewable energy, particularly biomass) to increase community self-reliance and sustainability. Technical, business and marketing assistance is provided during the project development phase. A good example is the biomass district energy system in Oujé-Bougoumou in northern Quebec.

Contacts: Chris Snoek, (613) 992-1832 or
Ken Church, (613) 947-8952, Energy Sector

R-2000 Home Standard — This is an industry-endorsed, voluntary certification program to encourage the building of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly houses. The program features a technical performance standard for energy efficiency, indoor air quality and environmental responsiveness; and a quality assurance process for industry training, house evaluations and inspections. Participants include home buyers and home designers and builders, including Aboriginal people. The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in eastern Ontario have been building R-2000 homes since the mid-1990s and have produced a related video.

Contact: Barbara Mullally-Pauly, (613) 995-2945, OEE, Energy Sector
Web site: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca

Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) — CBIP provides financial incentives to eligible building owners who construct new commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings that are at least 25% more energy efficient than the equivalent of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. A number of CBIP buildings have been designed (mostly schools, but also businesses and health clinics) for Aboriginal communities.

Contacts: John Cockburn, (613) 996-4359 or
Jim Clark (613) 947-1948, OEE, Energy Sector
Web site: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca

Earth Sciences — Knowledge for Decision Making

Management of Surveys on Aboriginal Lands — As they become self-governing, Aboriginal people are increasingly the primary users of the Canada Lands Survey system. The Survey was set up under the Canada Lands Surveys Act to establish the boundary component of the property rights infrastructure (land management, land registration, land survey systems) on Aboriginal lands.

Contact: Jacques Grondin, (613) 995-0042
Canada Centre for Cadastral Management, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://cccm.nrcan.gc.ca/

Comprehensive Land Claims Survey Program — Establishment of Aboriginal Comprehensive Land Claim Settlement boundaries, like those in the Inuvialuit Settlement, is undertaken through this program. The program benefits Aboriginal people by providing work in logistic and survey support services. Contracts include training, ranging from basic survey operations to advanced GPS techniques. Aboriginal beneficiaries and businesses have obtained about 20% ($500,000) of contracting budgets yearly as field crew employees and by providing services like transportation, accommodation support, food catering, and equipment rental.

Contact: Jacques Grondin, (613) 995-0042
Canada Centre for Cadastral Management, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://cccm.nrcan.gc.ca/

Specific Claims Survey Program — This program provides legal survey and contract management services associated with resolving specific land claims and their implementation. The program is funded directly by the department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and is delivered by Natural Resources Canada. The program provides direct and indirect employment opportunities in Aboriginal communities.

Contact: Jacques Grondin, (613) 995-0042
Canada Centre for Cadastral Management, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://cccm.nrcan.gc.ca/

Training Program in Land Surveying and Land Administration — The program provides land administration training for Aboriginal people. This is increasingly important as they assume more responsibility for managing their own lands and resources. This program is offered in collaboration with the Land Management Program of Nunavut Arctic College and other partners.

Contact: Jacques Grondin, (613) 995-0042
Canada Centre for Cadastral Management, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://cccm.nrcan.gc.ca/

Geomatics Knowledge Transfer Program (A Model Towards First Nation Land and Resource Management) — The aim of the program is to increase the geomatics skills (land survey, registry and management) of First Nation people in their communities. Because of First Nations' intense cultural and spiritual links with the land, there is a need to plan geomatics skills development to suit the land management requirements of each community.

Contact: Jacques Grondin, (613) 995-0042
Canada Centre for Cadastral Management, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://cccm.nrcan.gc.ca/

Local Environmental Applications Program (LEAP) — Monitoring the environmental impacts of large-scale development projects is increasingly important to the continued good health of the natural environment and those who live and work in the affected areas. One such project is currently examining the potential impact of major hydro-electric, forestry, mining and other projects on the Innu Nation in Nitassinan (which includes Labrador). The study is being conducted in collaboration with the Innu Nation, Environment Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry Service, York University, the University of Sherbrooke, and the geomatics industry.

Contact: Ko Fung, (613) 947-1234, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/org/programs/leap/index_e.php

Polar Continental Shelf Project (Traditional Knowledge Program) — NRCan's Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP) coordinates and provides logistical support to Arctic science research programs. In addition, PCSP supports programs designed and carried out by Arctic communities to help encourage the transfer of traditional knowledge from elders to northern youth. PCSP has been extending support for many years to traditional knowledge programs and to programs that integrate traditional and "modern" scientific knowledge.

Contact: Bonni Hrycyk, (613) 947-1601, Earth Sciences Sector
Web site: http://polar.nrcan.gc.ca

Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) – The GSC has been providing Canadians with a comprehensive geoscience knowledge base that contributes to economic development, public safety and environmental protection since 1842. GSC scientists offer technical workshops and public information sessions to northern Aboriginal communities, in areas of current study on or near Aboriginal lands, to explain the importance of geoscience in land-use decision making.

Contact: Stéphane Romain, (613) 995-4575, Application and Information Management Services
Web site: http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca

Minerals and Metals — Breaking New Ground

Aboriginal Communities and Minerals and Metals Activities — This new set of six maps (covering all provinces and territories) illustrates the relationship between Aboriginal communities and minerals and metals activities across Canada. The maps will enable both Aboriginal communities and the minerals and metals industry to identify opportunities for collaboration on mineral development projects, with the aim of creating stronger communities.

Contact: Catherine Peltier, (613) 995-8839, Aboriginal Affairs Division
Web site: http://mmsd1.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/maps

For further information on Natural Resources Canada,
please contact us at:

Corporate Policy and Portfolio Coordination Branch
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street, 20th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaK1A 0E4
Tel.: (613) 995-0947
www.nrcan.gc.ca