An annual one million dollar price tag, together with increased respiratory illness, tainted meat, and polluted air, water and soil, has lead the people of the Wha Ti First Nation in the Northwest Territories to recently commit to drastically reducing their reliance on fossil fuel energy sources such as diesel fuel.
The Wha Ti community has entered into a two-year partnership led by Ecology North, an environmental organization based in the Northwest Territories, and involving the Pembina Institute, a non-profit specializing in sustainable development solutions, to work directly with each of the 500 residents on community energy planning.
The project aims to develop sustainable forms of energy use and transportation, reduce energy consumption, improve community health, and invigorate the local economy. It includes assessing the community's current energy demand, identifying sustainable energy options, and developing a long-term community energy plan.
"We're interested in working with the community to discover connections between economic development, environmental health and social well-being," said Bob Bromley, the project's director at Ecology North. "We want to find new ways to move forward while preserving the Wha Ti traditional values and lifestyles."
The sustainable energy project also aims to cut the community's greenhouse gas emissions in half within the next five years. Currently the community's diesel electricity plant generates as much greenhouse gas emissions per unit energy as a coal-fired power plant.
"Our community has observed the climate changing, and we understand it is from greenhouse gas emissions," said Charlie Nitsiza, Chief of the Wha Ti First Nation Council and Mayor of the Wha Ti Charter Community Council. "We hope this project will demonstrate solutions, and serve as a model for other small communities like ours."
"Involving every community member is essential to the success of this project," said Andrew Pape-Salmon, Director of the Pembina Institute's Community Eco-Solutions Group. "Through this collaborative effort, we are confident Wha Ti can position itself as a sustainable energy leader among other communities in the Northwest Territories."
Ecology North is working with two project staff in the community, Pembina Institute advisors, and two community-based committees, one of unemployed Wha Ti youth and the other of community elders.
Through personal visits, the youth will receive job training by conducting energy audits of every home in the community, and talking to residents about the links between energy use, the environment and the economy. Later they will return to these same homes to install energy-efficient devices such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, hot water heater blankets, and automatic timers for car block-heater plug-ins.
The committee of elders, together with the Wha Ti Chief and Council will operate as an advisory committee, determining objectives for the project and deciding on which of the suggested energy plan options will be implemented.
When developing sustainable energy options, partners will consult with the power provider, NWT Power Corporation, on their interests for supplying electricity to Wha Ti and also work with community-based organizations and businesses to identify ways they can turn local energy generation into an economic development opportunity.
Currently the community relies on diesel, heating oil, wood, and gasoline to meet all of its electricity, space heating and transportation needs. The community's diesel generator is located in the centre of town and adjacent to the community public school.
Studies have shown that up to 40 toxins may be present in diesel exhaust, eight of which are known to cause cancer. As the children inhale diesel exhaust every day on their way to and from school, and while playing on the grounds, elders have expressed serious concern for their health.
The project is funded by Environment Canada's EcoAction Fund, Indian and Northern Affair's and Natural Resource Canada's Aboriginal and Northern Climate Change Program, Resource Development Canada's Youth Initiatives Program, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
For more information:
Bob Bromley
Ecology North
Project Director
Phone: 867-920-7044
E-mail: bbromley@nt.sympatico.ca
Tom Matus
Wha Ti
Senior Administration Officer
Phone: 867-573-3401
E-mail: whaticc@internorth.com
Andrew Pape-Salmon
Pembina Institute
Director, Community Eco-Solutions
Phone: 604-904-8568
E-mail: andrewp@pembina.org