Sovereignty a motivator for Nipissing First Nation venture Nbisiing Power
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION— Gimaa Zoongawbwi, Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod, cut the red ribbon at the grand-opening of Nbisiing Power.
An electrical power equipment reseller, Nbisiing Power will focus on Indigenous procurement opportunities with electrical utility companies.
“It’s a huge piece of getting back our independence, our sovereignty as a nation,” says Chief McLeod.
He explains what the new business means for Nipissing First Nation.
“This isn’t about business or money. It’s about sovereignty and that’s why we get involved in these ventures. When I say sovereignty, I’m talking about sovereign wealth. First Nation communities have been handcuffed by government funding and the Indian Act for over a hundred years. And the one way out is not reliance on government. The way out to achieving where we want to be as a nation, as a sovereign nation, to be able to really steer our own destiny as a nation, is to be independent. And in order to be independent, we have to really seize on opportunities like this, just as we’ve done with Nipissing Miller.”
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe attended Nbisiing Power’s grand opening on May 27. He congratulated Nipissing First Nation for seizing the opportunity and securing Indigenous representation in energy.
“They are kind of laying a blueprint for what needs to be done and they’ll be the leaders in helping mentor or guide other First Nations to be able to do this work,” he states. “We see them positioning themselves for the future in dealing with energy and the protocols that we have within the province and the federal government for energy… Nipissing getting into the sector could potentially lead the way in helping secure those procurements and get that ball moving and become a bigger part of the energy sector here in Ontario.”
Gookmis Evelyn McLeod smudged and blessed the new power venture. She remembers Nbisiing Power CEO Christine Goulais as a young student.
“It’s so wonderful to see our young people really educated, leaving from Nipissing and returning with leadership, a model for our young people.”
Goulais moved back to her home community during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Goulais says Nbisiing Power can harness opportunities and revenue.
“Corporate Canada has made some big commitments and those commitments are specifically related to Indigenous procurement.”
Strategic Business Advisor for Nbisiing Power Richard Booy says, “The Call to Action 92 specifically tells corporate Canada to do their part in including Indigenous people in commerce and to work alongside to build capacity to create jobs and build lives in the communities.”
Booy says there is money set aside for Indigenous procurement.
“There’s been very limited opportunity for customers to buy products in the electrical sector specifically. Nbisiing (Power) opens the door to utilities to procure electrical equipment specifically for their needs. Composite Power gives Nbisiing Power access to all kinds of different electrical products.”
Nipissing First Nation and Composite Power are partners in Nbisiing Power. Robert McNeil, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Composite Power says, “We’ll be selling all of the equipment used to build substations, transmission lines, and distribution lines.”
He adds future customers could include Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), and Bruce Power.
Chief McLeod says it’s important to note that Nipissing First Nation is looking to be real partners.
“We are not looking for token partnerships. We are looking to be business people that create opportunities for our own people. We are not asking for handouts. We ask for handups. We are breaking into markets that for over a hundred years we’ve been sidelined from, in our own territories.”
Lester Mianskum of Moose Cree First Nation, offered the opening and closing songs for the grand opening.
The event took place at Nbisiing Power’s office on Osprey Miikan in the Bineshii Small Business Centre near Yellek.