Building strong working-relationships with the eight bands and two nations in the southern interior is the core of our Aboriginal relations program. FortisBC has many power facilities and lines located in traditional First Nations territories.

FortisBC engages First Nations Groups at the first stages of all major infrastructure projects on traditional lands and consults with these groups about technical, environmental, historical and public consultation. Mutual understanding, respect, open communication, and trust continue to be FortisBC’s aim when working with First Nations groups in the southern interior of BC.

The new Bentley Substation, part of the Okanagan Transmission Reinforcement project is currently under construction on Osoyoos Indian Band land.

FortisBC also supports First Nations community, environmental and educational initiatives throughout the southern interior, including sponsorship of a traditional pow wow, a national conference on Aboriginal economic development, a traditional village by Penticton Indian Band at the annual Penticton Peach Festival, the Penticton Indian Band youth and elders program including traditional paddling, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band Community Pit House Project and the Osoyoos Indian Band Youth Centre.   Through its PowerSense program, FortisBC also works with First Nations to promote energy efficiency and conservation. With the assistance of PowerSense, bands throughout FortisBC’s service area exchanged their old traditional, incandescent light bulbs for new, energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs through their local band office.