b'Imperial signs its largest-ever contracts with Indigenous-owned companiesTogether, were breaking new ground with Indigenous partnerships. Partaking in these economic activities means everything to our communitiesfrom improved education, healthcare, housing and Elder care to overall access to critical infrastructure so these communities can continue Thirty-eight million cubic metres, to be exact. flourishing into the future. Thats how much earth will be managed over the next five years at Kearl through two of Imperials largest-everNever before at Imperial contracts signed to date with Indigenous-owned companies. Fort McKay Graham and Mikisew North American will have contracts of this provide large-scale earthwork, land reclamation and mining support services to an asset driven to be among thescale been provided safest, most reliable, sustainable and workforce-inclusive oil sands mines in the world.through Indigenous-owned The development in this region takes place on Fort McKay traditional territories. Were excited to bring thecompanies, says Jamie Long, combined capabilities of the Fort McKay Group of Companies (FMGOC) and Graham to Kearl, says Sami Saad,Kearl production manager. chief executive officer at Fort McKay Group of Companies. Establishing ourselves as a competitive provider isLong notes that each company paving the way for other Indigenous companies to reach the same achievements. This is an opportunity for usbidding on these projects to show industry in the region that we have a presence in the mining and heavy equipment space, and we arewas Indigenous owned. Its successful, safe and efficient at delivering quality service. a significant indicator of the growing ability of these Having secured this contract allows our nation and surrounding Indigenous communities to benefit in terms ofcompanies to compete with building employment capacity, investment into education, housing and health, adds Saad. non-Indigenous industry players and to deliver massive Mikisew Cree First Nation will also benefit from these contracts. Achieving this contract speaks to ourscale projects. We could only strong capacity and partnership model to compete in the marketplace by consistently achieving our goalsdream of partnerships like this in safety, Indigenous employment and providing strong financial returns to our stakeholders and the First10 years ago. Nations communities, says Dan Gallagher, chief executive officer at Mikisew Group. It confirms the abilitiesKearl mine manager, Robin of Indigenous-ownedFauquier, regards these companies and Imperialslandmark contracts as the commitment to workingfirst steps of a big journeySenior leaders from Mikisew North American and Imperial commemorate the contract signingwith them while meetingin progress. Together werealong with Chief Powder from Mikisew Cree First Nation.high safety, technical andmaking great strides in the quality standards. journey to co-create the benefits of this resource in First Nations communities, while mitigating impacts on the Gallagher notes thatenvironment, says Fauquier. Were not where we want to be yet, but every day were becoming more mutually profits generated throughinvested with Indigenous-owned companies, sharing in the prosperity of natural resource extraction and the contract will flow tocommitted to safely and sustainably delivering the energy products that people need to keep life running.the community, directlyFauquier also notes that Indigenous-owned businesses in local communities hire Indigenous people far better impacting the lives ofthan everyone else. We are thrilled to be able to now give contracts to companies owned by the communities Mikisew Cree First Nationwe care about, says Fauquier. Together, were quite literally moving mountains in the goal to have more members by providingpartnerships with Indigenous-owned companies, for a better future in which all of us, including nearby employment opportunitiesIndigenous communities, can share.and training. Participating in the economic benefits of oil sands resource development is key to fostering our communitys health and wellbeing, adds Gallagher, noting the company is committed to employing not only Representatives from the Fort McKay Group of Companies (FMGOC), Graham and Imperialmembers from Mikisew Cree pose with Chief Grandjamb and councillors from Fort McKay First Nation. The FMGOCEvery Child Matters haul truck is part of FMGOCs first ever industry-wide cultural awarenessFirst Nation but from all initiative launched in 2021, raising awareness of residential schools for those onsite at Kearl. Indigenous communities.'