b'NUCLEAR ENERGYthe organic journey of what it meansbetweentheenergysectorandnon-Indigenous folks to ask certain to work in engagement in the energyIndigenous communities. questions, and I want to be a safe space sector as an Indigenous woman, andwhere those questions can be asked.the special knowledge she is posi- I conduct conversations around equity, tioned to share with others. community consultation, opportunityWHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU and the importance of generationalFACE IN BOTH CONSULTATION AND HOW DID YOU START wealth for these communities. I am inADVISORY WORK? YOUR CAREER IN THE a world where I want to help othersI have to be aware of the performative RESOURCE SECTOR? understand certain terminology andaspect in this consultation and advisory When I realized I no longer wanted tothe weight it holds in Indigenouswork. I have a responsibility to educate, be a teacher, I found myself shiftingcommunities. Terminology such asbut also to keep nudging and pushing towards computer science. That led merights holders, for example, whena little bit further. Equality, diversity to my job as a nuclear operator at thereferring to Indigenous communities,and environmental health are all things Ontario Power Generation Pickeringis essential. There can be a fear fromthat matter to Indigenous communities. Nuclear Generating Station back in 1990, when they were looking to diver-sify the sector. Only a few years before my hire, women were not allowed to work in the station and there was no one in the control room. I was alwaysBUILDING attracted to the control rooms with my computer science background and myCAPACITY interest in math and science. TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE WITH ADVISORY WORK YOUVEDONE IN THIS SECTOR.FIRST I joined a group called Women inNATIONS Nuclear in Canada when it was formed in 2004. The group allowed me toPARTNERShave opportunities to go and speak to different communities and practise networking and leadership in the sector. Through these opportunities, I started learning about the uranium mining historyandtherelationshipwith Indigenous Peoples and communi-ties. Essentially, there was never a solid relationship from the beginning in the energy industry. There wasnt any form of consultation in the past, and plants were just popping up anywhere they wanted to. Towards retirement, I was invited to join a podcast to speak about my experience as an Indigenous womanB&B Contracting is proud to in nuclear. Someone heard it, foundwork with Indigenous communities my contact info, and reached out forand be a member of the CCIB.lunch. He was representing a companyIntroducing Saskay Ready Mix - a limited that was inquiring about how to buildpartnership between Kwikwetlem First Nation relationships with Indigenous commu- and B&B Contracting Group - for the supply nities in Northern Qubec. The historyand delivery of ready mix concrete.is so fraught there when it comes to mining, but he was eager and up to the challenge of working on buildingServing the Lower Mainland and across British Columbiagood relations with the community andwww.bbcontracting.comwas willing to put in the time it wouldwww.saskayreadymix.comtake. This is when I realized I had a valuable role [to play] as a translator Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT45'