More promising still, notes Jacobsen, is that OPG sees interest growing for Aboriginal procurement among many of its larger non-Indigenous suppliers. “I’ve received calls and inquiries from a number of companies looking for advice on how they can connect and engage with local Indigenous busi- nesses,” he says. OPG has collaborated with Indigenous communities on several successful projects. In 2009, it partnered with Lac Seul First Nation to complete the 12 MW Lac Seul (Obishikokaang Waasiganikewigamig) Generating Station in Ear Falls, Ontario. As part of this collaboration, Lac Seul First Nation became a 25 per cent owner in the station. In 2014, OPG completed the Lower Mattagami River Project (LMRP) with Moose Cree First Nation, which today holds a 25 per cent partnership interest in the new hydroelectric generating units through its wholly owned company Amisk-oo-Skow Finance Corporation. The project employed over 250 Aboriginal workers and included approximately $350 million in contracts with local Aboriginal businesses for goods and services such as catering, security, surveying, electrical work, road construc- tion, and transportation. More recently, OPG partnered with Taykwa Tagamou Nation’s Coral Rapids Power LP (CRP) to complete the Peter Sutherland Senior (PSS) Generating Station. A total of $52.5 million in goods and services contracts were awarded to local Aboriginal businesses and partnerships. As part of the project agreement, CRP now has one-third partnership interest in the new facility. The company is currently engaged in its fourth Indigenous partnership for the Nanticoke Solar project. Working with the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, OPG hopes to develop a 44 MW solar facility on and near the Nanticoke Generating Station site by spring 2019. “Promoting Indigenous procurement and creating fair and equitable access to procurement opportunities is one way we can support the economic self-reliance and prosperity of Indigenous communities,” explains Jacobsen. “As an additional benefit, we are also growing and diversifying our poten- tial supplier base across the province, which just makes good business sense.” From left: Mike Martelli, OPG’s President of Renewable Generation; Dwight Sutherland, (former) Taykwa Tagamou Nation Chief; and Jeff Lyash, OPG’s President and CEO 22 A CCAB PUBLICATION 2018