konarı̨̨́dı Ɂú News

December 9, 2025

Acceleware Enters into Farm-In Agreement in Saskatchewan

Under the Agreement, Acceleware will have the opportunity to drill an RF XL 2.0 horizontal well pair in 2026 in exchange for a gross overriding royalty. Upon payout of Acceleware’s invested capital, the farmer's royalty converts to a 40% working interest. The Agreement also provides the potential to drill additional well pairs on the property.  

December 4, 2025

Acceleware Announces Feasibility Studies for BHP

The first study will explore the use of radio frequency (RF) energy delivered by Acceleware’s EM Powered Heat platform to reduce moisture levels in iron ore from the Pilbara region of Australia. Reduction in moisture is critical to reduce or eliminate processing plant delays. Activities in the study include determining the optimal method for applying RF energy to dry the ore and collaborating with the client on how to integrate this heating stage into the existing process flow. 

The second study will involve assessing the use of RF energy to improve the efficiency of copper production via heap leaching in Chile. Research suggests that increasing the temperature of the heap can have a positive effect on yield compared to ambient temperatures. There are currently more than 200 active heaps worldwide that produce gold, copper, silver and nickel. The global annual value of just the copper produced through heap leaching is estimated at US$41 billion. Activities in the study include determining the feasibility of, and optimal method for applying RF energy to elevate and maintain the temperature of the heap. Methods include heating the ore directly, or heating the solution used to extract the copper from the heap, or a combination of both.    

November 27, 2025

Prime Minster Carney signs major energy agreement with Alberta, laying out conditions for new oil pipeline

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a major new energy co-operation agreement on Thursday, outlining the conditions that need to be met for a new oil pipeline to the Pacific to proceed.

Signing a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), the federal and provincial governments are committing to a series of measures aimed at strengthening co-operation on major infrastructure projects, increasing energy production, and improving the country’s economic sustainability and export potential.

October 1, 2025

 Alberta will push its own pipeline application to Ottawa

Smith’s government hopes the project will make it into Carney’s next tranche of megaprojects, expected to be announced in November, but the news release said it expects the application to be submitted to the Federal Major Projects Office in spring of 2026. Smith explained the discrepancy as two separate stages of the project: for the first stage, the provincial government is looking for federal support. For the second stage, when a formal application would go forward, the province wants a private-sector proponent to take it over. 

June 12, 2025

Using science and technology to reduce tailings ponds

The committee has submitted its first recommendations to begin addressing this challenge while protecting the environment and downstream communities. Alberta’s government accepts these recommendations and will immediately begin exploring them further to help create an accelerated plan to reclaim the water and eventually return the land for use by future generations. 

May 3, 2024

Jim Boucher appointed to the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee

The Alberta government has appointed a new committee to look into ways to speed up the reclamation of the large and growing tailings ponds in the province’s oilsands.

The oilsands mine water steering committee will examine potential policies and options that would allow reclamation to occur as quickly and safely as possible.

“Managing oilsands mine water and reclaiming tailings ponds is a complex issue that requires collaboration,” Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said Tuesday in a statement.

“This committee will look at all the feasible options for addressing oilsands mine water and tailings ponds and suggest ways to safely reclaim the land and ensure our waterways remain clean for future generations.”

 Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee | Alberta.ca 

June 19, 2024

Jauvonne Kitto appointed to the Nature Conservancy Board of Canada (Alberta)

 NCC: Where We Work - Alberta - Alberta Regional Board of Directors  

February 6, 2024

Jauvonne Kitto appointed to the Questerre Energy Board

Bjorn Inge Tonnessen, Chairman of Questerre, commented, “We are thrilled to have Ms. Kitto join our Board. Her wealth of experience with First Nations and energy projects will be invaluable"

September 30, 2023

Nancy C. Southern, Chair and CEO of ATCO Ltd. and Canadian Utilities Ltd. She received the Canadian Energy Person of the Year Award (CEPY) for 2023, sponsored by the Energy Council of Canada. 

The award, a work of traditional Indigenous art comprised of tufted moose hair mounted on moosehide, was given to Ms. Southern by Chief Jim Boucher, a former CEPY recipient and current board member of the Energy Council of Canada. 

 In the afternoon before the CEPY 2023 Dinner and Award Ceremony, the Energy Council of Canada, ATCO Ltd., and the Saa Dene Group of Companies presented a panel discussion on Indigenous energy. The panelists were: Chief Jim Boucher, co-founder of the Saa Dene Group of Companies; Chief Charles Weasel Head Jr., former Blood Tribe Chief, and former Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge. Jauvonne Kitto, co-founder and current CEO of the Saa Dene Group of Companies, moderated the discussion.

Chief Boucher and Chief Weasel Head Jr. spoke of their experience in developing enterprises that allowed Indigenous communities to participate in the development of the Alberta energy sector. They had a history of working in partnership with ATCO, as well as other companies and each other. Chief Boucher emphasized that their arrangements with ATCO were entered into on a sound commercial basis. The consequence was that when two important projects had to be terminated because they were no longer economic, the parties found an equitable and orderly way to bring them to a close. Both chiefs made a point of highlighting that business arrangements like that will inevitably face difficult situations and that a strong relationship of mutual respect is necessary to meet those challenges. They also emphasized the importance of education in Indigenous communities. The greater the access and advancement of community members in education, the greater the opportunities for those members and the greater the contribution they can make to their communities.

ECC was pleased to help sponsor the discussion. It provided an opportunity to draw on the experience and expertise of leaders of Indigenous enterprises and pass on their contribution to a wider audience.

September 25, 2023

North Shore Mi'Kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) and 7 member communities announce historic equity agreements with Small Nuclear Reactor (SMR) companies 

These first-of-a-kind agreements in the field of small modular reactor (SMR) technology will enable NSMTC and its member communities (Oinpegitjoig, Ugpi'Ganjig, Natoaganeg, L'nui Menikuk, Tjipogtotjg, Metepenagiag, Amlamgog) to share in success in developing and deploying advanced nuclear technology in New Brunswick and around the world.  

"With the help of Saa Dene, a company focused on Indigenous inclusion through economic and social participation in the global economy NSMTC conducted thorough due diligence to ensure that Moltex and ARC's technologies and values harmonized with Indigenous teachings of honouring and respecting the Earth and its resources.  "

Jim Ward, General Manager, NSMTC

September 20, 2023

First Nations advance partnership with Hydro One to develop two new transmission line projects between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury

Eight First Nations have submitted their support to the Ontario Ministry of Energy for Hydro One to develop two new transmission line projects between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.

Batchewana First Nation, Garden River First Nation, Thessalon First Nation, Mississauga First Nation, Serpent River First Nation, Sagamok Anishnawbek, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, and Wahnapitae First Nation have formed a consortium to advance an equity partnership with Hydro One on new transmission project developments in their shared territories. They have submitted that Hydro One be formally designated the license to develop the two transmission lines by the Ministry of Energy.   

Hydro One launched its First Nations 50-50 equity model in September 2022. It provides First Nations the opportunity to invest as equal partners in new large-scale transmission line projects. 

 "We, as collective First Nations, believe in advancing self-determination through economic development and building strong partnerships with industry," explains Chief Andy Rickard of Garden River First Nation. "We are ready to continue to advance our collective partnership negotiations with Hydro One on behalf of our communities." 

 "Hydro One is grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership on these infrastructure projects in the northeast, and to explore how we can learn from each other," says Penny Favel, Vice-President, Indigenous Relations, Sustainability and President and CEO, Hydro One Remote Communities Inc., "Hydro One is committed to advancing meaningful action on economic Reconciliation so that First Nations can lead and benefit from transmission lines in their territory for generations to come."  

September 8, 2023

May 18, 2023

Members of the Garden River First Nation traveled hundreds of kilometers to go to Queen’s Park on Thursday and announce a lawsuit against Ontario and Canada for breaching the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.  The community, which is home to about 1000 people, is situated 50 km northeast of Sault Ste. Marie. 

Under the terms of the treaty, Garden River First Nation was promised a reserve extending over 54,000 hectares. Today it is less than half of that, at 20,700 hectares.  The lawsuit alleges that, in the past 150 years, the Crown coerced the sale of parts of the reserved lands against the community’s wishes. 

Reserved lands promised to Garden River under the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850 (left) compared to the size of the community’s reserve today (right) (Ontario Superior Court of Justice ) 

Chief Andy Rickard says elders and leaders in the community have been talking about this issue for years.  “We decided to actually start the process,” he said. “We can’t wait another 150 years for these things to happen.”