Hatch explores JV with Mi’kmaq Tribal Council in N.B.

The signing ceremony on July 22 involved NSMTC general manager (GM) Jim Ward, left, and Hatch global nuclear director Mario Pieries. Photo courtesy Hatch.

Hatch is establishing a joint venture (JV) with the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) in Miramichi, N.B., to offer Indigenous-led engineering and professional services.

Having already worked together on various projects over the past 25 years, Hatch and NSMTC announced the exploration of the JV opportunity on July 22, with a signing ceremony for a letter of intent and a celebration at the Natoaganeg Band office assembly hall.

Dubbed ‘Wellugwet Technical Services,’ the JV is intended to focus on sustainable development for the clean-energy and infrastructure sectors, leveraging existing capabilities in:

• feasibility and front-end studies
• civil site development, including geotechnical work, computer-aided design (CAD), site surveys, traffic studies and laboratory analysis.
• environmental, sustainability and community engagement services.
• project management.
• business advisory services, including market studies and development agreements.

(‘Wullugwet’ is a Mi’kmaq word that means “do good work, do well or succeed.” It was selected for the JV through consultation with NSMTC chiefs, elders and leaders who are interested in building further capabilities in the energy sector.)

The JV’s proposed mission statement also promises “the opportunity to increase the representation of Indigenous youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, through Indigenous ownership and Indigenous staffing.” The signing of the letter of intent is one milestone on the path toward the execution of the JV and, eventually, commercial operations.