Communication Monitoring

One of our goals was to communicate Project updates with communities but communication ended up being a big challenge. We were fully transparent on all aspects of the Project and created a website where we shared our daily reports. We also reached out to communities repeatedly and offered in-person meetings and presentations. As Indigenous monitors, we were involved in all aspects of the Project, more so than on any other project in the past. Everything we have said and done is fully transparent and available for communities to see. We believe we gave our best efforts to put the information out there and we wish for more First Nation and Metis involvement in all future projects.

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A website was created for the MMTP monitoring committee where we shared our daily compliance and environment reports.

The Communications Monitor offered to provide Treaty 1 and Treaty 2 First nations project updates and om-person presentations in their communities. Cedar boughs were also brought to communities during visits.
Manitoba Hydro media relations created a video about Communications Monitor Darryl Taylor sharing his experience and role on MMTP. Darryl shared how the monitors used their traditional knowledge to monitor the land and the water and explained the purpose of the ceremonies and offerings that were held on MMTP. This video was shared on social media platforms and can be found here.

Recording and sharing more video content has the potential to reach a wider audience. We believe a lot more can be communicated through a short video with commentary than with text and pictures.
We also recommend Manitoba Hydro share more content through social media rather than using a project website.
We also recommend that during in-person engagement activities in communities there be traditional flute music playing in the background and do a smudge at the start as to create a more comfortable and familiar environment for community members.
We highly encourage all communities to complete the Traditional Knowledge (TK) studies and we believe it is imperative that they are completed before Manitoba Hydro finalizes their environmental assessments for projects.