Canadian Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples
This is reflected in several formal business partnerships that emphasize business-based relationships, employment opportunities, training, and capacity building. Tetra Tech has several major indigenous partnerships in Canada. This work is part of our global commitment to working with Indigenous Peoples, including a record of successful partnerships with Native Hawaiian and Native American tribes.
Kiggiak-EBA Consulting Ltd.
Kiggiak-EBA Consulting Ltd. (Kiggiak-EBA) is an Inuvialuit-owned company, incorporated in 2002 and based in Inuvik and Calgary. The company is a partnership between Moe Hansen and Tetra Tech (formerly EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.).
Kiggiak-EBA is registered with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) to provide professional engineering services. Kiggiak-EBA also is registered with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s Business List and as a northern business under the Government of Northwest Territories Business Incentive Policy. The company provides engineering and environmental services in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
Since 2009, Kiggiak-EBA has been involved in the development and construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) project. Kiggiak-EBA’s services for the ITH project include site reconnaissance, planning, detailed routing, geometric design, terrain assessments, geotechnical and permafrost engineering services, ground thermal analysis, bathymetric surveys, soil testing, borrow source investigations and materials assessments, environmental impact assessments, and conformity. The ITH officially opened in 2017, connecting the community of Tuktoyaktuk with southern Canada, fulfilling a national dream of connecting every coast in the country.
Kiggiak-EBA also is involved in permafrost assessments and monitoring projects, Designated Substance Surveys (DSS), geotechnical engineering, pile installation, materials testing, construction support, hazmat assessments, abatement monitoring, tender specifications, indoor air sampling, and deconstruction monitoring for various infrastructure and housing projects within communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
Nehtruh–EBA Consulting Ltd.
Nehtruh-EBA Consulting Ltd. (Nehtruh-EBA) is a Gwich’in-owned company, incorporated in 2002 and based in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. The company is a partnership between Shamrock/Tomahawk Ltd. and Tetra Tech (formerly EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.). Shamrock/Tomahawk is owned and directed by Charles Furlong, a former Chief of the Aklavik Indian Band and mayor of Aklavik.
Nehtruh-EBA is registered with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) to provide professional engineering services. Nehtruh-EBA also is registered as a Gwich’in company and a northern business under the Government of Northwest Territories Business Incentive Policy (BIP), providing services in the Gwich’in Settlement Area.
As a multi-disciplinary consulting services company, Nehtruh-EBA provides engineering and environmental services for a broad range of infrastructure, transportation and civil engineering projects. Environmental services include contamination assessments; environmental remediation; permitting and regulatory support services; and bio-physical assessments of plants, animals, fish, and water.
Nehtruh-EBA has conducted work for local clients on projects such as the Capital Suites Hotel, the new Mackenzie Hotel, and Aurora College in Inuvik. The team also provided consulting services to the Government of the Northwest Territories on projects such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway (Project Description Report), and for the internationally funded satellite tracking facility near the Inuvik Airport. Nehtruh-EBA completed five significant contracts for geotechnical and geophysical services in support of the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline (MGP) Project between 2002 and 2006. The company currently is assisting with the assessment of an all-season road and bridge design near Aklavik.
NELPCo: A Yukon First Nations-owned Tetra Tech Partnership
NELPCo is a partnership between the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation (NND-DC) and Tetra Tech Canada Inc. (Tetra Tech) and is recognized as an Aboriginal Business by the governments of Canada and the Yukon. NELPCo provides engineering and environmental services to both public and private sector clients focusing on mining, energy, community infrastructure, transportation, and development market sectors.
A primary goal of the partnership is to maximize environmental and engineering services, business, and employment opportunities in the traditional territory of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation (NND-FN). A secondary goal is to bring opportunities and socioeconomic benefits to the citizens of NND-FN and other Indigenous Peoples by procuring work either inside or outside NND-FN traditional territory through set-aside opportunities. The partnership has brought employment and training opportunities to NND-FN citizens, as well as profits to the NND-DC, which holds a majority interest in the limited partnership.
Since incorporation, NELPCo has successfully completed more than 50 projects for more than 20 clients. NELPCo has completed work for federal and municipal governments including agencies such as Yukon Government, First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), and the Village of Mayo; industrial clients including Alexco Resources, Victoria Gold Corporation, ATAC Resources, and Strata Gold; and various other private industry clients.
NELPCo technical services include environmental site assessments, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, transportation and road design, rock mechanics, hydro-technical and hydrogeological engineering, engineering for municipal water and industrial wastewater infrastructure projects, detailed transmission line design, rock slope stabilization, ice-bridge overburden dump design, geophysical and topographic surveys, annual inspections of care and maintenance structures, redesign of surface water diversion, and permafrost distribution mapping.
NELPCo currently has a Standing Offer Agreement with Government of Canada – INAC to provide mining environmental engineering services in Yukon.