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THUNDER BAY, ONT. — Years in the making, Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power and the province recently celebrated the construction completion for the large-scale Watay Power Transmission Project, the largest Indigenous-led grid connection project in Ontario’s history.

Approximately 1,800 kilometres of new transmission lines will connect more than 18,000 people in 16 remote First Nations communities to the provincial grid, ending their reliance on diesel generators.

More than 5,000 workers contributed to the Watay Power Transmission Project, states a release, including nearly 1,000 individuals from First Nation communities across the north. The project is estimated to remove 6.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to taking almost 35,000 cars off the road.

Construction for the transmission project was funded by an Ontario government loan of up to $1.34 billion.

The following First Nations communities have been connected to the grid: Wawakapewin First Nation, Kasabonika Lake First Nation, Wunnumin Lake First Nation, Sandy Lake First Nation, Sachigo Lake First Nation, Deer Lake First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, Wapekeka First Nation, Pikangikum First Nation, North Caribou Lake First Nation, Kingfisher Lake First Nation and Bearskin Lake First Nation.

In 2025, Muskrat Dam First Nation, Poplar Hill First Nation, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin First Nations will also be connected.

“The completion of this project marks the achievement of First Nations working together tirelessly for 35 years to connect communities to the transmission grid,” said Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power, in a statement. “Well before this project started in 2008, the First Nations in the area agreed to work on energy as a regional issue. To own infrastructure in our homelands and build a solid foundation for our future generations, this work has been a success and it must continue.”

Watay Power is a First Nations-led company made up of 24 First Nation communities.