Celebrating a decade of partnership on Okikendawt Hydro Generating Station

The Dokis First Nation and FirstLight (formerly Hydroméga) recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Okikendawt Hydro Generating Station, a partnership between Dokis First Nation and FirstLight. The event honoured a decade of collaboration and the benefits the project continues to deliver to the local community.

The celebration included tours of the hydro facility, a community gathering with ceremony and presentations, and an announcement of new initiatives:

• A $5,000 scholarship program for community members pursuing further education
• A logo contest with a cash prize to commemorate the partnership

The Okikendawt Hydro Generating Station was designed to minimize environmental impact by using an existing dam and only excess water from the French River, preserving water levels and flows. Environmental efforts included improving fish habitat, protecting turtle breeding sites, preserving ancient pictographs and stone pots at the traditional monuments and cooperating with Ontario Parks. The project was a “run-of-river” facility, relying on natural river flow rather than a new dam.

Run-of-River Design: The facility utilizes the natural flow of the French River to generate electricity, avoiding the need for a new dam and reservoir, which helps preserve the river’s ecosystem. 

Water Level & Flow Preservation: Water levels in Lake Nipissing and the French River remain unchanged because the station only uses excess water that already flows over the existing Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) dam at Portage.

Habitat Improvement & Protection: The project included efforts to improve walleye fishery habitat. It also focused on protecting sensitive ecological areas, including Blanding’s turtle breeding sites and archaeological pictographs and stone pots from the traditional Chaudière Portage.

Reconstitution of Historical Portages:  There was a commitment to reconstituting the historic Chaudière portage trail, preserving cultural heritage along with environmental protection.

Baseline Data Collection: During the planning stages, baseline ecological data was collected to monitor the project’s long-term impacts and inform future management.

Cooperation with Ontario Parks: The location of the project within a provincial park led to close cooperation with Ontario Parks on various recreational and environmental initiatives.

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Featured image, from left to right:
FirstLight’s Roméo Bélanger, Ron Medina, and Thomas Lambert. Both Bélanger and Lambert work at Okikendawt and are Dokis First Nation Members.