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For Immediate Release
November 19, 2001

News Release

Second Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award Winners Announced

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TORONTO – The partnership between Six Nations Natural Gas Company Limited and Union Gas Limited is the winner of the second annual Ontario Aboriginal Partnerships Recognition Award. Ontario's Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, David Young announced the winners of the annual award at an event hosted today by the Royal Bank.

This partnership has had a very positive ripple effect throughout the community, said Young. Ontario is working with Aboriginal communities and the corporate sector to build market-driven partnerships to support our mutual goal of Aboriginal self-reliance, entrepreneurship and the creation of long-term employment.

The Six Nations Natural Gas Company is the first natural gas utility owned and built by a First Nation community in Canada. The partnership, which was formalized in 1995, has allowed Six Nations Natural Gas to significantly expand its distribution and customer base as well as acquire knowledge and expertise in marketing, customer support and relations, commodity buying and the regulatory process.

Today, Six Nations Natural Gas distributes and sells over 4.5 million cubic metres of natural gas to more than 1,700 customers including adjacent communities such as the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation.

Union Gas has benefited through the opening up of a new market and higher revenues as more gas is sold. Six Nations Natural Gas is now also a transporter of natural gas for new Union Gas customers who were not able to obtain their gas through Union's own distribution system.

Partnerships between Aboriginal and Ontario companies and entrepreneurs are a fine example of how joint ventures can bolster economic development and growth for Aboriginal communities, said John Kim Bell, Founder and President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, who presented the award with Young this morning. I am pleased that this initiative provided job training, real jobs and revenue generation for the community. By recognizing successful business partnerships through this award, it is an effective means for encouraging further joint ventures.

Ontario established the Aboriginal Partnership Recognitions Award in co-operation with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. The award celebrates a successful Ontario-based business partnership between an Aboriginal business, community, or organization and either a non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal business, community, or organization.

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Judy Tobe or Marlene Finn
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
416-926-0775
1-800-329-9780

Rosemary Sampson
Communications Branch
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
416-326-4780