Aerial view of the twin falls and beginning of rapids on the La Martre River. below: Wha Ti First Nation Chief Charlie Jim Nitsiza discusses run of the river hydroelectric development with elders.
river hydroelectric development. A project at this smaller scale, if proven economical enough, would meet community energy demand for power, space heating and local economic development for at least a 20-year period with minimal environmental impact. The Wha Ti are building a business case for the project, completing a life-cycle costing and assessing market and revenue aspects of the project. The people of Wha Ti are approaching the new century with global awareness and local action to ensure a sound future for their children. It is not easy, as conventional forces are rarely open to change, and some authorities find it difficult to accept the idea that there is more than one way to go forward. Consumers are strongly influenced by messages based upon immediate commercial profit and the length of political terms, rather than by the logic of full costing that includes both social and environmental costs and benefits of alternatives. Though alternatives often require higher initial investment, total lifetime costs are much reduced. With new understanding comes new commitments, and the Wha Ti Community Council is bringing much energy to meet old issues in new and innovative ways.
Stephen Fancott,Architect, Energy Man- ager for Arctic Energy Alliance, low energy house builder and visual artist, believes that an aware, kind and functional mind can cause personal and local changes that will render perverse technologies obsolete. Robert Bromley, Project Director for Ecol- ogy North, is an indigeous Yellowknifer, a biologist and environmentalist focussed on doing things that are good for the earth, people and local economies.
On Site review 11
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Spring 2004
Architecture of the Circumpolar Region
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