WHITECAP DAKOTA FIRST NATION — SaskEnergy has announced the unveiling of new safety signs, designed by Saskatchewan Indigenous artist Jade Roberts, to be installed in the 52 gasified First Nations throughout the province.
By incorporating Indigenous design, SaskEnergy’s aim is to deliver natural gas safety messages in a way that resonates with Indigenous communities and customers, says the crown corporation.
This project supports awareness and authentic engagement while communicating messages that are preventative and solution focused. The new designs build on two of SaskEnergy’s core safety messages: “dig safely” and ”If you smell natural gas”— a message reminding customers that if they smell gas to evacuate the premises and call SaskEnergy.
Jade Roberts is an Indigenous artist from Lac LaRonge who currently resides in Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon. Roberts is an educator, podcaster, artist and community leader. Roberts is a CBC Saskatchewan Future 40 Award winner.
“SaskEnergy has provided natural gas capacity to our Nation since the mid 1980’s and together we have made safety awareness a top priority,” said Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear. “Today marks that continued effort and we are pleased to see this new, Indigenous designed, reminder about natural gas safety. We welcome this new addition and congratulate Jade Roberts on this design.”
SaskEnergy says this project builds on its commitment to foster positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on mutual respect. The goal is to create constructive outcomes as outlined in the Corporation’s Indigenous Engagement Policy and Indigenous Procurement Policy.
“SaskEnergy is committed to the safety of the public, including the Indigenous communities we serve,” says President and CEO Mark Guillet. “These signs help us to highlight how safety is a shared responsibility — in a way that’s visually and culturally appealing — while demonstrating that we value our relationships with First Nations as we work together to create safer communities.”
“SaskEnergy and the Government of Saskatchewan recognize the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action,” said Lisa Lambert, MLA for Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood. “By installing these new signs, SaskEnergy is demonstrating its commitment to building meaningful, long-term relationships with Indigenous groups and communities.”
SaskEnergy supports the Saskatchewan economy through local and Indigenous procurement. In 2023-24, SaskEnergy purchased $258.1 million in goods and services from Saskatchewan vendors, which made up 65 per cent of our purchase orders, and more than $34.2 million in contracts were awarded to businesses with Indigenous ownership or Indigenous content.
Following the unveiling of the safety signs at Whitecap Dakota First Nation, SaskEnergy, will work with the remaining gasified First Nations to see their signs installed through the spring and summer with all installations completed by fall of 2024.
For more information about this initiative and to view a video about the artist’s inspiration and work on this project, click here.