Nupqu

“Nupqu” is the Ktunaxa word for black bear and represents the powerful and resourceful nature of our organization.

Specializing in natural resource management consulting and contracting services within the Ktunaxa Traditional Territory - Nupqu is proudly owned by all communities of the Ktunaxa Nation.

Our organization has a proven track record of natural resource management, initially operating as the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Development Corporation beginning in 1997, and as Nupqu Development Corporation since 2009. In 2020 Nupqu updated its name to reflect its growing number of services.

Our Mission

Leveraging the strengths of a highly-trained workforce, robust safety and stewardship principles, Nupqu is a leader and steadfast partner in the provision of value-added professional and technical resource services

Our Mandate

Within the KEL group of companies, Nupqu provides professional land and resource management services within the Ktunaxa Traditional Territory and beyond. Specifically, we support clients within a variety of industries with the following services:

Forestry

Nupqu currently holds the Community Forest Agreement Tenure CFA – K1W on behalf of the Ktunaxa Nation on the Federal Dominion Coal Block property.
Located on the Federal Dominion Coal Block properties, the Community Forest is jointly managed with a unique arrangement between Nupqu (Ktunaxa Nation by extension), BC MFLNRO and Natural Resources Canada
We have provided management consulting services for other types of forest tenures, including First Nation woodlots and non-renewable forest licenses

Environmental, Reclamation and Remediation

Environment and sustainability are at the heart of Nupqu values and services. Protection of the environment is central to Nupqu and the Ktunaxa Nation. All staff ensure that their actions promote environment stewardship and comply with applicable legislation and standards. Nupqu management is committed to applying Ktunaxa values in all activities and applies ʔaknumu¢tiŧiŧ, Ktunaxa laws on how to live with the land.

Water Management

Native Plant Nursery

Health and Safety

Health and safety is a priority. Nupqu adheres to the highest regulatory standards, client practices and procedures.

Nupqu is a SAFE Company certified by the BC Forest Safety Council. SAFE Certification gives business owners, managers, employees, partners and customers the assurance of knowing that a recognized and reviewed worker health and safety program is in place. The SAFE Companies program gives forest operations clear, practical and achievable standards for successful health and safety programs. As a large employer (greater than 20 employees) there is a greater level of responsibility to involve employees, plan, manage and record their safety activities because of the realities of dealing with more workers.

Nupqu is a member of both Avetta as well as ISN - and uses these contractor safety management programs to support our own Occupational Health and Safety objectives.

Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management

Contract Management

Nupqu is proudly owned by the four communities that makeup the Ktunaxa Nation along with the umbrella Ktunaxa Nation Council Society. Nupqu, means black bear in the Ktunaxa language. The company logo is a bear paw that has four claws which represent each of the four community shareholders, ʔakink̓umǂasnuqǂiʔit, ʔaq'am, yaqan nukiy, and ʔakisq'nuk.

Nupqu is building healthy community through its foundational role in a thriving Ktunaxa Nation economy. Nupqu is empowering Ktunaxa members with opportunities to develop technical, team and leadership skills to that contribute to meaningful careers and strong communities. The Nupqu team employs members from each of the four communities that makeup the Ktunaxa Nation, fostering productive relationships across the territory.

Key Benefits of our Services

In addition to working with an experienced, competitive and professional First Nation resource management consulting and contracting business, some of the major benefits provided to our clients include:

Ability to carry out business activities in association with a Ktunaxa business when working in the Traditional Territory
Meeting First Nation or Aboriginal corporate objectives
Access to cost-competitive, available, local and professionally trained work force
Consolidated project work by dealing with one contractor on a variety of project deliverables

Nupqu Limited Partnership is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, compliance with governmental agencies, pertinent regulatory requirements, and our client’s practices and procedures. As a SAFE Company certified by the BC Forest Safety Council, our SAFE Certification provides business owners, managers, employees, contractors, partners and customers the assurance of knowing that a recognized and reviewed worker health and safety program is in place at all times.

KEL/Nupqu Values

Stewardship

We uphold Ktunaxa values of Land, life, tradition and health. We are dedicated to environmental vigilance and stewardship practices to preserve Land and life for future generations. We adhere to and uphold the Ktunaxa Nation Stewardship Principles in all the work we do.

Leadership

Inspiring each other to grow and work as a team to achieve our goals efficiently and effectively. We act as role models, endorsing the practice of operating in an ethical, social and environmentally-responsible manner.

Unity

KEL and all subsidiary businesses take a “Nation as a whole approach.” We work under the direction provided by shareholders and in collaboration with partners and community development corporations.

Strength

KEL finds strength through its resiliency, resourcefulness and by drawing on relationship within the collective. KEL also garners strength from its relationships with industry and like-minded organizations.

Respect

We honour Ktunaxa values, communities and citizens. We treat each other and the Land with dignity and respect. We encourage and appreciate each others’ input even if there is a difference in perspective and opinion. We are respectful of ourselves, our team, shareholders, partners and clients.

Safety

Safety is of the utmost importance in all work completed by KEL and its subsidiary businesses. Everyone has the right and responsibility to perform work safely. By looking out for our teammates and the Land wherein we work, we provide a sense of security, knowing no one will be left behind and stewardship values are in place for generations to come

Integrity & Accountability

We have created an inclusive corporate culture from a foundation of Ktunaxa cultural values, with open lines of communication and a safe working environment. Lead by strong morals, we believe in doing the right thing, being accountable and having pride in our work. We are accountable to shareholders and we uphold Ktunaxa interests while executing our mandate in a transparent and professional manner.

In Our History and Profile

Nupqu provides professional land and resource management and the opportunity for industry and government to engage Ktunaxa Buisness in the Ktunaxa Traditional Territory. Our main office is located just outside the ʔaq̓am community north of Cranbrook, BC. We also have a second office located in downtown Fernie to support our operations in the Elk Valley.

Our employees, made up of many recognized and certified natural resource professionals, have a strong reputation of providing quality services in the resource industries throughout the region. Nupqu’s diverse work-force offers a broad range of certified experience and expertise while providing opportunities for professional and career development for Aboriginal people within the region.

From 1997 to 2009, Nupqu operated as the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Development Corporation. Nupqu was incorporated in 2009 as a independent business owned by the four communities of the Ktunaxa Nation and the Ktunaxa Nation Council Society. The five fingers of our bear paw logo exemplifies the five owners of the company while the paw pad symbolizing the importance of the Ktunaxa community as a whole in our the success of our mandate. In 2020, Nupqu updated its name to reflect the new mandate focused on resource consulting and contracting.

We continually explore new opportunities in economic development, resource-related ventures and other initiatives.

Nupqu and Hemmera

To expand our service offering in the environmental field, we have an established business partnership with Hemmera Envirochem Inc. (Hemmera), a full-service, boutique environmental consultancy that offers a range of services in Environmental Planning and Ecology, Community Engagement and Social Sciences, and Site Assessment and Remediation. Nupqu and Hemmera (a wholly owned subsidiary of Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc.) have built a strategic business relationship that offers multiple benefits to our clients, projects, and communities. Hemmera and Nupqu have been nurturing and formalizing this strategic alliance for more than three years. Our relationship continues to grow, helping us build mutual capacity while independently and jointly pursuing project opportunities supported by the right mix of staff on each project. We also have sub-contracting and professional services agreements in place to support prompt service delivery with industry-standard safety programs and liability provisions in place.

Our Management Team

The strength of the Nupqu management team stems from individual experience and expertise, clear functions and responsibilities and the ability to coordinate and collaborate with our partners and clients.