Working with Indigenous groups

We have been engaging with Indigenous groups for more than 40 years. 我们致力于尽早建立和维持土著对TC能源项目和运营的支持, ongoing, and honest communication, by mitigating impacts, and with mutually beneficial partnerships, recognizing that many of our activities occur on traditional lands.

In Canada, the duty to consult always rests with the Crown, and is driven by the fiduciary obligations of the Crown to Indigenous peoples under treaty and law. 每当国王作出可能对土著居民和条约权利的行使产生不利影响的决定时，就会产生这项义务, as protected under s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The Crown can delegate procedural aspects to an Industry proponent to assist in fulfilling its duty, as proponents are often in the best position to address Indigenous groups’ concerns related to projects. TC能源公司与土著群体的接触旨在通过交换信息和解决项目相关问题和关切，与土著群体建立关系，并可以包括委托程序方面.

In the U.S. and Mexico, the government has not delegated procedural aspects of consultation to project proponents. In the U.S the federal government handles all aspects of consultation, including determining which groups it will consult, defining consultation guidelines, and reaching agreements with them when required. 项目支持者可以补充政府或管理机构与土著群体的咨询活动, but accountability for consultation remains with the government. In Mexico, 与土著群体协商是联邦政府的责任，由Secretaría de Energía (SENER)领导。.

TC Energy identifies Indigenous groups through a combination of desktop research, regulators’ guidance and the company’s own operating experience – including past projects in the region, existing agreements with Indigenous groups, and an established network of contacts with Indigenous groups in the project area.

TC Energy also considers the project’s proximity to:

• Tribal reservations and ancestral lands in the U.S
• First Nation reserves, 土著居民定居点和社区以及加拿大土著人民的传统领土
• Indigenous settlements and communities in Mexico.

In addition, TC能源与任何自认为是潜在受影响方的土著群体接触，以了解他们的利益, the nature of their concerns and to determine the most appropriate method of engagement going forward.

Canada, the U.S. 和墨西哥(TC能源运营的三个国家)在保护土著权利和利益方面有不同的法律, as identified in Article 32.3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Where TC Energy’s business activities have the potential to affect Indigenous groups, 我们倾听他们的问题和关切，并与他们合作，将他们的传统知识纳入项目设计和规划中, mitigate negative impacts and maximize benefits through hiring and buying locally.

We aim to build mutually beneficial partnerships where benefits outweigh the impacts, and our legacy is positive for those most impacted by our activities. In Canada, 我们正在寻求扩大项目和资产股权参与的利益，因为协调利益的最佳方式是作为合作伙伴/所有者坐在谈判桌前. Through all these efforts, 我们努力被视为土著群体的首选伙伴，并在和解中发挥有意义的作用. By taking this approach, we adhere to and often exceed the regulatory requirements of the respective jurisdictions.

TC Energy recognizes the unique connection Indigenous peoples have to the land and resources, and our goal is to anticipate, prevent, 缓解和管理可能影响土著群体的条件，并在项目的整个生命周期内，在所有业务线和管辖范围内，增加受影响最严重的土著群体的利益. Our project engagement is informed by our Indigenous Relations policy, strategy, and  guiding principles, as well as  legal and regulatory landscapes, which continue to evolve.

TC能源公司的路线标准旨在最大限度地减少拟议路线的环境和社会经济影响, including the potential impacts on Indigenous traditional use sites, areas, and activities. Feedback and traditional knowledge received through Indigenous engagement are considered in project planning, including route refinement, 减轻项目对原住民行使权利的影响，并平衡路线选择标准的所有相关因素, as appropriate. Regardless of what region we operate in, we aim to reach consent on our projects with Indigenous groups through early engagement, honest communication, and mutually beneficial relationships.

TC Energy makes every effort to track the overall percentage of Indigenous employment; however, this information is based on self-identification. It is not a practice of TC Energy to require self-identification by any employee or contractor.

We offer a multi-tiered approach to our Indigenous Awareness Training modules. Since 2001, we have offered Indigenous Awareness training, which outlines our company's Indigenous Relations Policy, strategy and guiding principles to all interested employees and contractors. In addition to in-class training, we regularly facilitate opportunities for employees to learn firsthand about history, protocols and culture through in-person experiences. 

A total of 2,220 employees and contractors have taken this training since 2001. In 2022, we offered 7 sessions, and 172 individuals took this training. In 2021, we also developed, with input from TC Energy's Indigenous employees, an online mandatory training module covering Indigenous peoples' history and cultures. This was rolled out to all Canadian employees and certain contractors. By April 15, 2023, 92 percent of the Canadian workforce had completed the training. Additionally, an interactive session was provided to members of our Board of Directors.

We measure the effectiveness of our engagement approach by tracking, responding to, and striving to resolve all issues and concerns raised by Indigenous groups with whom we engage. 我们已经开发了一种方法来解决监管程序之外的问题和关注，这些问题和关注是受我们运营影响最大的群体, aiming at obtaining their support. 我们还建立了机制，检查并从土著群体那里获得全球十大赌博靠谱平台关系状况和改进方法的反馈. 

TC能源实施土著参与计划，以发展和加强与土著群体的关系，并在整个资产生命周期中促进富有成效的对话. Creating positive, long-term relationships is always the goal of TC Energy’s engagement with Indigenous groups.

While TC Energy does not use agreements as a measure of success in Indigenous engagement, we do enter into agreements with Indigenous groups potentially affected by our activities, such as capacity funding agreements, Traditional Knowledge funding agreements, community and participation agreements.

In 2021, we entered into a total of 94 agreements with 46 Indigenous groups we engage with across Canada. Meanwhile, in 2022, we executed 45 agreements with 39 Indigenous groups across Canada.