First Nation signs deal with energy company over natural gas assets in Montney region

HALFWAY RIVER FIRST NATION, B.C. — The energy arm of Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) has finalized a deal with Arc Resources regarding tenured land.

According to a September 29th story from the Canadian Energy Centre, Tsaa Dunne Za Energy (TDZE) entered an agreement with the provincial government known as tenure in July 2024, which gave TDZE decision-making rights over 34,000 hectares of its traditional land where there are natural resources.

The new deal, known as the Attachie Development Agreement, was initially announced by Arc on July 31st in its second-quarter results report, and says Calgary-based Arc Resources will develop about 25 per cent of HRFN’s tenured Crown land in the Montney region.

A statement on Halfway River Group’s – the economic arm of HRFN – website reads the tenure “will allow HRFN to pilot new operational measures to mitigate the impacts of development,” while at the same time “prioritizing HRFN’s key values of protecting water, connectivity to the land and spiritual places.”

Arc Resources plans on developing the new areas using existing infrastructure from the area, such as roads and pipelines.

 However, final consultation regarding development will still have to be made with HRFN.

In a statement to the Canadian Energy Centre, HRFN Chief Darlene Hunter said the tenure award “will help to ensure that oil and gas development in these areas is sustainable and managed in accordance with the values of the Halfway River First Nation.”

Energeticcity.ca has reached out to representatives of TDZE for further comment, and will update this story should more information become available.