TransAlta Scholarships for Paul First NationTen students from Paul First Nation were presented with scholarship cheques in the amount of $3,000 by Anita

House, PFN Post Secondary and Janet Janvier, TransAlta’s aboriginal relations advisor. The selection committee considers the following criteria in awarding scholarships: program of studies, academic/career goals,

community/volunteer participation, references, and content of essay. Incomplete application packages are not considered. The program is open to all Paul First Nation members who are on the band membership list.

Please congratulate the following recipients: Lorraine Adams, Lacey Bearhead, Justin Bull, Arlene Paul, Theresa Paul, Alison Rain, Angel Rain, Celeste Rain and David Rain. (Not pictured: Celeste Rain, Lacey Bearhead and Angel Rain)

For information on applying for next year’s program, please contact Anita House or Janet Janvier for details and an application form. The annual deadline is September 15. Look for us on Facebook by searching “TransAlta Aboriginal Bursaries.”

www.transalta.com

Community Update.

Welcome!Welcome to our first community update newsletter for Paul First Nation. The purpose of this newsletter is to commemorate the many activities and initiatives shared between Paul First Nation and TransAlta in 2010. We welcome you to review our activities from the past year, and to call us with any questions or comments.

Our OperationsWe are a power producer fueled by coal, natural gas, hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass. In the Wabamun area we have the following projects:

The Sundance power plant, near Wabamun, is the largest coal-fired electrical generating facility in western Canada, with six generating units. It has a 2,126 MW capacity.

Keephills is also located in the Wabamun area and has two units with a 766 MW capacity. Additionally, the Keephills 3 project is a 450 MW coal-fired generating plant, adjacent to the existing Keephills plant. Keephills 3 is an important step in ensuring Alberta’s future power needs are met

with a reliable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible source of electricity. It will be Canada’s most advanced coal-fired facility and is anticipated to go online in the first quarter of 2011. This project is a partnership between Capital Power (formerly EPCOR) and TransAlta.

TransAlta owns transmission lines that cross Paul First Nation lands. In exchange for the use of the lands, we hire labourer and/or liaison workers, pay tower payments and property taxes to your Nation.

To learn more about TransAlta, please visit www.transalta.com

March 2010 Edition One

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper

Paul First Nation

Do you have a question or comment about a story in this newsletter? Please contact us at 1.877.5.GREEN.5 (1.877.547.3365) ext. 1

The importance of strong relationshipsAt least three times a year, we meet with the elected Chief and Council and their selected support staff. In 2010, we met on June 14, August 25, October 7 and November 26. These meetings serve as a forum for Paul First Nation and TransAlta representatives to bring up any concerns and opportunities that are mutually beneficial. We discuss employment, contracting, community investment, scholarships, and other ways we can improve our relationship. If you have any issues, you can call us directly or speak to a member of your Chief and Council to bring your issues forward at one of our next meetings.

Contacts:Local Issues: Darrell Weichel, Sundance Common Services Manager 1-780-731-6000 ext. 6283. Darrell_Weichel@transalta.com

Corporate: Jason Edworthy, Director, Aboriginal Relations 1-403-267-2048 Jason_Edworthy@transalta.com

Corporate: Janet Janvier, Aboriginal Relations Advisor 1-403-267-7630 Janet_Janvier@transalta.com

Transmission/Lands: Jason Zimmerman, Manager of Lands, Royalties, and Transmission 1-403-267-7244 Jason_Zimmerman@transalta.com

Environment: Rod Kause, Director, EH&S 1-780-731-6000 ext. 5648 Rod_Kause@transalta.com

Hot Lunch Program at Paul SchoolAfter about a year of planning, we are pleased to share with the community that the pilot Hot Lunch Program at Paul Band School began in October 2010. TransAlta has committed to funding the program at $4,000 a month until December 2011, at which time the program will be re-evaluated. We acknowledge the support of the Paul Band Social Development program who also contributes funds toward the program - special thank you to Cindy Bearhead. Available to all students attending the school this program provides a complimentary meal at lunch time. Thank you to our fantastic cook, Beatrice Rain, who does

a wonderful job of providing healthy meals to the students. We would also like to acknowledge the work of TransAlta employees Gary Woods and Colleen Plooy who helped shape the program in its early development.

Meeting the newly elected Chief and CouncilOn November 26, 2010, TransAlta welcomed the newly elected Chief and Council. Jason Edworthy, director of aboriginal relations, presented Chief Casey Bird with a Pendleton blanket, tobacco and sweet grass. Each council member was given sweet grass and

tobacco. We wish to also acknowledge the outgoing leadership, under Chief Daniel Paul. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Elders Christmas Gift “Elders are the “Keepers of Knowledge” and it is their guidance that Aboriginal people seek as they strive for balance in their relationships with the Creator, the natural world, other people and themselves”

Through our conversations in the community, we have learned of the importance of Elders, and how honouring and respecting them is a fundamental element of Paul First Nation culture. For this reason, we have been providing an annual $2,000 amount to go toward gifts for the Elders at Christmas.

Employment and Contracting opportunitiesWe welcome the opportunity to consider employment and contracting opportunities for Paul First Nation members. If you are interested in employment, you can refer to www.transalta.com/careers or forward your resumes to Darrell Weichel for consideration. Business profiles can be submitted to Jason Edworthy, who can explain our procurement process to you.

Ahai Mneh During an historical artifacts study, on a ridge near TransAlta’s Highvale Mine, an archaeological site identified as an ancient tool making site was found. The ridge is believed to have been frequented by First Nations from the end of the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago. Early testing indicated this was a site of historical significance, rich in stone artifacts such as stone tools and tool making items and projectile heads. The land has been permanently protected and early in the summer of 2010, the University of Alberta undertook a field study to document and catalogue the findings. Additionally, Paul First Nation honored the archaeological site by performing a ceremony, naming the site Ahai Mneh, meaning shallow water lake, referring to a large lake that was once situated near the site. A feast was presented in honour of the ancestors who once occupied the site.

“The ceremony was lead by Mrs. Violet Poitras,” explained Janet Janvier, Aboriginal Relations advisor. “Because women were traditionally in charge of the home and the camp, the naming ceremony was led by the female elders as part of their role within the band.”

Present at the naming ceremony were representatives from TransAlta, Paul First Nation, and staff and students of the University of Alberta’s archaeological department who did the excavating and documenting of artifacts found at the site. The artifacts will be permanently

housed at the Alberta Provincial Museum. Paul First Nation members also visited the site during the excavation and a formal presentation on the findings is scheduled to be presented to Chief and Council in February 2011.

Year in Review: 2010We are proud to present over the following pages, a snapshot of the many activities and initiatives we shared in throughout 2010. In fact, so much happened that it won’t all fit in these pages! We encourage you to visit www.transalta.com/communities/aboriginal where you will see several more stories that further demonstrate our shared commitment to the relationship between Paul First Nation and TransAlta.

www.transalta.com

Misikitew DraglineOn June 1, one of the largest draglines in the world walked off the pad after three years of engineering and construction work. The massive 28 storey, 16 million pound machine is designed to meet the needs of the Highvale mine. Draglines are the largest single-bucket excavators built today. They are the primary excavating tool used in many surface mining operations. These highly productive machines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have an

expected operating life of 40 years. They walk by using two large ‘feet’ or pontoons which move the dragline backwards a little over two metres with each step at a rate of about 183 metres per hour.

Paul First Nation school students were asked to name the new and impressive machine. Jerome Campbell, dragline project manager, visited the school and presented information on draglines to the students. They were then asked to provide Stoney and Cree names for

consideration in the naming contest. The winning entry was Misikitew (mi-SIK-i-too) which is a Cree word meaning “the big one” as chosen by Gabriel Blais. The top three winning entries received gift certificates. To thank the school for their participation, TransAlta donated $1500 for sports equipment and held a pizza and pool party at the TransAlta Tri-Leisure Centre on June 15. The Misikitew name will be painted on the dragline in Spring 2011.

Local staff member supports Paul First Nation schoolTransAlta employee, Colleen Plooy, used her personal time to collect and refund bottles to donate to the Paul First Nation school for the purchase of books for the library. Colleen was also an instrumental part of the Hot Lunch program, and should be commended for going above and beyond her job and giving back to the Paul band community. Richard Mercredi donated much-needed Cree language and Native-themed books. Great work Colleen and Richard!

Participation in Career FairsOn January 27 and again on August 11, TransAlta participated in two career fairs in the community. We shared information with band members about current job postings, information on our scholarship and bursaries, and answered questions from community members about our company. We were privileged to witness an impressive singing and drumming performance by Noah!

Paul First Nation PowwowOn August 20, TransAlta’s aboriginal relations advisor, Janet Janvier travelled to the Paul Band Powwow to take part in the Grand Entry as a representative of the company. A cheque was presented to the organizing committee in the amount of $3,000 to go toward the Tiny Tot portion of the event. As neighbours of Paul First Nation, we were honoured to be included in the Grand Entry, along with

other dignified participants. TransAlta’s community investment program supports arts and culture, and our sponsorship was symbolic of our desire to help Paul First Nation continue to practice traditions, and to encourage the younger generation in the promotion of cultural activities that are important to the Nation. We are proud to be welcomed as participants in this annual powwow.

Olympic Torch BearersThe spirit of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games touched members of the Paul First Nation in January, when nine of its youth ran in the Olympic Torch Relay. On January 13, the team of runners got on a bus at 6 a.m. to travel to Vegreville, Alberta. From there, the group ran one kilometre with the torch. Along the route they were joined by drummers, dancers, family and friends who came out to cheer them on, recognize the efforts they put

in to participate and inspire others, and celebrate their community’s participation in the event. This group was one of only two youth groups in Alberta that were chosen to be a part of the relay. TransAlta proudly played a role in making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality by making a donation toward the group’s trip expenses.

March 2010 Edition OnePaul First Nation