Brief description of the organization
The University of Waterloo’s Office of Indigenous Relations is a central hub for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students, researchers, faculty, and staff. The office leads the university's campus-wide approach to Truth and Reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization through advocacy, cultural support, and policy advising.
Problem area
Many Indigenous communities are exploring pathways to energy sovereignty, long-term energy affordability, and reduced reliance on conventional energy systems that may be costly, carbon-intensive, or vulnerable to disruption. At the same time, emerging technologies such as small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are being discussed in Canada as a potential option for low-carbon, scalable, and reliable electricity generation.
This project will ask students to explore whether, and under what conditions, SMR technology could be a feasible option for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. The problem area is not limited to technical performance alone; it also includes questions of governance, regulation, infrastructure requirements, financial feasibility, environmental considerations, community implications, and alignment with Indigenous rights, priorities, and community-led decision-making.
Students will examine the intersection of clean energy innovation, Indigenous community development, and regulatory complexity. The project is intended to help assess whether SMRs are a realistic and appropriate option for consideration by a First Nation community, and what barriers, risks, opportunities, and enabling conditions would need to be addressed before any future decision-making could occur.
Main objectives
The objective of the project is to develop an early-stage feasibility study that supports informed discussion regarding the possible implementation of SMR technology by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.
More specifically, the project will:
- Describe the nature of SMR technology in clear and accessible terms, including what SMRs are, how they differ from conventional nuclear power systems, the scale and types of SMR technologies currently under development, and their intended applications.
- Assess the feasibility of implementation by a First Nation community, with attention to key dimensions such as technical suitability, infrastructure requirements, energy demand, economic and financing considerations, environmental and social impacts, potential benefits, risks, and community readiness.
- Map the regulatory and policy environment relevant to SMR development and operation in Ontario and Canada, including licensing, safety oversight, environmental assessment requirements, Indigenous consultation considerations, land use implications, and relevant federal/provincial authorities.
- Identify key decision points and considerations that would inform whether further study, partnership development, or strategic engagement should occur.
- Produce a practical and well-organized analysis that can serve as a starting point for future conversations among community leadership, technical experts, regulators, and potential partners.
Scope of work
The student team will undertake a structured research and analysis process to produce a preliminary feasibility study. The work is expected to include the following steps:
1. Background Research
- Review the current Canadian energy landscape and the emerging role of SMRs within broader clean energy and decarbonization strategies.
- Examine publicly available information on SMR technologies, including reactor types, generation capacity, deployment models, safety features, waste considerations, and typical use cases.
- Review examples of remote, industrial, or community energy applications where SMRs have been proposed or studied.
2. Community and Context Analysis
- Develop a high-level understanding of the energy, infrastructure, and development context relevant to Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.
- Consider how an SMR project would need to align with community priorities, governance structures, economic development interests, environmental stewardship values, and rights-based considerations.
- Identify what information would be needed from the community or project partners to support a more detailed assessment beyond the scope of the capstone.
3. Feasibility Assessment
- Evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of SMR implementation in a First Nation context. Assess major feasibility dimensions, which may include:
- energy demand and load considerations;
- site and infrastructure requirements;
- capital and operating cost considerations;
- ownership or partnership models;
- environmental and waste management considerations; and
- social, governance, and community acceptance factors.
4. Regulatory and Jurisdictional Mapping
- Identify the principal regulatory bodies, legislative frameworks, and approval processes that would govern SMR development in Canada and Ontario.
- Outline key permitting, licensing, environmental review, and compliance requirements.
- Consider Indigenous rights, duty to consult, community consent, and the broader jurisdictional environment relevant to development on or affecting First Nation lands and interests.
5. Final Deliverables
- The project should culminate in a concise but substantive feasibility study that includes:
- an overview of SMR technology;
- an assessment of its potential applicability for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation;
- a summary of the relevant regulatory and policy environment;
- key findings on opportunities, limitations, and risks; and
- recommendations for next steps, including areas requiring further technical, legal, financial, or community-based analysis.
Deliverables
Report
Team Meeting Frequency
Bi-weekly
Skills and training required
This project is interdisciplinary in nature and will benefit from a student team that brings a combination of technical, analytical, policy, and engagement-oriented skills. Students are not expected to have expertise in all areas but should collectively demonstrate the following capabilities:
Technical and Analytical Skills
- Foundational understanding of energy systems, engineering, or environmental science, with the ability to interpret technical information related to emerging technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs).
- Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information from academic, industry, and government sources into clear and accessible insights.
- Ability to conduct feasibility analysis, including evaluating technical requirements, infrastructure needs, cost considerations, and operational implications.
Policy and Regulatory Analysis
- Interest or experience in public policy, regulatory frameworks, or governance structures, particularly in Canadian contexts.
- Ability to review and interpret legislation, regulatory processes, and institutional roles, and to map how these intersect across federal, provincial, and Indigenous jurisdictions.
- Capacity to identify key policy considerations, approval processes, and compliance requirements related to energy development and major infrastructure projects.
Interdisciplinary Thinking and Systems Approach
- Ability to work across disciplines and consider technical, economic, environmental, and social factors simultaneously.
- Comfort engaging with complex, multi-dimensional problems where there is no single clear solution.
- Systems thinking skills to understand how energy infrastructure decisions intersect with community development, long-term sustainability, and governance.
Indigenous Contexts and Community Awareness
- Awareness of, or willingness to learn about, Indigenous rights, governance, and community-driven decision-making.
- Sensitivity to the importance of community context, priorities, and values, particularly in relation to land, environment, and resource development.
- Ability to approach the project with a respectful, rights-affirming, and relational perspective, recognizing that feasibility is not purely technical but also social, cultural, and political.
Teams may benefit from including students with backgrounds in:
- Engineering (e.g., electrical, environmental, systems, or mechanical)
- Environment and Resource Studies, Planning
- Public policy or Political science
- Business, Economics, or Finance
Resources required
To complete this project successfully, the student team will require access to a combination of research materials, policy and regulatory sources, technical documentation, and partner collaboration. Because the project sits at the intersection of energy technology, regulation, and Indigenous community interests, students will need both documentary resources and guided engagement with key institutional and community partners
Research and Background Materials
- The team will need access to a range of background materials to build a foundational understanding of small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) technology and its potential applications. This includes:
- academic literature on SMRs and emerging nuclear energy systems;
- publicly available reports from government, industry, and energy agencies;
- materials describing different SMR technologies, deployment models, infrastructure requirements, safety considerations, and waste management issues; and
- literature on energy sovereignty, community energy planning, and Indigenous participation in major energy projects.
- These resources will support students in developing a clear understanding of the technology and the broader policy and development context in which it is being considered.
Regulatory and Policy Resources
- Students will require access to legislation, regulatory guidance, policy documents, and publicly available information related to nuclear energy development in Canada and Ontario. This includes materials related to:
- federal nuclear regulation and licensing processes;
- provincial energy policy and infrastructure planning;
- environmental assessment and permitting requirements;
- Indigenous rights, consultation, and jurisdictional considerations; and
- relevant agency mandates, approval pathways, and compliance expectations.
- These resources will allow the team to map the regulatory environment and identify the key legal and institutional considerations relevant to a feasibility assessment.
Community and Partner Context
- Because the project is focused on the potential applicability of SMR technology for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN), the student team will need access to contextual information that helps situate the analysis in relation to community priorities and realities. To support this, the team will require collaboration with the University of Waterloo’s Office of Indigenous Relations, which will serve as a primary liaison in supporting respectful and coordinated engagement with COTTFN.
- This collaboration may include:
- guidance from the Office of Indigenous Relations on appropriate context, terminology, and engagement considerations;
- support in identifying relevant community priorities, governance considerations, and project framing;
- coordination, where appropriate and feasible, with representatives from COTTFN to ensure the project remains grounded in community interests and perspectives; and
- assistance in ensuring that the work is undertaken in a manner that is respectful of Indigenous rights, community processes, and relationship-based approaches.
- The Office of Indigenous Relations will be an essential resource in helping students understand that this project is not solely a technical exercise, but one that must be attentive to community context, governance, and decision-making.
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes