Joint Equity with First Nations creates a Just and Equitable Energy Future

By: Sara Fontaine

A Call to Industry and Government on Indigenous Community Engagement

It has been an honor to say I am from the Treaty 3 Nation considering their advancements within the Energy Sector. In recent years there has been a Nuclear Waste Management Organization proposal for a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) in Ignace, Ontario. Grand Council Treaty 3, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories have been taking Reconciliation into consideration as they move forward with their advancements by facilitating community consultations with educational resources to discuss their Nuclear Waste storage and a proposal for a Canadian DGR.

Community consultations and educational sessions are essential steps for industry and governments, not optional extras. These practices should be mandatory for all developments with significant environmental impacts, ensuring informed and inclusive decision-making. This shouldn’t be required for just Indigenous communities either, it should be mandatory for any developments that have high environmental impacts. When you create relationships and inclusion with the communities you are impacting, it reduces eco-anxiety and creates an opportunity for society to be properly informed on environmental, social, and economic impacts and the benefits of their developments. It creates trust and also encourages innovations and perspectives from people whose voices might not have been considered in the process otherwise, so in turn creating equality.

The Treaty 3 Nation and Hydro One have set a new standard through the Wassigan Transmission Line Joint Equity Agreement, demonstrating the transformative potential of equitable partnerships. They have partnered with 9 First Nations communities on a 50% equity agreement which is going to create business opportunities and indigenous inclusion all while ensuring indigenous advancements and economic growth. All industries should be following this case study and using it as a framework for their development.

Indigenous Peoples have a deep-rooted connection to land stewardship and sustainability, guided by traditional ecological knowledge that offers valuable insights for sustainable development. Our identities and culture are so ingrained in protecting the Earth that we should be at the forefront of all decision-making when it comes to environmental impacts because we have ancient traditional ecological knowledge on best sustainable practices. Indigenous communities should not just be participants in these conversations but active leaders guiding environmental decision-making.

Indigenous communities are the first communities to suffer the negative impacts of development and climate change and are also often the ones doing the hard advocacy work against hurtful resource extraction and within the mitigation processes.

A Call to Industry and Government

Indigenous knowledge can and will transcend the energy sector in a good way. In Anishinaabemowin we call this Mino Pimatiziwin; living the good life in a good way. Indigenous Inclusion will bring Mino Pimatiziwin to the Energy Sector, so I challenge industry and government to start building these relationships with Indigenous communities and watch it transcend your work.

I challenge industries and governments to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities whose lands they impact. These collaborations are not only vital for reconciliation but also essential for achieving economic, social, and ecological justice. I would like to challenge all industry, economic developers, and governments to practice and incorporate Indigenous Inclusion.

I suggest using these frameworks as a starting point for your Reconciliation advancements: the Sustainable Development Goals numbers 8, 10, 12, 16 and 17. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) also has direct recommendations for industry under Article 3, 5, 11, 17-21, 23, 24, 26-32, 36-41. Article 43 of UNDRIP underscores that ‘The rights recognized herein constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous Peoples of the world.’ This serves as a foundational guide for industry practices.

Along with the SDG’s and UNDRIP the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has published 94 Calls of Action that were developed because of the high missing and murdered indigenous people statistics in Canada which were directly tied to industry developments within Indigenous territories. It is especially more important than ever for industry to adopt these legislations and frameworks to obtain economic, social and ecological justice.

These Calls to Action are a great start to Canadian industry-based reconciliation: 7, 42, 43, 44, 50, 55, 57, 65, 79, and most importantly Call to Action 92 “We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.”

Building these relationships may seem daunting, but as experts in development, you are well-equipped to initiate meaningful engagement. Indigenous communities across so-called Canada are ready to collaborate—let’s begin this journey together. By integrating Indigenous perspectives and fostering equitable partnerships, industries can transcend traditional practices and achieve sustainable, inclusive growth. The time for action is now—let us work together to build a just and equitable energy future.