Indigenous Engagement in Energy Planning, Provision and Development

Workshop concerning the indigenous engagement in energy planning and development, by bringing together leaders from Indigenous organizations, government, industry, and academia to discuss challenges and opportunities for Indigenous involvement in energy development, and to identify research priorities and collaborations.

It featured frank conversations between representatives from across Canada on several issues. They reached consensus on three hot topics: the need to put together a “tool box” of helpful steps for overcoming barriers to community involvement in energy, so that this information can be widely disseminated to many communities; general support for “free, prior and informed consent” – the principle that a community has the right to give or withhold consent for proposed projects that may affect its land; and, finally, that  Indigenous ownership of local energy projects and true partnerships with equity positions can increase social and economic benefits while enhancing community autonomy.