Indigenous leadership in clean electricity transmission is essential – Environment Journal

September 30, 2025

Indigenous communities are leading electricity transmission projects, connecting new areas to the grid, and unlocking clean economic opportunities, according to the Canadian Climate Institute.

To keep pace with accelerating electricity demands, Canada’s clean energy sector will need to grow substantially in the coming years. Yet, Canada has a deep legacy of building energy infrastructure and developing projects on Indigenous lands without inclusion or consent of the communities living there. Despite these colonial legacies of exclusion, collectively, Indigenous communities and enterprises are the largest asset owners of clean energy outside of Crown and private utilities.

It’s in this context of leadership that the Canadian Climate Institute and the Indigenous Power Coalition co-hosted a webinar earlier this month highlighting Indigenous-led electricity transmission projects in Canada. The discussions focused on the policy changes needed to strengthen Indigenous participation and leadership. The conversation was moderated by Frank Busch and included panelists Margaret Kenequanash, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, and Blaise Fontaine.

Read More: https://environmentjournal.ca/indigenous-leadership-in-clean-electricity-transmission-is-essential/