Natural Resources Canada
Indigenous Services Canada
Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
As Canada continues to experience the impacts of climate change, particularly profound in the North and Arctic, many Indigenous communities are leading the way in building a resilient clean energy future. To support their vision, the Government of Canada is investing in Indigenous-led renewable energy projects, based on local priorities and innovative solutions that work in their communities. These projects will grow local economies and create good jobs while fighting climate change and protecting the environment in Indigenous, rural and remote communities.
Today, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson; the Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, the Honourable Dan Vandal; and the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced the selection of seven Indigenous leaders who will make up the Indigenous Council that will help guide the transition to clean energy in Indigenous, rural and remote communities.
The Indigenous Council will provide guidance and advice to the Government of Canada on policy and program design and direct engagement with Indigenous partners on accessing resources and funding that reduce diesel reliance.
With the support of an Indigenous consultant team, the Indigenous Council members were selected on the basis of their knowledge and leadership in supporting community-driven clean energy projects. The Indigenous Council is distinctions-based with First Nation, Inuit and Métis representation, and reflects diverse communities, languages, geographies and skills. They will serve on the Indigenous Council until at least the fall of 2024.
In April 2022, Canada announced $300 million in funding to support communities launching clean energy projects such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass along with a new, streamlined service model for communities seeking to access resources and clean energy funding. This single window initiative, newly gifted with the name Wah-ila-toos, is a partnership between Natural Resources Canada, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada, with support from Infrastructure Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Indigenous Council will also support the Government of Canada in its broader efforts to advance Indigenous climate leadership through clean energy. Through this approach, the government aims to improve community access to federal funding and resources, provide more flexible timelines, offer a community-centred approach, and remove barriers to accessing funding for clean energy projects.
The Indigenous Council is also acting as the jury for the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative's (IODI) Second Cohort. This initiative supports clean energy champions and their communities with training, access to expertise and funding for projects that reduce diesel use for heat and power.
The Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous participation and leadership through meaningful engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities as we move toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
