Topic: NEWS

by Frank Larue

Adam Capay is from Lac Seul First Nation’s. While he was serving time in a Thunder Bay District jail, he got into an altercation with another inmate and killed him. This was four-years ago, and he has been in solitary confinement ever since.

Thunder Bay jail is known for its terrible living conditions, even for inmates waiting for trail. “There’s often three people to a cell. There’s only two beds, meaning… two people get beds, and one person sleeps on the floor,” informs David Klesman, a Thunder Bay criminal defense lawyer, during a CBC interview.

Adam Capay was kept in solitary confinement for four years in a Thunder Bay District jail.

Capay, now 24-years old, has spent the last four-years in a basement cell that is sheathed with plexi-glass and fully lit 24/7. The surprising thing is Capay is not even a convicted criminal; he has been waiting all this time for his trial. A ruling is set in place by the Supreme Court of Canada which nullifies any trial that has not happened within 30-months of the arrest. Capay has remained in solitary confinement for 52-months. Where was the justice system that allowed this to happen?

Solitary confinement for more than 15-days is considered torture by the United Nations standards. Capay’s situation did not seem right to Renu Mandhane, Ontario’s human rights commissioner. It was not until Mandhane visited Capay himself that the media was alerted of the injustice.

“This individual has been moved from their cell,” Corrections Minister David Orazietti told the media. “They are in a different location, with appropriate lighting and access to day rooms. They can spend time out of their cell for showers, phone calls, and to access T.V. It is my understanding, from speaking to officials, that the inmate is satisfied with the conditions they are presently in.” How could Capay be unsatisfied with this after 4-years of solitary confinement?

There is still no mention regarding Capay’ s trial, nor the fact that it should be annulled. There was also no apology for the sadistic way Capay was treated. First Nation’s Drum is stunned by this. There ought to have been an investigation on the warden and jail officials. Only then would there have been evidence brought to the surface regarding cases of excessive solitary confinement.

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day said the Thunder Bay District jails treatment of Capay is a perfect example of how unjust the Ontario Correctional system is to Indigenous people. “It’s a very broken and unbalanced system. Clearly the situation [of] Adam… being treated like an animal is going to have an impact on him physically and psychologically.” Capay had memory and speech problems, which she attributed to the cruel treatment he had received in jail.

There have been many requests for the Thunder Bay District jail to be replaced. The building is a hundred years old, and it is in dire need of restoration. The requests have come from inquest juries, jail guards, and opposition politicians. Unfortunately, the provincial and federal government have overlooked all of these demands. Where is our Prime Minister? He’s made so many promises, but when there is an emergency he is never around. In this case, it is the Ontario Government and their very aloof Premier that should shoulder much of the blame. They believe that 15-days in solitary is not torture. What is more is that the Deputy Minister had received no less than 50 reports on Capay’s condition and still chose to do nothing.

“What I find unacceptable are the specific conditions under which Mr. Capay was being held,” David Orazietti told the media. “When I hear about 24-hour lighting issues, those types of things obviously cause me concern. I’ve already asked the ministry to confirm for me that no one in a segregation has those types of circumstances… and they be resolved immediately.”

The Corrections Minister is saying all the right things after the fact. Is he sincere? Perhaps, but he still garners doubts. If the Ontario Premier and Mr. Orazietti initiate an investigation into Capay’s treatment, there could be a potential trial.  In having this happen, officials at the Thunder Bay District jail will receive more than a slap-on-the-wrist, and will have to face criminal charges. This would deter any other jail officials in Ontario to take advantage of the same liberties as those in the Thunder Bay District jail did with Capay.

by Frank Larue

In October, a tugboat pushing an empty barge coming from Alaska to Vancouver mistook the speed regulations and ran aground at Edge Reef in Seaforth, close to Bella Bella. Neither the tugboat nor the barge were transporting oil, but the ‘Nathan E. Stewart’ had started the journey with 50,000 gallons of diesel to make the trip and was now leaking.

The tugboat Nathan E. Stewart lies submerged at the mouth of the Seaforth Channel near Bella Coola, B.C., shown in a handout photo from the Canadian Coast Guard

The response to the oil spill has gathered more attention than the spill itself. “It is one of the most precious, beautiful, secluded little waterways on this whole west coast,” Activist Ingmar Lee told the media. “That’s very catastrophic for the Heiltsuk Nation,” Heitlsuk Chief Marylyn Slett said in a news release. “This spill area is in one of our primary breadbaskets, and we know that diesel is extremely
difficult to recover. Twenty-five species harvested by the Heiltsuk live near the spill site.

Unfortunately, the responders have not had much success so far, in fact the Heiltsuk First Nation have been forced to help out. “The Heiltsuk are providing our own equipment,” Kelly Brown, director of the Band’s Resource Management told the media. “Because the equipment the responders have been able to provide so far is insufficient.” Regarding the seriousness of the spill for the future, “Our GItka’at neighbours to the north are still unable to harvest clams and other seafood ten years after the sinking of the Queen of the North,” Chief Marlyn Slett told the media.

Heiltsuk leader William Gadstone expressed the Band’s anger, “A violation. We were never consulted
on the use of barges to transport dangerous goods in our territory and this incident is an unjustified infringement on our hard-won right to a commercial herring fishery. Provincial governments have failed miserably in protecting the natural resources of British Columbia and respecting the rights of aboriginal peoples to their waters and territories. There is no world-class response system for oil spills in B.C., as has been promised.”

The true fear that has become obvious to not only the Heiltsuk First Nations, but to all environmental organizations observing the spill in Bella Bella, is that neither government federally or provincially or the oil companies involved in the transportation of oil are truly prepared to deal with a serious spill. If the response can’t handle the spill from a tugboat, what would happen if it were a tanker?

The tugboat had less than 50,000 gallons of diesel onboard. A tanker is a hundred times the size of tugboat, capable of carrying 750,000 barrels of crude oil (barrels contain 159 litres each). If the response system set up by government and private industry can’t handle a tugboat without assistance, how would the same government and private sector companies deal with a real oil spill? This scenario only need happen once to have a devastating effect on nature and native people.

Alison Sayers, the chair of the Central Coast Regional District summed up the spill, “Absolutely devastating news and a true tragedy for Heiltsuk Nation and the sensitive and unique natural environment. There should be no tanker traffic on the West Coast until we have a tested, tried and true world-class response to oil spills.”

Where is Premier Christy Clark? Often the first one to criticize the feds, she is the last one to do anything positive for First Nations. “British Columbia has been cheated by the federal government for decades now,” she told the media, but her pro-action seems to be limited to complaints. Unfortunately, a lot of tough talk and no substance sums up her tenure in power, and still continues with her complicated relationship with First Nations.

by Frank Larue

A year ago, Justin Trudeau was campaigning with tons of promises for Indigenous people. The pipeline projects were to be cancelled and any oil projects that were environmentally in question were to be put on hold. A year later, the honeymoon between native leaders and the Liberal government’s young leader, seems to be coming to an end.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being criticized by political opponents for the “contradiction” inherent in promising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while approving a monster LNG project that will increase them. File photo by Canadian Press.

The Prime Minister made several promises to Indigenous people. To his credit, he has implemented the Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and given status to Metis and non-status Indians. Where Trudeau has failed is defending native rights when it comes to land and environmental concerns. Site C, in British Columbia, was protested by native bands because of its environmental risks but yet the work has begun with the federal government’s approval. What’s more concerning is Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, who was strongly against Site C before the election remained silent while her party approved the project.

Government approval for the $36 billion LNG project in northern British Columbia was another political move that might well cost the Prime Minister any native support in British Columbia. Trudeau stated in pre-election, “The Great Bear rainforest is no place for a crude oil pipeline.” Yet he has approved the project in a complete reversal of his pre-election promise. Chief Yahaan of the Gitwilgyoots told the CBC, “All this talk in the past year here and his campaign promises, you know, at least he could have had the common courtesy out of his office to give us an indication that this was coming. But there was nothing.”

Sheryl Lighfoot of the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights and Politics was even more critical. “It just confirms people’s deepest suspicions that there actually is no change,” She told the CBC, “And the processes in place have just continued, and that the status quo of the Harper government is the underlying agenda of the Trudeau government.”

Lighfoot is not only critical of Trudeau’s change of direction but his failure to deliver on many of his promises, and especially his commitment to a renewed nation to nation relationship with Canada’s Indigenous peoples. “We’ve seen lots of promises and lots of stated intentions, but we’re not seeing the actions that follow. The honeymoon phase is definitely over.”

IQALUIT, Nunavut (October 25, 2016) – In its continued effort to reduce infant mortality in Nunavut, the Department of Health is giving baby boxes to parents of every newborn in the territory over the next year.

“Nunavut has the highest rate of infant mortality in Canada, and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant mortality is a priority,” said Minister of Health George Hickes. “I’m thrilled that Nunavut is taking the lead on this baby box initiative – the first publicly funded universal program of its kind in Canada.”

Two-week old Rachel Ipeelie Shoapik sleeps well in her baby box, according to her mom, Emily Shoapik. (Sima Sahar Zerehi/CBC)

Nunavut’s infant mortality rate is nearly five times higher than the national average. The baby box is a concept borrowed from Finland, where it originated in 1939. Finland’s infant mortality rate was 90 in 1,000 live births, and has seen a dramatic drop to less than two in 1,000 births due to its famous Finnish Maternity Package (baby boxes).

The Department of Health is delivering more than 800 boxes to Nunavut’s 25 community health centres in 2016-2017. Expectant parents can register for a baby box during prenatal appointments or by contacting their community health centre.

The baby box, which is approved by Health Canada for infant sleep, supports maternal and child health by encouraging early prenatal care, promoting safe sleep environments and breastfeeding, and is endorsed by the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Education program. The baby boxes are filled with products for baby and parents in addition to information kits.

Various stakeholders, including the Department of Education, collaborated to support the baby boxes.

By Frank Larue

The University of British Columbia have made it official, they will build the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. The building will cost $5.5 million and will be located on the UBC campus. The IRSC will recognize the history and experiences of Residential School survivors and memorialize the indigenous children who did not survive the schools. The centre is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Plans for the centre currently under development: architect’s concept rendering.

There will be access to the records of the Truth and Reconciliation act and the history of the Residential Schools and their effect on Indigenous people. Many non-native people have yet to understand the depravity and abuse native children went through in the Residential Schools. The centre will house interactive media, making not only records but also testimonies available for visitors to the centre. “While we are thankful for all the First Nations leadership and UBC leadership that have brought the initiative to reality,” Former Residential School student and executive director of the Indian School Survivor Society Cindy Tom-Lindley said, “the survivors and their families are first and foremost thankful for an accessible place of records.”

The Centre will be accessible to visitors and will serve as a hub for academic and community research, education and public programming. Director of the UBC First Nations House of Learning Linc Kesler told the media, “An important function of this centre is to acknowledge the lives and histories of Indigenous people in Canada. Throughout both policy and inaction, the circumstances of indigenous peoples have often been invisible in all but the most superficial ways. It is a responsibility of the university and the educational system as a whole to change that and provide the basis for more informed interactions.”

Many of the Residential Schools were located in B.C. and there are tragic stories that would shed light on a dark period of Canada’s history. The fact that Residential Schools started in the late nineteenth century and weren’t closed until the middle of the twentieth century, even though the government parties were informed of the condition of native students attending these schools, is shocking in itself. No one lifted a finger while teachers took advantage of native students and the mortality rate was as high as 35% in certain schools. “Recognition of our past is of critical importance to UBC and to all Canadians in planning our future.” UBC President Santa Ono said. “The Centre will help us to collectively rethink the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this country.”

By Frank Larue

During a century which Ottawa made a habit out of breaking treaties and making up their own rules,
the Feds also decided to take 10,000 acres of land from the Tobique First Nation. There was never any compensation, even though many Tobique leaders pleaded their case over the years.

Finally, under the Trudeau government, the Tobique First Nation have been given $39 million, which the Tobique chief Ross Perley describes as, “basically compensation for the land that they took. For lack of a better word, stole.” The settlement at first impression seems like a lot of money but for such a large portion of land — 4,000 hectares, for over a century — the figure is not over the top. In fact, former chief Stewart Paul told the CBC, “The offer is really low. I think the government is getting away real cheap.”

Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley speaks. Photo Credit: CBC News – Julianne Hazlewood

Yet the problem may not be the amount of the settlement but how it is to be distributed. The plan the Chief and Tribal council came up with would give each member $13,500, the children’s money would be held in trust fund and the remaining $20 million would go towards investments. The band members have been given a vote, which is expected to be a unanimous yes. But there are mixed reactions from band members. Larry Sockabasin holding his grandson with him told the CBC, “I’m looking towards their children, their grandchildren. See the benefit each year before Christmas. It makes a great difference.”

The positive can’t be denied but the negative is the possibility the cash could be used to promote the cycle of alcohol and drug abuse that exists already in the community. “What scares me the most with that kind of money,” Lifetime band member Anthony Paul Sappier told the CBC, “There’s people that’s never had that kind of money. I’m afraid they’re going to hurt themselves, whether it be drugs or vehicles or what have you.”

There are 2,000 band members and 20% of the $39 million would be put in a trust fund and 80% would go to band members. This of course all depends on the yes vote going through but if it does become a no vote, the negotiations with the government would start all over again. “It’s an unknown, we don’t know if the evaluation (of the land claim) is correct, or even if the government is willing to open the claim back again. It could take decades, we don’t know.”

We can assume the yes vote will make the settlement final and we can hope that the tribal council remains vigilant on how the money is spent. In any case, what should be remembered is that it took over a century for the government to pay the bill. Some of the problems that exist in the native community today might have been avoided if the debt was paid within its proper time frame. There will be band members who may become excessive because of the settlement, but they will also witness the improvement of life conditions around them, which may make them reconsider the price of any form of addiction.

By Frank Larue

Doctors in Saskatchewan want the provincial government to declare a state of emergency because of the increasing number of HIV and AIDS patients. “We are seeing an increase in the number of cases. For example, there were 114 new cases in 2014, 158 in 2015,” explains Doctor Ryan Meili, a Saskatoon doctor who is familiar with HIV patients. He told the CBC, “In the last 10 years, we’ve seen over 1,500 people infected with HIV in the province.”

Saskatchewan HIV cases are twice as high as the national average. (Photo Credit: DREAMSTIME)

Saskatchewan HIV cases are twice as high as the national average. “We perceive this as an emergency, two people are dying every month.” Dr. Stephen Sanches, emphasizing the concern of the medical profession, “Over ten people are being diagnosed with a new infection every month an that’s only going up. So we’re really sounding the alarm.”

Aboriginal communities have noticed the increase in HIV, Saskatoon Tribal council Chief Felix Thomas told the CBC, “It’s still an unpopular disease that has a lot of misconceptions about it. And, it’s still a disease that people think only affects a certain segment of the population and that’s something we have to get past.”

AIDS Saskatoon director Jason Mercredi feels everyone should be tested. “Aids and HIV are often considered a fatal illness that resides in gay communities diagnosed positive, and we just need to get the message across that it doesn’t matter if you think you’re at risk or not, just make it part of your standard, normal, physical studies.”

Dr. Kris Stewart who works with HIV in Saskatoon is aware of the problems some of the more remote reservations are facing. “We have demonstrated success in Saskatoon, and in certain communities. Some reserve communities have been extremely progressive in their approach to HIV, and they’ve demonstrated how successful we can be in preventing the progression of illness and preventing transmission. Other areas, we simply don’t have the infrastructure in place. We’re not testing adequately as we don’t have clinical capacity. The health regions themselves, I’m not sure understand what they’re dealing with. We need a different response than we have.”

By Kelly Many Guns

Over 200 North American tribes and First Nations, Indigenous groups from the Amazon, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and international supporters have been descending on the Standing Rock Reservation over the past four months, in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The protesters have so far made a difference in halting construction, but supporters say they still have a ways to go in the fight against the project that threatens the tribes water supply and its sacred lands.

An estimated 200 First Nations and Tribes from North America have gathered in protest at Standing Rock (Photo Source: The Guardian)

On September 19th, a federal appeals court officially halted construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline within 20 miles on either side of Lake Oahe along the Missouri River. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals says this ruling will give the court more time to rule on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request for an emergency injunction against construction over concerns it could destroy sacred sites and burial grounds. The emergency injunction was filed by the tribe after a lower court rejected a request for an injunction the previous Friday. This latest ruling now makes mandatory the Obama administration’s request that Dakota Access voluntarily cease construction along the same 40-mile stretch.

David Archambault, chairman for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says, he wasn’t sure if the news was accurate on what the Obama administration’s latest decision was but glad that some people in the administration and agencies have the courage to step up and answer the call.

“I think they know that public policy is something that needs to be reformed so that we can better insure the protection of indigenous people and indigenous rights.”
Since September 9th, at least 22 protesters have been arrested and at one time attack dogs were sent in by the oil company, Energy Transfer Partners, to fend off the peaceful protesters’; resulting with a number of protesters being treated medically for dog bites.

Private security arrives with attack dogs (Photo Source: The Guardian – Dell Hambleton)

The Dakota Access Pipeline begins in North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields, and would carry crude oil almost 1,200 miles through South Dakota and Iowa down to Illinois. The pipeline’s original path crossed the Missouri River just north of Bismarck, a city that’s ninety percent Caucasian, but when concerns were raised about a potential oil spill, the pipeline was rerouted south to go under the river right next to the Standing Rock Reservation. The Missouri River is the Standing Rock reservation’s primary source of drinking water. The tribe says a spill there could be catastrophic for them. So, when construction started, a plea for help went out.

According to a U.S. publication, the company Energy Transfer Partners says it’s followed all the rules and it points out the pipeline isn’t even on a reservation land. It argues that moving oil via modern pipelines is a far safer way than putting it on trucks or trains, which statistics show are far more likely to crash and spill. It also says the pipeline will generate revenue and jobs for North Dakota.

Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, says that the pipelines are the most efficient, safest, and cost-effective way to move oil to market.
“The products get there virtually one hundred percent of the time without issue.”
In a recent PBS television report, it was shown that the 2.5 million miles of oil and gas pipelines across the U.S. do sometimes leak and rupture, and when they do, they often spill far more oil than a single train car carries.

Since 1995, there have been more than 2,000 significant accidents on oil and gas pipelines, causing about $3 billion in property damage. For example, in July 2010, at least 800,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, Michigan. It was one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history, and the costliest. Almost 5,000 acres of wetland habitat was inundated with oil, hundreds of animals were killed, thousands more were recovered, cleaned and released; full recovery could take decades.

This past summer as First Nations Drum reported, about 65,000 gallons of oil and other toxins spilled into the North Saskatchewan River, polluting the drinking water used by the James Smith Cree Nation. The Petroleum Council says those kinds of spills near the Standing Rock Reservation are very unlikely. “This pipe is ninety-feet below the riverbed, it’s not going to leak right into the river. It’s got the detection equipment and the shutoff valves on each side of this pipeline.”
Ladonna Brave Bull Allard, Standing Rock member says she doesn’t believe the industry’s assurances. She says half-a-million gallons of oil coursing every day under their drinking water is not safe.

“When that oil spills, who’s going to come save us? We’re Indian people. We’re expendable. Who is going to come? Who is going to come and give us water?”
Many musicians and actors like, Neil Young and Susan Sarandon have voiced their support, and on September 16th, hundreds of supporters marched through downtown Seattle to show their support in protecting clean drinking water for Standing Rock.
At press time, David Archambault, went to the United Nations to ask for support against the Dakota pipeline, and told the U.N. that U.S. courts have failed to protect native peoples’ sovereign rights.

“The United States has its’ laws, and pipeline know how to comply with those laws, but just because something is legal, doesn’t make it right.”
Finally, four states: Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, were declaring states of Emergency due to major pipeline leaks

* This article references from PBS Television and MSNBC reports

By Frank Larue

The Prime Minister has a lot on his plate as the autumn leaves start to fall. There is the question of pipelines, of which he has hinted he will approve one, which one no one knows. There is also the Site C Dam project in British Columbia, which has been condemned by First Nation bands such as the West Moberly who live nearby the site. The Trudeau government were made well aware of the environmental risks by the native leaders, but still went ahead and issued permits pivotal to the dam’s construction. The courts will now decide whether Site C will be built of not.

The Supreme Court falls short on the diversity front in several ways. Justice Thomas Cromwell (front row second front right) has retired, leaving his seat open. (Source: Montreal Gazette)

Justin Trudeau has many decisions to make and one more decision will be whether to nominate an indigenous Supreme court judge. Nader Hasan, a lawyer and University of Toronto faculty of law adjunct professor told the Ottawa Citizen, “It’s important for the legitimacy of the judiciary to have a court that reflects the diversity of the nation.” There are strong signals that since Indigenous people are Canada’s largest minority they deserve representation.” It’s past time for an indigenous member of the court to be appointed.” Lorne Sossin, dean of Osgoode Hall Law School said. “I’m confident that there are potential nominees who are either being identified or have identified themselves that are before that committee, and I’m sure getting serious consideration as this process unfolds.”

Some of the potential women candidates are Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond the first aboriginal woman to serve on the Saskatchewan provincial court bench. Another strong contender is Jean Teillet the past vice-president and treasurer of the Indigenous Bar Association, founding president of the Metis Nation Lawyers Association and she is the great grand niece of Louis Riel. A male counterpart is Senator Murray Sinclair who was a former judge in Manitoba, as well as the chair of the Truth Reconciliation Commission, also high on the list.

The Prime Minister responding to the demand for more diversity on the bench said, “It’s not something we can suddenly do overnight, there is an awful lot of work to do in the lower courts to be able to get the diversity up, to be able to get more women to the bench. What we’re going to do with this new Supreme Court process is chose the absolute best possible Supreme Court Justice to serve Canadians, and keep in mind that we want to make sure that we are representing as many Canadians with that court as we possible can.”

Aboriginal people don’t always view courts as the podium for justice. Too many aboriginal people are in jail at this very moment. The Supreme court deals with land claims and larger issues and the Indigenous people have not always had justice on their side. In the words of the Prime Minister, “If you have this panel of nine white judges staring at you, and you are having all of your fights adjudicated by those persons, how legitimate is that institution in your eyes? The country has evolved people are looking for those perspectives.”

By Ian Scholten & Isaac Prazmowski

On July 10, 2016, sixteen Indigenous people who had never met before, joined each other in Wakefield, Quebec for the inaugural week of the 20/20 Catalysts Program. They came from far and wide. From Tobique First Nation in the east to Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in west. Iqaluit in the north to the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in the south. The group included people like Eileen Marlowe, a Communications Advisor for the Government of Northwest Territories, David Jeremiah, an Energy Manager for North Caribou Lake First Nation, and Dylan Whiteduck, an Economic Development Officer for Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Though they came from different parts of the country, held different roles, and had different experiences, they shared a vision of using clean energy to benefit their communities.

And they’d come to the 20/20 Catalysts Program to learn how to do this in the most effective way possible.

Developed by Lumos Clean Energy Advisors and the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, the Program promotes clean energy across Canada by giving participants the tools, know-how, and network they need to achieve their clean energy vision. It’s the most thorough Indigenous clean energy capacity building program in Canada.

Learning in the Program is led by over two dozen Indigenous and non-Indigenous mentors and experts with a proven track record of developing successful clean energy projects.

Program Mentors like Troy Jerome (pictured above) shed light on how to make the most of the clean energy projects – not just in terms of jobs and revenue, but to build strong nations.

These mentors include people like Troy Jerome, Executive Director of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat, who spurred the development of an over $300-million-dollar wind farm which has 50% ownership by the three local Mi’gmaq communities. Troy emphasized the fact that “the wind farm wasn’t a wind farm project; it was a nation building project” for the First Nations involved. It’s a mantra that truly reflects the potential of clean energy projects for Indigenous communities.

The week in Wakefield was the first of three weeks of intensive learning that the Catalysts (program participants) will go through. Throughout these weeks they’ll cover five key skill areas that are needed maximize the social and economic benefits communities see through clean energy projects: community engagement, economic development, job creation, project financing, and legacy building.

Though they’re only a third of the way through the Program, the vision and impact of this year’s group of Catalysts is already astounding.
David Jeremiah of North Caribou Lake First Nation, is “proud to be part of this historic moment for Indigenous communities” – referring to the tipping point for Indigenous leadership in clean energy development in Canada. North Caribou Lake is a diesel dependent community and is currently on grid-restriction, which means they have no room for growth because their generators are not able to produce the required additional power. Yet David sees an opportunity here. He is turning to clean energy and energy efficient designs in order to construct much needed housing that is entirely self-sufficient – not reliant on diesel at all.

Others, like Grant Sullivan, Executive Director of the Gwich’in Council International, and JP Pinard, who is working with Kluane First Nation, are collaborating in an effort to accelerate the opportunities to develop renewable energy development across the northern territories where many communities still rely on diesel powered generators.
Still others, like Tanna Pirie-Wilson, CEO of Tobique First Nation, see the tremendous potential for clean energy to facilitate reconciliation as Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses and communities come together to develop projects that yield greater returns than could be produced by any one group going it alone.

Catalysts spent a lot of time discussing new ideas and how they can apply them to their own projects.

The network developed through the Program – linking Catalysts to mentors, experts, and supporting organizations like Bullfrog Power, NB Power, the Government of Ontario, and IBM – will connect previously disjointed Indigenous clean energy efforts and pave the way for unprecedented cooperation among Canadians.

And that is ultimately what this is all about: creating a system to expand Indigenous clean energy capacity and develop renewable energy projects.

Currently there are over 100 clean energy projects with Indigenous involvement in Canada. The participants in the Program are part of a group catalyzing another 200 large scale projects in the coming years, generating immense benefits for communities across the country.

If any of this gets you excited, learn more about the Program at: www.2020catalystsprogram.com. Applications are now open for the 2017 Program.