November 2, 2023 – Natural Resources Canada reports 10 remote Indigenous communities have completed Phase 1 of the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative, Cohort 2:

• Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government, British Columbia
• Tahltan Band, British Columbia
• Uchucklesaht, British Columbia
• Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, British Columbia
• Hamlet of Paulatuk, Northwest Territories
• Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
• Mountain Cree Camp, Alberta
• Pangnirtung, Nunavut
• Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek–Gull Bay First Nation, Ontario
• Kangirsuk, Nunavik, Quebec

Each of the 10 communities has successfully assembled a team “of clean energy leaders” and completed the 20/20 Catalysts program, delivered by the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise.

Through Phase 2 of Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI) coming later this fall, the communities will be eligible to receive funding for projects that include training, community energy planning, and community engagement.

IODI is a clean energy training and funding program that supports Indigenous-led climate solutions in remote Indigenous communities that currently use diesel or fossil fuels for heat and power. The program is carried out through Wah-ila-toos (a.k.a. Clean Energy in Indigenous, Remote and Rural Communities Initiative).

As of October 30, 2023, Wah-ila-toos is still accepting applications under:

• Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities: biomass heating, district heating, and combined heat & power (CHP) systems.
• Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities: research, development, and demonstration projects.
• Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Energy program (Northern REACHE).