Electrical Business

Indigenous Blog

Understanding Indigenous partnership – From the editor, June 2022

June 24, 2022 | By Anthony Capkun



June 24, 2022 – This month, Canada commemorates National Indigenous History to recognize “the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples”.

In its own small way, Electrical Business Magazine has been contributing to this national conversation by bringing you news and stories about Indigenous communities and their electrical energy projects, as well as those who partner with them.

When you visit ebmag.com, you’ll find a dedicated category under “Features” for news and stories about “Indigenous Power”—to which I would add Indigenous empowerment.

As it so happens, there’s a lot of electrical-related activity going on in Indigenous communities across Canada, but it’s not something that happens overnight.

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As you’ll see in our interview with Cormorant’s Fiona Blondin (CLICK HERE), a Dene from a First Nation in the Northwest Territories, Indigenous communities are looking for good corporate partners, but those partners need to share the same values as the community itself, and be committed to the long haul.

Echoing these sentiments is Terri Lynn Morrison, a Mi’gmaq from Listuguj, Que., who serves as the associate executive director at Indigenous Clean Energy.

In her article “True partnership is key to Indigenous clean energy success” (March 2022), she writes “clean energy is a major force for local economic autonomy, green job creation, and rapid decarbonization—and an opportunity for private sector partners who are serious about working with Indigenous communities”.

But Morrison is quick to add that how those partnerships are created is paramount, because a real partnership “cannot just be a matter of technical compliance or ticking the box”.

“When projects are developed through partnerships that engage with communities, respect local needs and timelines, and remain answerable to the people whose interests the technology is meant to serve, amazing things can happen.”

— Anthony Capkun, acapkun@ebmag.com.

You’ll find all our Back Issues in the Digital Archive.


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