Indigenous leaders back major energy projects — if built with fair terms and proper consultation. Canada’s fast-tracking efforts raise rights concerns.
Indigenous Business Leaders Push for Equity in Energy Development
CALGARY, Alberta — June 6, 2025 – As Canada races to build major energy infrastructure, Indigenous business leaders gathered near Calgary are urging governments to prioritize proper consultation and equity. Speaking at the Indigenous Cleaner Energy Forum on Tsuut’ina Nation land, leaders made it clear they support development—so long as it’s on fair and inclusive terms.
John Rowinski, CEO of Zhooniya Makak Limited Partnership, emphasized that Indigenous communities are not anti-development. “We want to participate on terms that work for us,” said Rowinski, who is from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. He warned that bypassing consultation fuels resistance, delaying projects that could otherwise move forward with broad support.
New Legislation Sparks Concern Over Indigenous Rights
Ontario and British Columbia recently passed legislation aimed at speeding up the construction of infrastructure such as critical mineral mines. However, First Nations in both provinces say the fast-track approach risks undermining Indigenous rights.
In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford promised upcoming consultations with First Nations. Meanwhile, in B.C., Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma acknowledged rifts and vowed to “work to come back together.” Critics argue these steps came too late. The Assembly of First Nations has raised alarm over the lack of adequate protection for collective Indigenous rights in current legislative drafts.
Federal Plans Echo Provincial Moves—But With Assurances
On the federal level, a newly tabled bill proposes to cut approval times for major projects from five years to two. The government maintains that Indigenous rights remain protected under Section 35 of the Constitution.
Gabriel Brunet, spokesperson for Minister Dominic LeBlanc, said in a statement, “There is no possibility of any government overriding those rights. This legislation acknowledges that and considers Indigenous consultation and partnership as integral.”
Energy Leaders Say Equity is Key to Success
Indigenous leaders like Karen Ogen, CEO of the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, support fast development—but only if it includes Indigenous equity and decision-making power. She cited the Cedar LNG project in B.C., a joint venture with the Haisla First Nation, as a model of successful collaboration.
“That’s a showcase for the rest of Canada,” Ogen said. “If there’s going to be opposition and blockades, so be it. The government has to listen.” She also praised the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, recently expanded to $10 billion, as a critical step toward financial empowerment.
Call for Genuine Dialogue to Avoid Conflict
Steven Vaivada, CEO of Scout Engineering and a Kainai First Nation member, warned that excluding First Nations from early project planning is a recipe for conflict. “Indigenous opposition occurs when free, prior, and informed consent is ignored,” he said.
Glenn Hudson, former Chief of Peguis First Nation and CEO of Sovereign Energy Projects, stressed that inclusion benefits all Canadians. “Environmental protections that come with our participation also safeguard settlers’ futures,” he said.
A Path Forward Through Collaboration
With global demand for energy surging, Indigenous leaders say Canada must act—but not at the expense of constitutional rights or long-term partnerships.
“We’re very fractured as a nation right now,” Rowinski said. “It’s time to roll up our sleeves, learn from our history, and work together to build a better future.”
For continuous coverage and real-time updates, keep following Maple News Wire.
