First Nations Power Authority attracts hundreds to its annual conference
- Kerry Benjoe | July 26, 2023
The First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) is becoming a leader in the green energy sector and people are taking notice.
“I am extremely pleased with the attendance and the enthusiasm coming from the two days,” said Guy Lonechild, president and CEO of FNPA. “We got a lot of great feedback in terms of Indigenous led, leading to Indigenous procurement standards that will hopefully permeate through the electricity sector.”
Provincial power authorities are hearing the need to develop Reconciliation Action Plans, so Indigenous people are not left behind but are the driving force behind this cleaner energy future, said Lonechild.
He was equally pleased with the number of First Nations and tribal councils who showed up to learn about sustainability and greener energy.
The conference attracted about 400 participants from across Canada over the span of two days.
Milton Tootoosis, chief reconciliation officer for the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), said there is a real need to learn more about renewable energy and sustainability.
“I am always trying to stay on top of the latest trends in industry,” he said. “The Saskatoon market is already very diversified, and I think this is an area that is not well known.”
He said there is a sense of urgency especially with the current target of 2050 for net-zero emissions.
“I am starting to see an awakening in the Indigenous community,” said Tootoosis. “I was here at the first conference, seven years ago, and there were maybe 50 of us.”
A paradigm shift is happening, he said, people are finally realizing climate change is real and it’s unavoidable.
Tootoosis believes Indigenous people’s traditional environmental knowledge is becoming increasingly more valuable, which is why industry needs to include Indigenous people when planning ways to reach net zero.
Lyle Daniels, Indigenous and community director for Building Trades Alberta, also believes it’s important to have a forum that focuses on bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to talk about creating a cleaner future.
“But it starts with going back to the basics,” he said. “We as Indigenous people have been stewards of the land for thousands of years and in many cases we have to back to some of those basics.”
Daniels says there is no sustainability without Indigenous people.
Lonechild said FNPA’s goal is to bring everyone together including the young people, elders, men, women, Indigenous people and industry because in order to achieve sustainability there needs to be a balance of power.
Katie Smith-Parent, executive director of Young Women in Energy, supports what FNPA is working towards because it is something she is also working to promote in the energy sector.
“As an ally there are certain things we can do to open opportunities up and at the same time there are certain times when we can step aside and let Indigenous folks do for themselves,” she said.
Smith-Parent said getting Indigenous people and Indigenous women involved in the energy is invaluable.
“You can’t do energy without the land and Indigenous people are the original stewards of the land,” she said. “I think it would be so groundbreaking if you can have energy projects led by Indigenous nations.”
Smith-Parent said it was empowering to see Indigenous women leaders at the forum discuss the work they are doing for their individual First Nations.
She’s been to hundreds of conferences and not one has been as inclusive and as Indigenous-led as FNPA’s.
“It’s not tokenistic,” she said. “It’s infused in every part of the forum, so the content has been incredible and yes it’s about Indigenous Reconciliation, ownership, economic empowerment but it’s also about camaraderie.”
Smith-Parent appreciated the sharing of Indigenous culture at the conference.
Day one began with a pipe ceremony, which was open to everyone and the forum began with a grand entry.
Smith-Parent said one of the best parts of the conference was networking with powerful Indigenous women.
She was on a panel with other women who talked about the need for diversity and inclusion.
Sophie Collins, Tmícw technician for Qwelmínte Secwepemc, who is an Indigenous woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) was also on that panel. She shared what it’s like being a woman in her line of work.
“I wanted to share some of the challenges we face and some the ways more corporate companies can be successful in implementing more Indigenous initiatives in the future and how they can be more than just symbolic gestures.
Collins said it has not been easy being in STEM.
In her graduating class she was the only Indigenous woman in it.
“There were other Indigenous people in it, but they were men,” said Collins. “I not only had to fight for my voice as a woman in STEM, it was something I had to do every day to be in a classroom with them.”
In her current role she is the only woman in the office, which means she has no mentors or role models, but at the conference she made connections with other women leaders in the field.
Sandra Sutter, manager for aboriginal partnerships Indigenous partnerships for PTW Energy, was impressed with the conference organized by FNPA.
“It is an Indigenous-led conference and there is a difference in the way information is communicated from an Indigenous lens,” she said. “That’s really important for non-Indigenous businesses to be a part of and understand otherwise how can they learn to build relationships with us.”
She said the balance between male and female is critical to our survival as a species on this planet.
“Matriarchs are the ones who are going to be able to help businesses operate but in a better way,” said Sutter. “As we see matriarchs rise again, we are starting to see how we live, work and play on the planet.”
In keeping with Indigenous traditions, all participants were invited to retire the FNPA eagle staff and flags.
The conference concluded with everyone shaking hands and saying their goodbyes.
FNPA awarded five scholarships to the University of Saskatoon’s Master of Energy Security program during the evening gala and is looking to award five more before September.
Those interested in applying for the scholarship can find information at fnpa.ca or by calling 1-855-359-3672.