Indigenous communities across Canada are leading efforts towards the future of renewable energy as technological advances and networking opportunities are promoted.
Success and progress are fully exhibited this week at an indigenous clean energy rally (effectively this year).
Winnipeg-based Cree entrepreneur Darrel Brown chairs the ICE Board. He was thrilled to see the community come together as the various indigenous peoples began their journey of sustainability.
“It’s been a long way. The community is getting it now. They all understand what they’re doing,” Brown said.
Last year, Brown launched his business, Kisik Clean Energy, to support the development of indigenous peoples in hydro, solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and microgrid technologies. He has worked in the clean energy industry for five years and was involved in the development of renewable energy projects at Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) in northwestern Ontario.
The KZA project included solar power and batteries in a microgrid distribution system developed to reduce the community’s reliance on diesel fuel as a source of electricity. First Nations is not connected to the state power grid.
KZA Energy Project Coordinator AJ Esquega explained that the technology still cannot eliminate diesel, but First Nation has reduced its usage by about 25% (about 120,000 liters per year).
According to Brown, one project is positive, but it’s even better to see other communities inspired by these successes.
Located on the shores of Lake Tadoule in northern Manitoba, 250 km west of Churchill, Sayisi Dene First Nation is one of the off-the-grid communities looking to make the leap to renewable energy.
Empowerment is a big part of the equation. “They feel like they’re taking care of their land, water, and wildlife. It’s in line with their beliefs. Everything they do with renewable energy and fossil fuel reductions is their beliefs. We do it throughout the system, which is to believe that all of us indigenous people take care of our Mother Earth, “Brown said.
Other benefits include new employment opportunities, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced environmental risks associated with fuel storage, and improved health outcomes (diesel burning is associated with adverse health effects). doing).
Even communities connected to the state’s grid, such as Fisher River Cleanation in central Manitoba, are investing in renewable energy to avoid high electricity costs. This summer, the community announced the state’s largest solar power plant, and surplus energy was sold back to the Manitova hydropower grid.
The three indigenous communities, Miki Shukley First Nations, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations, and Fort Chipewyan Metis Association, located just off the oil sands in northern Alberta, operate the country’s largest solar farm. (Operation started in November 2020.)
According to Brown, the success of each community influences each other.
“We have limited resources in isolated communities, so pooling them together creates value because there are people in each community who want the same thing,” says British Columbia. Vince Robinson, Clean Energy Coordinator at Nuxalk Nation, said.
“It seems like at least five questions pop up every day, but I don’t even know how to answer those questions, and like my brother, the ICE network is there.”
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Robinson, Brown and Esquega all benefited from an indigenous clean energy mentorship program called 20/20 Catalysts. The program continues to produce new graduates each year and is part of the ICE network.
Online meetings continue today. You can join the session for free (icegathering.com).
The success of First Nations renewable energy is on display