Community Energy Planning as a Pathway Towards Reconciliation

Abstract

There is a growing demand for renewable energy production to contribute to achieving emissions reduction targets in the face of global warming. Indigenous communities across Canada are being called to contribute to the renewable energy sector and participate in collaborative energy developments. While cross-cultural collaborations are not new to the natural resource sector, there is an increasing need for improved practices to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, especially in the renewable energy sector. In collaboration with Eagle Lake First Nation, this research sought to understand the challenges and barriers to engaging in collaborative natural resource management, and determine how to improve cross-cultural engagement processes, with applications in the renewable energy sector. A literature and document review, interviews and community engagements were used to identify challenges and barriers, identify ideal engagement scenarios, and develop recommendations for enhancing cross-cultural engagement processes. This research contributed to developing the community perspectives portion of a community energy plan for Eagle Lake First Nation. In addition, the findings of this research indicate that cross-cultural collaborations in the renewable energy sector presents opportunity to address Reconciliation, while improving the standards and common practices to which engagements are held to. Recommendations for improved engagement practices are provided for First Nations communities, academics, industry and government collaborators.