Report offers options for using Indigenous knowledge to guide climate policy

The Canadian government must make it easier for Indigenous groups to access funding and prioritize their ability to be environmental stewards.

That’s according to an Indigenous-led clean energy report published Thursday that offers the federal government a policy roadmap to integrating Indigenous expertise and voices into Canada’s climate strategy.

The report, called “Kinship & Prosperity,” was penned by the Indigenous Council for Wah-ila-toos, of which six representatives and energy experts from across the country are members. The council provides the federal government guidance on clean energy policy development in rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Alex Cook, who is from Baker Lake, sits on the council. He adds his experience as founder of net-zero housing company ArchTech and board member of the Quilliq Energy Corporation. 

He said the report is about recognizing Indigenous knowledge and systems of governance, and that “we have critical components of effective climate action.”

Cook said he made sure that Inuit perspectives were prevalent in the findings.

“I always try to provide an opportunity for our people and our perspective to be heard at the government level,” he says, adding that he makes sure that “we are embedded within policy and governance.” 

Even though Cook comes from Nunavut, he said he tries his best to represent all of Inuit Nunangat because, he said, there should be equal opportunity to access benefits of Canada’s clean-energy transition. 

According to Cook, Inuit Nunangat is unique in the project development costs much more than in southern regions.

“It is tremendously expensive,” he said.

“Often it can be up to two, three times more expensive to do a project in the North.” 

He said leading community projects at the grassroots level is often the ideal scenario to mitigate this issue. It also enables communities to decide what’s best for them. 

“That is happening, right now, across the country,” Cook said, pointing at the Innavik dam in Inukjuak as an example. 

But support must also be given to communities who may feel intimidated by the scope of a potential clean energy project, he said. This is where established corporations can help by establishing a split-ownership structure.

“An Indigenous community should own its own energy infrastructure,” Cook said, especially when there are affordable and easily-maintained options available, such as solar or wind power.

He said supporting and funding this work is “all about reconciliation” because allowing communities take the lead on these projects allow them to do it in a way that they are able to benefit in the long-term.