Indigenous Peoples' Ownership Of Energy Projects

Federal and provincial governments are required to consult with and accommodate Indigenous peoples whose rights may be affected by proposed energy projects. These requirements have led to the now standard practice of developers entering into benefit agreements with Indigenous communities for the supply of some of the work required to construct and operate these projects. These kinds of arrangements have created opportunities for Indigenous people to share in the economic benefits from these projects. They have also been instrumental in securing Indigenous peoples' support for them.

But Canada's Indigenous peoples are now more than ever looking not just for benefit agreements in relation to major energy projects, but also opportunities to own all or part of those undertakings and to participate in the decisions required in their development and management.