New Research Spotlights Indigenous Perspectives on Energy and Climate Issues Across Canada
July 17, 2025
New research released by the Canadian Climate Institute highlights Indigenous perspectives on building a cleaner economy and addressing climate change policies in communities across the country.
The research includes five original case studies from Indigenous scholars and authors, presented by the Canadian Climate Institute and the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) as part of the Indigenous Perspectives program. Now in its fifth year, the annual program profiles Indigenous expertise and solutions in responding to climate change and clean energy issues.
This year’s case studies:
Unlocking Canada’s stranded renewable energies:
Why Indigenous-inclusive electricity transmission projects are essential to unlocking Canada’s renewable energy potential (authors Frank Busch, Joel Krupa, and Kevin Hanna). View the case study HERE.
Exploring Indigenous-led distributed energy systems in New Brunswick:
How First Nations are uniquely positioned to achieve energy sovereignty while solving energy security for all New Brunswickers (authors Kevin Woods, Tracy Primeau, and Claire Harris). View the case study HERE.
Moose protection and Anishnabe governance as climate policy | Moz Kipiwa-n Acitcj Anishnabe Onakinagewin Oja Aki
Why Anishnabe governance is essential to restoring healthy moose populations and a healthy climate (authors Shannon Chief and Jaimie Vincent). View the case study HERE.
Navigating climate change in the Indigenous economic ecosystem | Kwukwun’utstuhw ‘uw ‘eeye’qtum ‘u thu kw’atl’kwu ni’ ‘u thu hwulmuhw telu’stuhw tumuhw:
How Indigenous economic ecosystems are essential for climate adaptation and fisheries management (authors Tasha Brooks and Leighton Gall). View the case study HERE.
Protecting Treaty 9 Lands and Waters:
How the Friends of The Attawapiskat River are working to ensure Indigenous communities, lands, water, and culture are protected in the Ring of Fire region (authors Michel Koostachin, Rick Cheechoo, and Kerrie Blaise). View the case study HERE.
Case study authors discussed their work in two online roundtables last month. The first gathering focused on how Indigenous governance and worldviews are essential to climate policies. The second highlighted the potential of expanded Indigenous participation in the development, delivery, and security of clean electricity.
The video below is the roundtable discussion from last year’s Indigenous Perspectives Roundtable.
