This initiative is a collaboration between First Nations Leadership Council, BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunities
Through the ICEO process, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and the First Nations Energy and Mining Council seek to engage First Nations rights holders and organizations in a collaborative dialogue to position First Nations to fully participate in current and future opportunities in British Columbia’s clean energy sector and align the Province’s strategic clean energy policy and legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
ICEO News
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The ICEO is hosting a two-day virtual energy workshop to discuss the hydrogen and electricity sectors, featuring sessions on BC’s changing electricity landscape, BC Hydro’s UNDRIP implementation, and promising hydrogen market opportunities.
A two-day workshop of information sharing, discussion, and exploring opportunities in the electricity and hydrogen sectors for Indigenous communities in B.C.
In June 2023, the ICEO hosted a workshop on the hydrogen and electricity sectors. Our two-day virtual energy workshop explored B.C.’s changing electricity sector, B.C. Hydro’s UNDRIP implementation and hydrogen market opportunities.
We visualized our clean energy aspirations for British Columbia with the help of an Indigenous graphic facilitator who creatively captured our discussions.
Resources from the event can be found on our resources page.Agenda
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Due to external circumstances the ICEO Workshop June 27 & 28, 2023 will no longer be held in person at Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, and has shifted to an entirely online event. We look forward to connecting virtually with attendees.
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The ICEO is hosting an Energy Workshop: Electricity 101 and Hydrogen Opportunities June 27 & 28, 2023 on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) territory in Richmond, B.C.
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A Hydrogen Energy Workshop was held virtually to explore hydrogen energy and opportunities for Indigenous communities across B.C. Read the Recording of Proceedings from the workshop and check out the video recording.
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Implementation activities Currently planning implementation of ICEO activities under three “tables” as jointly endorsed over the summer by the First Nations Leadership Council and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. The three tables are the Electricity Table, the Hydrogen Market Opportunities Table and the Legislative Standing Table.
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The March 1st and March 3rd Workshops were held. Thank you to all the participants!
To see the slides on the ICEO overview and process, including anticipated next steps, that were presented at the workshops, click here.
To see the video recordings from the two workshops:
- click on March 1 (Passcode please type manually: ICEO_Mar1!) and on March 3 (Passcode please type manually : ICEO_Mar3!).
- Agenda for March 1st (the video recording starts from the Joint Presentation by FNEMC and the Ministry, and includes the Plenary to the lunch break)
- Agenda for March 3rd (the video recording starts from remarks delivered by Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, followed by the Joint Presentation and the Plenary to the lunch break)
- The March 3rd workshop included a presentation by 3 members of the Remote Community Energy Strategy Working Group to provide workshop attendees an example of a collaborative approach between the Ministry and indigenous communities. To see this video recording, click on RCES (Passcode please type manually: ICEO_Mar3!)
- click on March 1 (Passcode please type manually: ICEO_Mar1!) and on March 3 (Passcode please type manually : ICEO_Mar3!).
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Pre-read materials for before the March 1st and March 3rd Regional Workshops:
Agenda for March 1st / Agenda for March 3rd
- Draft Terms of Reference for the ICEO engagement (see pages 5 to 7 for preliminary list of topics for ICEO engagement)
- Information for Consideration Prior to the March Workshops
- Proposed Policy, Program and Legislative and/or Regulatory Initiatives For Discussion
- First Nations Energy and Mining Council – “Interest Paper: Comprehensive Review of BC Hydro, Phase 3 – Summary of Review and Recommendations, June 27, 2021”
- Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation – “What We Heard“
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Registration for the Regional Workshops in March is now open to First Nations rights holders and organizations in BC. We would like to draw your attention to the Draft Terms of Reference (pages 5 to 7, Preliminary topics for ICEO engagement) in advance of the Regional Workshops. Please click here more details.
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Thank you to the workshop participants who posed questions at the November 17, 2021 event. The Questions and Answers Paper can be accessed on the Resources page of this website, under ICEO Engagement Resources.
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In case you missed it – a video of the November 17, 2021 event can be accessed on the Resources page of this website, under ICEO Engagement Resources.
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The ICEO engagement is now launched. First Nations rights holders and First Nations organizations are encouraged to register for the November 17, 2021 virtual province-wide ICEO kick-off event! Register for this workshop, and complete this questionnaire to provide us with your feedback regarding topics of interest in the clean energy sector.
What people are saying
“This engagement brings us together in the spirit of reconciliation with this tremendous opportunity to shift to a clean energy future that addresses the challenges of climate change.”
– Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
“First Nations are already leaders in demonstrating how clean energy must be one of the tools that moves us towards economic reconciliation with the Province of B.C. while reducing our carbon emissions and responding to the climate crisis. We expect this new initiative will fully support energy sovereignty for our communities and ensure that any clean energy development project recognizes and affirms our inherent and constitutionally protected Title, Rights and Treaty Rights, including the rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction.”
– Regional Chief Terry Teegee, B.C. Assembly of First Nations
“Our communities have been leading the charge in advocating for more sustainable clean energy sources that would assist in addressing the climate crisis. First Nation-owned clean energy utilities have an opportunity to be at the forefront of this sector and the ICEO process will be a critical component in helping to chart the pathway.”
– Robert Phillips, First Nations Summit, Political Executive