June 28, 2023

The Brief: Enabling Indigenous Participation in Major Projects

35 minutes

When we talk about climate change, emissions reduction, or major development in Canada, one aspect that has become more and more centred in the discussion is the importance of Indigenous partnership and participation.

From the historic deal between Enbridge and 23 First Nations in Alberta to Cedar LNG in BC and other projects across the country, Indigenous communities are changing how we do business in Canada—for the better. But there’s still work to do.

On this episode, we are joined by Karen Ogen, former Chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and current CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance, a collective of First Nations participating in, and supportive of, sustainable and responsible LNG development in BC.

Karen sheds light on the importance of Indigenous ownership in major projects to not only improve the economic well-being of Indigenous communities, but to enable them with the resources to care for the housing, health, and healing needs of their people.

We also discuss the importance of energy literacy, the realities of Canada’s regulatory systems and their current challenges to enable Indigenous engagement, and advice to other Indigenous communities eager to participate in major projects.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

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