b'CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIPSThere are still many opportunities for Indigenous partnerships on energy projects and for energy companies to support the growth of the Indigenous economy, both in Ontario and across the country. To be blunt, if proponents, policymakers, and potential partners do not consider Indigenous partnerships or build policies for Indigenous ownership, further development in the clean energy sector will be stalled. At CCAB, we are seeing the opportuni-ties multiply in this sector. Indigenous communities across the country are building and partnering on projects in the clean energy economy. There are currently over 60,000 Indigenous busi-nesses in Canada, and the Indigenous economy is growing at a significant rate. Over 35 per cent of these businesses are operating in construction, professional, manufacturing, and scientific and tech-nical servicesall of which are current participants in the energy sector.Notably, CCAB research indicates that Indigenous Peoples are creating new businesses at nine times the rate of non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, and that Indigenous business owners increas-ingly recognize the importance of inno-vation (Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, 2019). More than six in 10 (63 per cent) introduced either new prod-ucts or services, or new processes, into their business in 2016, up significantly from 49 per cent in 2010 (Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, 2016). Additionally, there are over 10 energy providers across the country enrolled inCCABsProgressiveAboriginal ensure that the procurement of renew- collaboration, and in some cases, restric- Relations programdemonstrating able energy was not only accessible totions by the Indian Act (RSC, 1985, c.their commitment to employ, procure, Indigenous communities but also equi- I-50), which limits the control of a Firstsupport, and build relationships with table. With each iteration, more commu- Nation to make decisions about theirIndigenous Peoples. nities applied for projects, either asown land. Had all the challenges beenThe interest, the drive, and the busi-sole developers or through partner- known at the outset, accounted for innesses are growing, representing an ships. Upon completion, close to halfthe design, and supported for communi- incredible opportunity to meaningfully of the First Nation communities, and theties to be better prepared to respond toinclude Indigenous communities and Mtis Nation of Ontario, were partneredprocurement opportunities, I am certainbusinesses in Canadas energy sector and on renewable projects through one ofmore communities would be generatingthe transition to a clean economy. While those procurements. power for, and earning revenue from,several partnerships were built as a result the grid. Sharing the challenges andof provincial government policy, we have The results were promising, but therefeedback from communities can enablealso seen projects built because of corpo-was, and still is, a lot more work to becommunity leaders, regulators, propo- rations righting their past wrongs, such as done. There were several communitiesnents, and policy makers in all provincesthe Peter Sutherland Generating Station, that wanted to partner, or build proj- and territories to accelerate the cleanas well as organizations like NRStor prior-ects, but were not successful due toenergy transition in ways that supportitizing building strong relationships with limited transmission capacity, associatesand strengthen Indigenous communi- Six Nations of the Grand River on the not understanding true partnership orties and businesses.Oneida Storage project.Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT31'