Sustainable Jobs for Indigenous Clean Energy Action

The document argues that Canada's Sustainable Jobs Act must intentionally advance Indigenous self-determination to address socio-economic inequities and the legacy of fossil fuel extraction. It proposes four action pathways: joint governance and co-design, supporting Indigenous-specific definitions of sustainable jobs, enabling Indigenous equity and ownership, and scaling up workforce capacity building. These recommendations are grounded in the experience of Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) programs, such as the 20/20 Catalysts Program and Generation Power, which emphasize wrap-around supports and mentorship for Indigenous youth.

• The Sustainable Jobs Act (Bill C-50) lacks specific details on how the federal government will involve Indigenous governments, with a Senate committee noting that its wording suggests an "optional approach to Indigenous knowledge," which may conflict with the principles of UNDRIP.
• Indigenous Peoples are already significant leaders in Canada's energy transition, holding the majority of clean energy assets outside of private and Crown utilities, with nearly 200 medium-to-large and 1,700–2,100 small renewable energy projects involving Indigenous ownership or partnership.
• To ensure successful outcomes, the federal government should adopt joint decision-making where Indigenous nations are partners rather than just stakeholders, particularly for projects on Indigenous lands or waters.
• The definition of "sustainable jobs" should be flexible to accommodate Indigenous knowledge systems and land-based practices, such as language revitalization and seasonal harvesting, which may not fit conventional salaried employment structures.
• Indigenous equity in the clean economy requires moving beyond benefit-sharing to support actual ownership and jurisdiction, including the use of dedicated funding set-asides and the expansion of the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program.
• Effective workforce capacity building for Indigenous Peoples requires "wrap-around supports" to overcome systemic barriers, including childcare, transportation costs, rent support, and the involvement of Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

APA

Cameron, L., Campbell, F. H., & Roop, M. (2024). Sustainable Jobs for Indigenous Clean Energy Action. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/sustainable-jobs-indigenous-clean-energy-action.pdf

Chicago

Cameron, Laura, Freddie Huppé Campbell, and Mackenzie Roop. Sustainable Jobs for Indigenous Clean Energy Action. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/sustainable-jobs-indigenous-clean-energy-action.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cameron |first1=Laura |last2=Campbell |first2=Freddie Huppé |last3=Roop |first3=Mackenzie |title=Sustainable Jobs for Indigenous Clean Energy Action |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/sustainable-jobs-indigenous-clean-energy-action.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cameron2024sustainable, author = {Cameron, Laura and Campbell, Freddie Huppé and Roop, Mackenzie}, title = {{Sustainable Jobs for Indigenous Clean Energy Action}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/sustainable-jobs-indigenous-clean-energy-action.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }