These Indigenous-Led Infrastructure Projects Are Redefining Clean Growth in Canada
Across Canada, Indigenous communities are emerging as central players in the country’s energy transition, not just as stakeholders, but as owners, operators, and innovators.
From British Columbia to New Brunswick, a new generation of infrastructure projects is demonstrating what it looks like when Indigenous leadership is positioned at the heart of clean growth.
This post compares four significant projects: Cedar LNG, Oneida Energy Storage, Neqotkuk Solar, and Aki Battery Recycling.
The objective is to better understand the principles, outcomes, and momentum behind Indigenous-led development.
1. Cedar LNG (British Columbia)
Sector: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Location: Kitimat, BC
Ownership: 50.1% Haisla Nation, 49.9% Pembina Pipeline
Cedar LNG is the first Indigenous-majority-owned LNG export facility in the world. It is a floating, hydro-powered terminal capable of producing 3 to 3.3 million tonnes per year of LNG, or about 400 million cubic feet per day. With an expected capital cost of up to $4 billion, the project received a Final Investment Decision (FID) in June 2024 and is scheduled to be operational by 2028.
The environmental design prioritizes a low footprint: it uses hydroelectric power, air cooling, and a spread-mooring system to avoid seabed disruption. The project will support over 500 construction jobs and 100 permanent roles, with $200 million in federal innovation funding already committed.
More than just a resource development project, Cedar LNG establishes a global precedent for Indigenous participation in energy exports.
2. Oneida Energy Storage (Ontario)
Sector: Battery Energy Storage
Location: Haldimand County, ON
Ownership: Partnership between Six Nations of the Grand River, Northland Power, NRStor, Aecon, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Commissioned in 2024, the Oneida Energy Storage project is Canada’s largest battery energy storage system, with a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh lithium-ion capacity. The system stores off-peak electricity and discharges it during high-demand periods, supporting Ontario’s decarbonization goals and reducing emissions by an estimated 1.2 to 4.1 million tonnes of CO₂ over its lifetime.
The $400 million project involved over 180 construction jobs and more than 300,000 work hours. It was funded in part by the Canada Infrastructure Bank and is now considered a benchmark for large-scale Indigenous-partnered infrastructure. Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce called it a “Global benchmark for sustainable infrastructure.”
3. Neqotkuk Solar Project (New Brunswick)
Sector: Solar Energy
Location: Neqotkuk (Tobique) First Nation, NB
Ownership: Fully owned by Neqotkuk First Nation; developed in partnership with the City of Saint John
This municipally-scaled solar farm is part of a long term energy agreement with the City of Saint John, under which Neqotkuk will provide clean solar energy through a 25 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). It marks one of the first major municipal–Indigenous procurement partnerships in Atlantic Canada.
The project offsets diesel reliance, provides local clean energy, and generates an estimated $430,000 in annual revenue for the First Nation. With a development agreement signed in 2025, the solar farm is currently under construction. It sets a new standard for how municipalities and Indigenous communities can collaborate in the energy sector.
4. Aki Battery Recycling (Ontario)
Sector: Clean Tech / Critical Minerals
Location: Nairn Centre, ON
Ownership: Joint venture between Three Fires Group (representing the Three Fires Confederacy) and Electra Battery Materials
Announced in June 2024, the Aki facility will process up to 7,500 tonnes of spent lithium-ion batteries per year, extracting critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. This closed loop system supports Canada's electric vehicle supply chain and circular economy goals.
The project will create 30 direct jobs and advance Indigenous leadership in the clean tech sector. With startup scheduled for 2027, Aki demonstrates how Indigenous capital and strategy are shaping Canada’s battery and resource future, not just participating in it.
Key Commonalities Across Projects
Despite differences in scale, technology, and geography, these four projects share critical commonalities:
Indigenous Ownership & Governance: Each project places Indigenous communities at the centre of ownership and strategic direction, not as participants, but as co-creators and co-beneficiaries.
Clean Technology Alignment: Whether LNG powered by hydro, solar energy, or critical mineral recovery, each initiative directly contributes to the energy transition.
Job Creation & Local Economic Development: All projects support long term employment, local skills development, and community revenue streams.
Public Private Partnerships: Successful execution has required a blend of Indigenous leadership, industry collaboration, and strategic public investment.
Blueprint for Future Projects: These aren’t one offs, they’re models. Together, they suggest a viable, repeatable framework for Indigenous-led infrastructure across sectors.
A Note on Policy: Beyond Bill C-5 and Ontario’s Bill 5
While federal Bill C-5 and Ontario’s Bill 5 both aim to improve Indigenous access to public procurement, these projects suggest that real impact doesn’t come from legislative quotas or token consultation.
Instead, it comes from early engagement, shared risk, equity ownership, and respect for Indigenous governance. If policy is to support Indigenous economic participation meaningfully, it must follow the lead of what Indigenous communities are already building, not prescribe it from the top down.
Conclusion
Cedar LNG, Oneida Energy Storage, Neqotkuk Solar, and Aki Battery Recycling are more than just infrastructure projects. They are proof that Indigenous-led development in Canada can be economically viable, environmentally responsible, and globally significant.
Together, they offer a roadmap for how Indigenous nations, governments, and industry can co-create infrastructure that benefits everyone, while restoring autonomy, prosperity, and leadership to the communities most closely tied to the land.