The Next Energy Economy Is Already Here
When people talk about the future of energy they often discuss new technology: batteries, hydrogen, solar, and smart grids. So, what we will create instead of what we will leave behind.
But across Canada, a different kind of energy future is already taking shape, led by Indigenous communities. and knowledge.
These communities are designing, owning, and leading major projects and delivering results. They are showing how energy can be clean, fair, and rooted in long-term responsibility.
That is the next Canadian energy economy.
1. Indigenous Communities Are Leading Projects
Today, more than 200 Indigenous clean energy projects are active in Canada. These include solar, wind, hydro, and storage systems, many of them built in remote communities that were once dependent on diesel.
One of the most confluenced examples is the Oneida Energy Storage Project in Ontario. This grid-scale battery system is co-led by Six Nations of the Grand River and is one of the largest of its kind.
As we saw in What Makes Innovation Indigenous?, in order for these types of projects to succeed, it can’t just be about electricity. Control, capacity, and cultural survival must also be considered.
2. The Goals Are Different
In the Western energy system, success is usually measured in cost savings, emissions reductions, or investor returns. Indigenous energy leaders care about those thing but they also measure success by community benefit and intergenerational learning.
Many projects are tied to education, skills training, or food security. This values are what makes Indigenous-led energy projects a model for others: Turning infrastructure into a tool for self-determination and sustainability.
3. Barriers Still Exist
Even with strong leadership, Indigenous communities in Canada often face common barriers:
Lack of long-term funding
Complex permitting rules
Limited access to grid infrastructure
Few chances to lead beyond the pilot stage
Too often, Indigenous partners are brought in late or offered ownership only after the major decisions are made. As we discussed in Circular Infrastructure, true leadership includes full decision-making power for Indigenous communities, not just a late invite to the table.
4. It’s Time to Rethink the System
Canada’s energy future must be more than clean, it must be just. That means changing how projects are funded, approved, and managed. It also means reframing Indigenous land relationships, not as barriers, but as sources of innovation.
As we explored in Data is Ceremony, Indigenous governance is built on accountability, respect, and long term thinking. Those are all values that Canada’s new energy system needs at its core.
Conclusion: Learning from What’s Already Working
The next energy economy is already being built in Indigenous communities across Canada.
These projects are showing the rest of Canada how to generate energy in ways that are clean, fair, and culturally-grounded.
If governments and industry want to lead the energy transition, they should start by following the example of the people who are already doing the work, and have been for generations.