18 Indigenous leaders continue their clean energy training journey.
Indigenous Clean Energy
OTTAWA, ON, September 11, 2024 – Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) is excited to announce the second on-site of its flagship initiative, the 20/20 Catalysts Program. Taking place at the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, QC, from September 15 to 20, this session will bring together 18 Indigenous leaders (Catalysts) as they continue their hands-on clean energy training.
The 20/20 Catalysts Program is designed to provide Indigenous people with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead clean energy projects in their communities. With over 120 alumni to date, this dynamic and immersive program equips participants with practical skills to maximize the social and economic opportunities that come with clean energy initiatives.
These on-site intensive sessions are a core element of the program. They offer Catalysts the chance to network, share their knowledge, exchange experiences, and collaborate on advancing their clean energy projects. The program fosters a strong sense of peer support and mentorship, helping Catalysts overcome challenges and succeed in their initiatives.
Each Catalyst in the program is working on a clean energy project, either in progress or set to begin soon, that is expected to benefit their communities in multiple ways. Through these on-site sessions, Catalysts deepen their technical understanding, enhance their project management skills, and receive mentorship from clean energy experts from across the country.
During the Wendake session, Catalysts will participate in learning modules focused on project feasibility, securing permits, navigating approval processes, and building equitable partnerships. Sessions will be facilitated by experienced mentors, coaches, and practitioners from the clean energy sector, ensuring that Catalysts receive top-notch guidance and support.
In addition to in-class learning, Catalysts will have the opportunity to engage in a mock energy efficiency audit that will provide them with valuable insights into practical, real-world applications of clean energy technologies.
Stay connected with us and follow the 20/20 Catalysts Program’s progress on our ICE Network and social media platforms.
QUOTES
“It’s a great program. You really get to connect with your cohort and the staff, and it’s a really good pool of shared knowledge. You get to learn more about the other communities, what their life is like, what their daily life is like for them, and what type of issues they face around energy as well. And I think that’s really inspiring because I feel that I can go home and say: ‘we can do this.'”
—Lori Saunders, 2024 Catalysts participant
“The Catalysts Program is so different from other programs that we see because it’s with heart, soul and love. We do this work in clean energy to make sure that we can care for each other, our people, and the land in the way it’s always been intended. The Catalysts Program gives us the accessibility, the resources and the support to be able to be the stewards of the land that our ancestors would want to see today. It shows us the power we have within ourselves.”
—Serena Mendizabal, 2023 Catalysts participant and 2024 On-Site Auntie