Generation Power encourages Indigenous youth to explore careers in clean energy. It is also an essential piece of the clean energy landscape in Canada that nurtures the leadership potential of both Indigenous youth and energy sector employers to advance a sustainable and equitable energy future.
Harvey McLeod served as the Chief for the Upper Nicola Band for nine years with his last term concluding on March 20, 2023. He also served as Councillor for 22 years. He has approximately 40 years of experience in working on First Nations issues including developing and bridging communities on the executive, political, relationship and partnership level.
Harvey McLeod served six years as a Director for the BC Assembly of First Nations sitting on various Regional committees. This term expired in September of 2023. He also represented the region on various Assembly of First Nations committees. He has contributed extensively and directly to the development and operations of the Indigenous Advisory Monitoring Committee (IAMC) for the Trans Mountain Expansion and Existing Pipeline. He now sits as an advisor the Canada Energy Regulator. This appointment will expire in June of 2027.
Amber Big Plume is a proud member of the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Business Development and Projects Manager at First Nation Power Development. Passionate about Indigenous economic empowerment, she works to foster equitable partnerships that support meaningful ownership and sustainability for First Nations in the energy sector.
Amber’s upbringing in a Dene cultural community shaped her commitment to bridging traditional knowledge with modern economic development. She is a member of the Community Futures Treaty 7 Student Advisory Committee, and a mentor at Mount Royal University supporting Indigenous post secondary students.
She holds a degree in Law and Society with a minor in International Indigenous Studies from the University of Calgary and is pursuing an Executive MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at Simon Fraser University.
Penny Polchies is a proud member of the Wolastoqey – Maliseet Nation. With over 20 years of experience in the socio-economic sector, she has tirelessly advocated for sustainability and sovereign programs that support Indigenous economic self-sustainability.
During her tenure as an Economic Policy Analyst with the APCFNC, Penny worked collaboratively with the Atlantic Chiefs and Indigenous Economic Development Officers to develop an Atlantic Economic Development Strategy. Her efforts included networking and engagements focused on building capacity development initiatives for frontline workers. Meanwhile, she and the network of EDOs obtained their professional and technical certification in economic development from the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO).
Penny’s role as the Director of Economic Development with the Joint Economic Development Initiative saw her advocate for economic development initiatives at the community level. She was instrumental in achieving certification in Career Counselling, successfully graduating the largest number of NB Indigenous employment training officers with the Canadian Career Practitioners Association.
In her role with JEDI, Penny developed a Cultural Awareness Tool to foster dialogue among industry, government, and the private sector regarding the TRC and its Call to Action. She also worked with CANDO as CEDI Program Officer, building relationships between municipalities in Canada and Indigenous communities. These projects underscored the importance of communities working together to create stronger economic partnerships. Penny has been a significant influence in the Atlantic Region on economic and labor market initiatives. She serves on various boards of directors related to economic and energy initiatives. Additionally, Penny is a former council member of her community in St. Mary’s First Nation, where she served four terms, passionately supporting community initiatives.
Penny Polchies brings extensive experience and a deep understanding to her role with Workforce Warriors. Her contributions continue to pave the way for sustainable economic development and foster a collaborative spirit among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike.
Grace Nakimayak is the clean energy coordinator for the Paulatuk Energy Working Group. She started in this role in October 2021 to carry out the clean energy ambitions of the Paulatuk Energy Working Group, developing a Wind, Solar and Battery Energy Storage System project. Grace is a proud Inuvialuit woman, born in Yellowknife, NT and grew up living all over the country. Grace is passionate about helping her community reduce their cost of living as well as improve the quality of life, developing economic opportunities and implementing initiatives to reduce fossil fuel consumption. In her free time, she loves getting out on the land, hunting, camping and fishing.
Cherie is a partner and national leader of Indigenous law at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and has an Indigenous law and commercial practice across a wide variety of sectors, including energy and transmission, land development and financing on First Nations lands and economic development. Industry clients in the energy, infrastructure and mining sectors will seek Cherie’s counsel when developing projects or partnerships with Indigenous groups and have a need to address constitutionally protected interests of the Indigenous nations with which Canada shares its land and jurisdiction.
Over the last 15 years, Cherie’s involvement in the energy space in Ontario has resulted in several firsts: the first 100% First Nation owned wind power project in Ontario; the first Aboriginal loan guarantee from the Province of Ontario to enable First Nations to develop energy projects; the first major share purchase transaction involving 14.4M shares of a major public utility – Hydro One Limited; and the first public company in Canada (Hydro One) to commit to 50/50 equity partnerships on all major transmission projects over $100M.
A past recipient of the Lexpert Zenith Award; Lexpert’s “Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40.” And recent Distinguished Alumni Award from the Faculty of law at the University of Toronto, Cherie continues to devote her extra time to several work related and personal areas of interest in the public policy, electricity sectors and health and wellness space – all focussed on uplifting Indigenous communities and bringing awareness to the unique needs and interests of on reserve First Nations.
She is both Mohawk from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and Ojibway from Wikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
Now an independent director for Hydro One Limited since 2018 and Toronto-Dominion Bank since 2021, Cherie is active in advising on policy matters relating to First Nations to enable communities to achieve financial and economic sustainability.
Cara Sanders is a band member of the Curve Lake First Nation and has vast experience in environmental projects and Federal and Provincial environmental assessments (EA), responsibilities range from data collection to project management to report writing. Cara completed the Catalyst 20/20 program in 2016 and has since followed her dream to work with First Nation communities in Ontario. Cara presently has projects in motion with four communities and has proposal out with many more Nations. In the winter of 2018 Cara was awarded to CERRC bioheat projects which have grown to both having a sawmill and winter wood program. The synergy and employment opportunities for both the remotes was a perfect fit. As a First Nation woman Cara believes strongly in supporting the needs of other First Nations and in protecting our Mother Earth.
For the past many years, she has been working very hard to build relationships with communities in Ontario and to help them with things that they want and need relating to energy. The lessons learned and the people that were met in the 20/20 program have empowered her to be able to achieve the things that she has. But she believes this is only the beginning for her. She believes there is so much more to learn and share. Being asked to be a mentor and now a member of the Advisory committee is such an honour and a blessing. She is forever grateful for what she has learned and the path that she is on.
Mihskakwan James Harper is a proud citizen of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8, Alberta. He is currently the Business Development Manager at NRStor Inc., where he champions developing large-scale energy storage and clean microgrid projects in a way that empowers communities and contributes to meaningful climate action. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Manitoba and has recently completed a Master of Science in Renewable Energy from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Ecole Polytechnique, with entrepreneurial training from ESADE Business School. He is a part of the SevenGen council, an organization that develops and leads programs for Indigenous youth to lead in clean energy and climate action. He also is a co-host for the podcast, Decolonizing Power, a series that aims to amplify voices worldwide on how clean energy enables authentic community empowerment. This experience, combined with the 20/20 Catalyst program, he is passionate about the carbon-free future, particularly within the power and mobility sectors. He loves his family and his community now and generations ahead, which inspires him to work with youth to build a future that is sustainable and empowers all.
Jordyn Burnouf is a Black Lake First Nation member and grew up in the Métis community of Île-à-la-Crosse. Jordyn has committed over 12 years to empowering and building capacity for Indigenous youth. Jordyn was recently awarded Saskatchewan’s Women of Distinction Award for her work with community as an avid volunteer, community builder, and youth mentor. Jordyn is a founding member of the non-profit organization SaskATF, which supports youth participation in sport and is a Track & Field Coach for the 2020 North American Indigenous Games. Jordyn is an Associate with Medicine Rope Strategies (M-R Strategies), a consulting business dedicated to providing sustainable, practical and innovative approaches to community, economic and strategic partnership development. With a strong passion and relationship with the land, Jordyn is currently working on clean energy initiatives focusing on community engagement, cultural inclusion, and youth. Jordyn continues to advocate and create space for youth and women in the energy sector in Canada through her new role as a member of Indigenous Clean Energy’s Advisory Council.
