Portrait
Name
Desiree Maurice
Company
Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Location
Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Treaty 6 Territory, SK
Description
Raised in Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan, in the Northern Métis-Northern Region 3, Desiree Maurice was shaped by her ancestors’ teachings and the deep-rooted wisdom of her grandparents. Growing up on the land, she learned resilience and purpose from the natural world—a calling that connects her to generations of Indigenous people. For Desiree, the land isn’t just a place; it’s an identity, a memory, and a promise to return, no matter where life leads.
As a young Indigenous woman, she often felt like an outsider in a world that didn’t always feel welcoming. She likens her journey to being adrift in a lake, struggling to empty a canoe with holes as water flooded in. Watching others paddle confidently past, she felt alone, lost, and afraid of being overtaken by the weight of her challenges. But eventually, she paused. She stopped fighting the water just long enough to look up, and in that moment, a new journey began—a journey of self-discovery. She asked herself: Who is she when she stops fighting, when she asks for help?
Asking for support led her to community, to calmness, and to strength. Over time, she not only steadied her canoe but transformed it into something solid and enduring.
Today, Desiree’s work in clean energy isn’t just a career—it’s a calling. With each project, she brings sustainable, culturally rooted solutions to her community, aiming to empower others with the tools for resilience and independence. Her passion lies in inspiring youth, equipping them to carry the torch forward, and nurturing their sense of belonging in both tradition and innovation.
Desiree’s purpose is clear: to return to that lake with a strong canoe and reach out to those still struggling, helping them find balance and build their own paths forward. Through her work, she’s not just creating energy solutions; she’s creating communities where each person knows they belong and can thrive—anchored in culture, empowered by resilience, and driven by the promise of a sustainable future.