Meet the Catalysts
Our 20/20 Catalysts family has deep roots.
Every year 20 new exceptional Catalysts from Indigenous communities across Canada join the program and become part of our growing family of Indigenous clean energy leaders.
All Catalysts
Portrait
Name
Melina Laboucan-Massimo
Location
Lubicon Cree First Nation, AB
Description
Melina is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta. She has worked on social, environmental and climate justice issues for the past 20 years. Melina is the Just Transition Director at Indigenous Climate Action, the Founder of Sacred Earth Solar and a Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation. She is also the host of a TV series called Power to the People, which profiles renewable energy, food security and eco-housing projects in Indigenous communities across Canada.
Facing firsthand impacts of the Alberta tar sands in her traditional territory, Melina has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice. For over a decade, Melina worked as a Climate and Energy Campaigner with Greenpeace Canada and the Indigenous Environmental Network internationally. She has written for various publications and produced short documentaries on the tar sands, climate change, water issues and Indigenous cultural revitalization. Melina has studied, campaigned, and worked in Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Europe, focusing on resource extraction, climate change impacts, media literacy, and Indigenous rights & responsibilities.
Melina also works on the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada after the suspicious death of her sister Bella whose case remains unsolved. Melina currently serves on the boards of Seeding Sovereignty and NDN Collective, as well as the executive steering committee of the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise.
Portrait
Name
JP Pinard
Location
Whitehorse, YT
Description
JP Pinard is a professional engineer and a community wind and renewable energy researcher, consultant, advisor, and advocate. JP grew up in the northern mining town of Val-d’Or, Quebec, in James Bay Cree territory, and his ancestors came from France in 1647. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo and wandered into Whitehorse in 1992. His calling to renewable energy came in 1996, and he returned to university (University of Alberta) to pursue a master’s degree and then a PhD on the wind climate of the mountainous Yukon. He has assessed the wind energy potential in dozens of communities across all three Territories of Northern Canada. JP’s vision for the Yukon and Canada’s remote communities is to be carbon-free and gain economic wealth from renewables and energy efficiency. His primary focus is to help the Kluane First Nation build a renewable energy future and share this experience with other champion communities across Canada’s North.
Portrait
Name
John Jensen
Location
The Carcross/Tagish First Nation, YT
Description
John Jensen has a degree from the University of Phoenix BSc in Business Management, and pursued a Master of Environmental Management from Royal Roads University. John was a director of the Yukon Energy Board. John is from the Gaanaxtedi Clan for the Carcross Tagish First Nation (CTFN). John has experience in directing private development of clean tech energy systems. John’s ambition is to create sustainable energy for the Yukon and work on business developments for the three corporations he owns. Currently, John is working on implementing Vision AI.
Portrait
Name
Grant Sullivan
Location
Beaufort Delta Region, YT
Description
Grant has lived in the Beaufort Delta region for most of his life and understands the need for knowledge, understanding and caution as we endeavour to not only protect our environment but to safely expand and support resource development in our Region. He has seen the effects of climate change on lands, mountains, rivers and traditional lifestyles. He believes that clean energy development will assist residents of small communities to understand the value, cost-effectiveness, and application of clean energy initiatives to meet their energy needs and enhance their commitment to protecting the environment, land and resources.
As President of NEL, Grant has served as overall Project Lead/Coordinator for several renewable energy projects advanced by either Nihtat Corporation or NEL since 2018. This includes providing oversite/ direction in this capacity for the following projects: Inuvik High Point Wind Study (2016-2018), Multi-residential Solar Net Metering Demonstration project (January 2018-September 2019), Commercial Solar PV Installations in NWT and Nunavut (April 2018-May 2020). Work on each of these projects was initially advanced by Nihtat Corporation and then undertaken by NEL starting in May 2019.
Grant was a 20/20 Catalyst (2016) and is currently participating as an Energy Champion in the Indigenous Off-grid Diesel Initiative (IODI). Through NEL, Grant was the first Energy Champion in the IODI program to be awarded an $800,000 prize towards the pursuit of renewable energy initiatives. Through this initiative, NEL is pursuing a series of staged developments in the Beaufort Delta region in 2021 and 2022, including the implementation of a solar project at the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) site near Inuvik in 2021; a 150 kV Solar PV Installation in Aklavik, also in 2021; and planning for a 1 MW grid-connected solar farm in Inuvik to be completed in 2022.
As a Gwich’in participant, Grant has also been active in several Gwich’in organizations. This includes Gwich’in Settlement Corporation, Chair (responsible for 140 million in assets) (2012-2016); participation in Gwich’in/ Imperial Oil access and benefits negotiations regarding the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline; and lead business representative and board representative on the Nihtat Gwich’in Development Board. He was also the Executive Director of Gwich’in Council International (2012 – May 2019).
Through these experiences, Grant has gained extensive experience and knowledge of the business community, arctic logistics and Indigenous governments in the Beaufort-Delta region.
Portrait
Name
Eileen Marlowe
Location
Lutselke Dene First Nation, NWT
Description
Eileen is a member of the Lutselke Dene First Nation in the Northwest Territories, however she resides in Yellowknife. She holds a Masters Degree in Communication Management from McMaster University. Eileen is keenly aware of the importance of strategic communications, public relations, Indigenous relations, and public and Indigenous engagement on projects and other major initiatives that involve a variety of people coming together. She has conducted research on How and to What Extent do Government Communications Impact Trust and Indigenous Relations: Recommendations to Build Strategic Relationships. Eileen emphasizes the importance of Indigenous inclusiveness and ‘Indigenous lens’ at every project planning table that involve Indigenous governments. She has experience in a variety of settings from non-profit, to industry, to Indigenous governance, and to western governance. Eileen worked on the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project with the Government of Northwest Territories as the Indigenous Relations Advisor and now works as the Manager of Communications, Engagement, and Partnerships with the Mackenzie Valley Review Board. She firmly believes in building Indigenous capacity for major energy projects or other major initiatives that involve Indigenous.
Portrait
Name
Ed Genova
Location
Metepenagiag First Nation, NB
Description
Ed Genova is a Mi’kmaq from Metepenagiag First Nation. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick in Biology and Physical Education.
Ed worked as an educator and administrator for 10 years. In 2007, he left the education field to work in the industry and has been with New Brunswick Power Corporation for over 10 years. As a part of the First Nations Affairs Team at NB Power, Ed has had the opportunity to take human resource management and energy fundamentals for leaders. His work has helped him improve relations, deal with legacy issues, offer guidance, support and facilitation to Indigenous communities here in NB.
Ed has been given the opportunity to work with many Indigenous organizations, Government departments, funding agencies and Indigenous people in various areas of the workforce. He is a passionate educator and believes that in order for communities to reach self-sufficiency, more capacity-building is needed.
Portrait
Name
Dylan Whiteduck
Location
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, QC
Description
Dylan Whiteduck was recently elected Chief of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in August 2020. As Chief, he advocates for their lands & rights and ensures their interests/voices are heard.
As the former Economic Development Officer for Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Mr. Whiteduck is proud to be a part of the success and achievements in the economic development portfolio. He is a First Nation business graduate student from Algonquin College in the Business Management & Entrepreneurship program. He is passionate about businesses, marketing, events, finances, sales, and computers; and possesses strong leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills. His work focuses on bringing economic development opportunities to the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation community.
Portrait
Name
David Jeremiah
Location
North Caribou Lake First Nation, ON
Description
David ran in a community election for a Councillor position a few years ago. While he didn’t win the election, his main platform was going for Renewable Energy as his community has been on a Connection Restriction since March 2014. Connection restriction stunts growth. Although he had no experience, a job opportunity was available as Energy Coordinator a month and a half after the election, which he applied to and got the position. David has a keen interest in Clean Renewable Energy and is passionate about having his community attain that. David’s other goal is to have minimal reliance on diesel in his community of North Caribou Lake First Nation. He wants to learn as much as he can so he can achieve that goal for his community. Presently, they are looking into an innovative project of acquiring Housing to stand alone and rely solely on Renewable Energy. David is also the Community Worker for the Remote Electrification Readiness Program for the Wataynikineyap Power transmission project.
Portrait
Name
Darrell Brown
Location
Winnipeg, MB
Description
Darrell Brown is a Cree business owner based in Winnipeg, MB. Darrell is the President of Kisik Clean Energy and Kisik Commercial Furniture. He is a 2004 founding member and current chair of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce based in Manitoba. He holds an Advanced Diploma in International Business from Red River College in Manitoba and a Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance and Management Excellence from the Banff Centre. Darrell holds the designation of ICD.D from The Rotman, Directors Education Program through The Institute for Corporate Directors. Darrell also has a certificate in the 20/20 Catalyst program focusing on the Indigenous Renewable Energy Sector.
Portrait
Name
Corey Tarbell
Location
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, QC
Description
As a Volunteer Firefighter and Building Inspector for his community, Corey has been striving to find the best solutions for the Akwesasne community. For him, one of these solutions will be clean and efficient energy. The 20/20 Catalyst program was brought to his attention through the Economic Department with Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) as project lead in the Aboriginal Conservation Program (ACP), implemented in Akwesasne in 2015 and delivered by First Nations Engineers Services Limited (FNESL). This program was a huge success for qualified community members of Akwesasne. With the ACP, they were able to provide energy-efficient appliances and add insulation to over 200 homes to reduce the energy bills. The amount of teamwork involved to accomplish this task due to time constraints was astonishing. Some of his roles were: holding community meetings, scheduling radio talk shows, and aide in the community launch of the program.
Corey obtained a Diploma in Home Inspection through the Academy of Learning College in Cornwall; this was a two-year program studying with Carson Dunlop and mentors. He has been the Building Inspector for MCA since 2013. Since then, he has taken many other training courses for continuing education, such as Building Code courses from Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA). This includes House 2012, Legal Process for Building Officials, On-site Sewage Systems 2012, and Residential Plumbing Inspection. With his knowledge of the home and all installed components, he believes that the Catalyst program was a good fit for himself and the Akwesasne community.
“Our culture and restoration are critical in regaining values that have been slipping away over the many years. I have three children, a 21-year-old daughter, a 17-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. My children were raised with their culture and language. As our culture promotes the future of the next seven generations, Akwesasne can only benefit from alternative clean energy. It would be an honour to be part of the implementing process for clean energy for the Akwesasne community.”
Portrait
Name
Chantel Henderson
Location
Pinaymootang & Sagkeeng First Nations, MB
Description
Chantel was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB., and was the first in her family to earn a high school diploma, attend college and earn a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree. After her schooling, Chantel moved to Montreal and became involved in Missing Justice at the Centre for Gender Advocacy. She also joined the board of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and the Centre for Gender Advocacy. Chantel became interested in environmental issues, solar power, economic emancipation for women, and women empowerment through school and volunteer work.
Portrait
Name
Cara Sanders
Location
Curve Lake First Nation, ON
Description
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). Her 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. She presently has projects in motion with four communities and has proposals out with many more Nations. In the winter of 2018, Cara was awarded to CERRC bioheat projects, which have grown to have a sawmill and winter wood program. The synergy and employment opportunities for both the remotes were 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 help them with things they want and need relating to energy. The lessons learned and the people she met in the 20/20 program have empowered her to achieve the things 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 a member of the Advisory Committee is an honour and a blessing. She is forever grateful for what she has learned and the path she is on.
Portrait
Name
AJ Esquega
Location
Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation), ON
Description
AJ is a community member and former Councillor for Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (KZA) – Gull Bay First Nation. As a Councillor, he held the Lands and Resource Portfolio. AJ enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, being on the lake, hiking, KZA history, and learning about his culture. He is excited to take on the position of Mashkawiziiwin Energy Projects Coordinator for his community and hopes to see KZA off diesel fuel power and into greener energy sources.
Portrait
Name
Andrew Epoo
Location
Village of Inukjuak, QC
Description
Andrew is the youngest Municipal Councilor of Inukjuak. He is heavily involved in the region’s political youth council playing an advisory role. Finding modern ways to teach traditional values is a difficult task. Andrew feels that clean energy is a path we all can take to ensure that some of these values are instilled into the younger generations.
Portrait
Name
Ashyaliisa (Aysha) McNally
Location
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation, ON
Description
Aysha has been working for the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (BNA) First Nation since 2019. Aysha has always been interested in clean energy and has a degree in Honors Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a Geography Major. She is currently the Community Energy Champion/Coordinator and the Climate Change point person for BNA. Aysha is very excited for this opportunity and eager to learn about more clean energy initiatives and projects from other First Nation communities across the country. Aysha has experience in writing several project proposals for energy and environmental projects, attended, and presented at several provincial energy and environmental webinars and conferences. Aysha has also helped BNA complete their Community Energy Plan and implement BNA’s successful Biomass Heating System for their sawmill. Aysha is continuing her work to bring clean and innovative energy/environmental projects within the BNA community including a Biomass District Heating System Study for the homes being built.