Troy Jerome is a citizen of the Mi’gmaq Nation, residing at Listuguj, Quebec. Troy began his career in 1989 serving the Mi’gmaq Nation in the Chiefs office with the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG). He served as Director of Operations, LMG, from 1995 to 2004. From 2004 on, Troy began to monitor the development of the Wind Energy industry taking hold in Gespe’gewa’gi. Seeing a plan by the Quebec government to install over 40% of the 4,000 MW of wind energy project ($4.0 Billion in new investments) in the territory of his people, he sought to have Chiefs and Councils push to have the Quebec Assembly to deal with the Mi’gmaq on a Nation-to-Nation basis over this monumental development plan. After discussions with Chiefs regarding natural resources, Title rights and Nation Building strategies; including a plan to achieve a major project of wind energy for the Mi’gmaq, Troy was asked to serve as Executive Director and Nutewistoq (Speaker for the Gespe’gewa’gi Mi’gmaq) for the Mi’gmaq of Gespe’gewa’gi’s political lobbying office, the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secrétariat (MMS). With the success of the strategy employed at the MMS, the Mi’gmaq achieved a twenty-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 150 MW wind energy project. Having led the negotiations team and the development of the PPA, Troy was asked to serve as the Chairperson of the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Farm Corporation which is overseeing the development and construction of the $360 million project.
Troy also served his community of Listuguj as an elected member of Council. Elected to the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Council from 1999 to 2004, he served to assist the Nation in its efforts to raise awareness of the Mi’gmaq rights to natural resources, the acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and the Mi’gmaq right to self-determination. During his tenure on Council, Troy also served as a founding member of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi from the inception in 2000 to June 2004.
As leaders of the seventh generation of Aboriginal people, Troy believes there needs to be a focus on the implementation of our inherent and treaty rights. He believes a Nation Building approach to increasing our capacity to make our own decision is needed; there are clear steps to follow, and we will do so with the involvement of our people and our communities.