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.
Drew Bernard is the Energy Lead and proud member of Lennox Island First Nation in Prince Edward Island. Graduating from Holland College in 2021 in the Energy Systems Engineering Technology program, Drew realized a need for work to be done in his community to combat climate change. Fast forward to 2023, Drew has completed an extensive energy opportunities assessment, had energy efficiency audits completed on all on-reserve houses and buildings, installed 65 heat pumps to begin heating electrification, and has partnered with PEI’s sole power provider to complete a utility scale solar array by 2025 that will offset Lennox Island’s emissions by 10:1. Drew has future aspirations to build an on-reserve microgrid and band-owned utility that will bring true sovereignty to his small but mighty First Nation in Canada’s smallest province.
Tricia lives in Port Alberni, BC, where she was born and raised. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Vancouver Island University in 2013. Her Chartered Professional Accountant designation was in 2015, and she is currently working on completing her Local Government Administration Certificate. Tricia has spent four years in public accounting and seven years in municipal finance and asset management before shifting gears and joining Uchucklesaht Tribe Government as Funding Specialist in 2022. She finds a huge sense of reward in working with local First Nations and seeing her efforts providing direct benefit to the Uchucklesaht community. Early in life, she learned to appreciate being surrounded by nature and spends her summers camping in the woods all over Vancouver Island. Her goals are to incorporate fiscal, social, and environmental responsibility in not only the Uchucklesaht community but all communities in the region, and to do her best to reduce climate change and create a brighter future for her son and younger generations. She is looking forward to seeing the direct benefits of Indigenous Clean Energy and a reduction in diesel power in the Uchucklesaht territory.
Tiran Smallboy-Zorthian comes from Mountain Cree Camp, formally known as Smallboy’s Camp. He is a firm believer in spirituality and the traditional teachings of his community. He completed his high school diploma in 2019 from Kisiko Awasis School in his community. Before the introduction of the ICE and IODI, he travelled throughout U.S. and Canada, competing as a dancer and singer within the Powwow circles. He has become a skilled native artisan/entrepreneur, crafting native artifacts such as drums, jewelry, and powwow regalia. He is open-minded and ready to engage more with his home community to contribute to the children’s future and growth personally. It’s the children of his home community that strongly inspire him to become a better version of himself.
𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘻𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘻 𝘻𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨. (𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩.) 𝘊𝘩𝘪 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘴 𝘒𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘫𝘪𝘣𝘸𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨. (𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘫𝘪𝘣𝘸𝘦.) 𝘕𝘪𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘸𝘢 + 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘬. (𝘔𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳 + 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦) Tara Everett is a Two-Spirit (she/her/they) Anishinabe Auntie, and 60s Scoop Survivor. As the founder of Canoe Coworking Inc, her work has built bridges internationally since 2018. She is known to unite communities focused on building sustainable, Indigenous-led knowledge traditions and practices. In 2019, Tara was selected as a Canadian Youth Delegate for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, highlighting her work towards Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access. As a 2022 certificate graduate of Social Innovation and Community Development, she is dedicated to developing the capacity to create healthy, vibrant, equitable, and inclusive communities worldwide.
Shane Bellegarde is a member of Little Black Bear’s First Nation, located in South Eastern Saskatchewan on Treaty 4 Territory. Shane has been a performer for most of his life and is a multi-disciplinary artist with a special love of music, stories, and beadwork. Shane currently works for his home community as the Economic Development Projects Manager, and he sits on the Justice and Community Safety Planning Committees. Prior to his current role, Shane spent a decade working in the social work field as a Youth Care Worker and then as a Family Treatment Leader. Shane is passionate about working for his community, and he is especially excited about growing the food sovereignty and green energy projects within his portfolio.
Serena Mendizabal (she/her) is a Cayuga Wolf Clan Panamanian woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Serena is a community-based researcher and grassroots organizer. Serena recently graduated from a Master of Geography & Environment with a focus on Indigenous environmental health governance alongside Pictou Landing First Nation and Tobique First Nation. Serena first began her journey in clean energy when she was 18 working in community engagement and communications at the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation. While working in community engagement, she found gaps in community consent with her community’s clean energy portfolio and went on to further explore what a true ‘just transition’ can look like in a community of over 28,000 members. From there on out, Serena has dedicated her studies and extracurriculars to Indigenous self-determination, climate change, environmental health impact and just clean energy transitions. Serena’s connections to climate advocacy, research, education, and direct action are numerous.
Serena is the Co-Chair of the SevenGen National Indigenous Youth Energy Council, a Subject Matter Expert on Connecting for Climate Change Action, a Youth Action & Environment Fellow with the Lawson Foundation, and an Indigenous consultant with Iron & Earth, a labour-focused clean energy transition organization. Serena also works with Protect the Tract, a Haudenosaunee-led group in her community, Six Nations, focused on enforcing the traditional governance (the Haudenosaunee Confederacy)’s moratorium on development along the Grand River (Haldimand Tract). Serena’s main focus is her role as Program Assistant at Sacred Earth Solar, an organization founded on empowering frontline Indigenous communities with solar energy and healing justice. Serena is passionate about self-determined community development, action, and futures, and believes in a future with Indigenous youth & elders leading; sovereign, healthy nations; and lands and waters back.
Patrick Butler is the Senior Energy & Mines Advisor with Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office. He has been with the organization since August 2020. He previously worked on Sustainable Marine Energy’s demonstration in-stream tidal project in Grand Passage and for his community of Potlotek as a Fishery Guardian. Patrick enjoys hiking, being on the water and spending time with his three nieces and three godsons. He currently resides in Unakma’ki (Which is the Mi’kmaw word for land of fog, also known as Cape Breton).
Michael is Mohawk, Bear Clan with Ancestry in Tyendinaga on his mother’s side and Polish on his father’s side. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors, Glooscap Ventures, Executive Director, Pictou Landing First Nation, and President, Akwekon Enterprises. Michael is a person of principles, passionate about solving problems, innovation, design and traditional teachings. Michael has a BComm with a focus in Macro Economics from St.Mary’s University, A Master of Management & Innovation from Queen’s University and a certificate in Disruptive Technology. Persistently curious, Michael enjoys attempting to understand the mechanics of human-made systems and how to align them better with nature-made systems and the natural world.
Michael is a member of Frog Lake First Nation. He is a Natural Resource Technology student who has a very passionate heart about making his reservation self-sufficient and independent in the clean energy field. With projects in the; Green hydrogen, solar pannel, hemp, wind, drone mapping and electric vehicles, he hopes to be able to help his reservation become a pioneer in protecting and maintaining a clean environment in Alberta. His number one reason for getting into this field of work is so that generations of generations are able to live and practice their culture on mother earth for centuries to come. He feels it is important as an Indigenous man to protect our earth as our ancestors once did many years ago; being independent and self-sustainable in our communities is one huge step in continuing the hard work our ancestors once did for us.
Maureen Ward-Caisse was born and raised in Maskwacis, AB and is a member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation, which is one of the four First Nations in Maskwacis. Maureen holds a Bachelor of Commerce Undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta in 2007 and a Master’s of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 2021. Maureen is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Neyaskweyahk Group of Companies Inc. (NGCI), which is the corporate division of Ermineskin Cree Nation. She has been with NGCI since 2013 and started as the VP of Operations until 2020. Maureen is proud of the business developments NGCI has accomplished in the past 10 years. More recently, the vision of NGCI is to become a leader in renewable energy in First Nation communities. This is becoming reality with the 1MW Sundancer Solar Farm, with plans to twin the solar farm to 2MW and another major solar project which will soon be announced publicly. Maureen is excited to learn more about the extensive areas of renewable energy and its rewards.
Jamie is of mixed heritage, including both First Nations and Irish origins. She is the Capital Projects Manager for Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation and is passionate about working in the clean energy and climate action fields. Jamie has a Bachelor’s degree from Thompson Rivers University, majoring in management and has more than 14 years of experience working and living on reserve. The main objective for Jamie is to serve First Nations toward independence and mentor young people into an effective team focused on reducing our environmental footprint.
Laura-Jeannie was born and raised in the arctic community of Igloolik, Nunavut and now resides in Sanirajak, Nunavut. Her journey has taken her to many different places and through many different life/career experiences. L-J is currently working as a Community Liaison with Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation, a 100% Inuit-owned clean energy developer in the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut. In her role with Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation, L-J wants to engage communities to understand the community priorities better and help determine how renewable energy can align with the overall goals. As an avid volunteer in her community, her goal is to improve the lives of Nunavummiut across the Qikiqtani region.
Jayden Fisher is a member of Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation), an Ojibway community and signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty, located on the Western Shoreline of Lake Nipigon in Northwestern Ontario. With an Advanced Diploma in Interactive Media Development, Jayden is a multi-talented worker and has been fortunate to work in various capacities. Jayden currently works in Food Security and Clean Energy projects within her Nation and sits on multiple Indigenous-led advisory circles. She is also a participating youth in the ImaGENation Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program. While working within her Nation, sitting on advisory circles and leading/participating in various programs, she has gained valuable skills and hands-on experience in community engagement, project management, youth involvement and food sovereignty. With a strong connection to the land, Jayden has always been passionate about sustainable living and encouraging her peers to live more eco-consciously. From helping start a recycling program and a greenhouse project in high school to advocating for campus sustainability in post-secondary schooling, she is now tackling educating her peers and community on sustainability and waste management. Jayden is creative, works hard, learns quickly and constantly strives to grow through new experiences. She is always up to the opportunity to create experiential and meaningful connections within and for her Nation. She is a person of few words, but beneath her calm exterior beats the heart of a passionate and altruistic individual. May the force be with you.
Jamie Gorman is a proud and passionate Wolastoqiyik member of Neqotkuk First Nation. He has worked for his community in various capacities: farming, fishing, IT, archaeology, and environmental monitoring. He is currently the Resource Development Consultation Coordinator working for his community on behalf of the Nation. Consultation touches on so many areas – mines, pipelines, dams, nuclear to provincial forest strategy as well as the implementation of moderate livelihood fishing and protected areas. His community has had so many forms of extractive industry imposed on its territory and people, so they now have the space and desire to transform outdated models of economic development into new transformative clean energy projects to support land back initiatives. Land and energy are braided, and the sustainable use of both is essential to reconciliation. Tapping into an existing network of Indigenous excellence that has driven forward clean energy projects is a tremendous opportunity for Jamie, which he hopes to bridge to his community and Nation.
Jamie Evic is the Senior Administrative Officer for the Municipality of Pangnirtung. He grew up in Pangnirtung, Nunavut and lived most of his days in Pangnirtung. He has 4 beautiful daughters (Sophie, Caitlin, Jasmine and Myra), and he looks after my nephew (Ruben), that are in full support of him with his job. He has a busy schedule with work and family, and trying to find a balance between the two is a challenge sometimes.
He started his career with the Municipality of Pangnirtung in 2009 as an Interim Finance officer and worked his way up to the top of the ladder. Over this period, he has seen many different kinds of projects within the Municipality but not a lot of off-diesel programs. Since he became SAO with the Municipality, he wanted to make changes and wanted to explore more solar or anything that is not using diesel. The COVID lockdown prevented him to explore more into this project, but he managed to get one done. They successfully installed 10 solar panels in their recreation facility (Ice hockey rink) back in 2020. They are now exploring with the consultant to install more solar panels in that facility this summer. With this off-diesel program, He is looking forward to having more ideas about what he can do to get off-diesel and about what other communities are doing. This will open more opportunities within his community that are already starting the Comprehensive Community Planning, and this will be part of the planning. The CCP will be community-driven and a great opportunity to form a small committee with this IODP. Jamie says he has so many ideas, and he wants to reach out to the public and have their voice heard at the political level.
Since he became Senior Administrative Officer, he wanted to see more projects that are community-driven, not all by Hamlet staff or the councillors, he wants to see more public input that will be used by officials (Hamlet) to make short and long-term plans.
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 working group, which includes community leaders from the Hamlet of Paulatuk, Hunters and Trappers Committee, Elders Committee and Paulatuk Community Corporation. Grace is a proud Inuvialuit woman, born in Yellowknife and grew up living in various places across country including NWT, BC, and Ontario. She moved back home to Paulatuk in 2016, which is a fly-in-only community on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. 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.
Calvin is from Lac Seul First Nation. He has over 20 years of experience in carpentry/renovations/building. He has more than 10 years of experience as foreman/supervisory skills. Calvin is an avid hunter and fisherman. He is passionate about traditional culture and enjoys camping and RVing. He loves the outdoors, meeting new people, and establishing a great network of acquaintances.
I am a soon-to-be first time Mother representing Mississauga First Nation, a Northern Ontario community in between Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie. I am Ojibwe and Cree. I moved from Mississauga First Nation in 1998 and returned home in 2018 to begin my healing journey and work for my community. I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, fishing, camping and hunting. I also kayak and snowshoe. I live in Blind River but hope to one day build an off-grid home on our traditional territory for my little family and I. This passion for off-grid living and sustainability has trickled into my employment as a Community Energy Champion for MFN which I started in March 2022. I understand the connection between energy and the environment and care very deeply about becoming sustainable. Throughout my life I gained great respect for Shkaagamik Kwe (Mother Earth) and wish my future work and learning reflects that.
