"“It is Our Time”: Indigenous-Led Transmission Lines", March 2026

Canada is entering a once-in-a-century build-out of transmission infrastructure. The scale of new lines required — doubling or tripling the existing grid — represents not only a technical challenge but a generational opportunity. If Indigenous ownership and leadership are centered from the outset, this expansion can become a cornerstone of economic reconciliation rather than a repeat of past exclusion from major infrastructure decisions....

Indigenous nations are already playing a central role in developing transmission infrastructure across Turtle Island. This makes sense, all key potential transmission corridors run through traditional territories of Indigenous nations; any new transmission line in Canada should only occur with the free, prior, and informed consent of the impacted Nations...

Transmission lines are more than technical connectors; they are strategic tools that allow First Nations to shape regional energy futures. When Nations lead or co-own transmission projects, they influence routing, environmental protections, procurement, and long-term operational decisions — ensuring that transmission development aligns with community values and long-term stewardship responsibilities...

Canada’s fragmented electricity system and the lack of reliable grid infrastructure in many Indigenous communities are often treated as separate challenges. In reality, they are deeply interconnected. Indigenous ownership in transmission is one of the few solutions that addresses both issues simultaneously: it strengthens regional grid reliability while advancing Indigenous self-determination and economic opportunity..

The magnitude of opportunity for First Nations to partake in equity ownership in transmission projects is substantial... A transmission governance framework that centers Indigenous self-determination, consent, and equity ownership can accelerate development, reduce conflict, and ensure fair outcomes for all partners....

Indigenous involvement should extend beyond equity ownership to encompass full participation in planning, permitting, and governance processes. True reconciliation in the electricity sector requires not only inclusion in future projects but also the recognition and redress of historical harms caused by past energy developments...