The long road to clean power for First Nations communities
Indigenous communities in oil sands country are taking the first steps to wean themselves off fossil-fuelled electricity. But even those who ve made inroads are shying away from diesel-free ambition.
March 3, 2021 Chief Allan Adam, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (Courtesy of Nick Kendrick/Green Planet Energy Analytics/Green Energy Futures)
The tanker trucks normally come by the dozen over the winter road from Fort McMurray, Alta., during the few weeks the ice can hold their weight. They make the 4½-hour northbound trek laden with the same fossil fuel they burn stuff that Fort Chipewyan, Alta., has long used to generate its electricity. But this summer, the 800-resident hamlet downstream from Alberta’s oil sands expects to shutter its diesel plant for the first time, and instead power its lights and TVs through the warm season with solar energy.
Posted: Dec 31, 2020 3:50 PM CT | Last Updated: December 31, 2020
Despite how 2020 has been a year of disruptions, new normals, and loss, the CEO of the Deline Got ine government, Paulina Roche, says she looks onto the new year and sees light. (Submitted by Mandy Bayha)
After a challenging year, elders in the Sahtu are asking communities across Denendeh to start the year off with healing in mind.
Deline will be holding a fire feeding ceremony at the house of the late Dene prophet Ahya on Jan. 1 at 2 p.m., and elders are asking other communities to do the same thing at the same time.