Reports & Publications

The world is undergoing a massive economic and environmental shift, and the consent of Indigenous nations is pivotal to making sure Indigenous nations benefit and to advancing North America’s global economic market share.

Explore the OCA Conference Primer as it offers a window into what the contributions from experts at the conference will focus on. It spotlights groundbreaking projects and initiatives throughout Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, covering vital topics such as project governance, critical minerals, the energy transition, and empowering Indigenous ownership in major projects. With summaries of the conference’s highly anticipated keynote speeches, panel discussions, and featured models, providing readers with an in-depth understanding of the key themes leading up to the event.

At the Values Drive Economy Conference, held on April 24-25, 2023, in Vancouver, the First Nations Major Project Coalition (FNMPC) hosted over 1,500 Indigenous, industry and government leaders to learn how the inclusion of Indigenous values throughout a company’s value chain is essential to getting major projects approved, funded, built, and operating profitably on Indigenous lands. The four main themes of the conference were:

• Diversifying Energy Sources
• Excellence in Indigenous-Industry Partnerships on Major Projects
• Innovative Public Policy Supporting Indigenous Investment
• Securing Competitive Capital

This report focuses on the expert insights from the Values Driven Economy Conference. Conference speakers repeatedly highlighted that Indigenous consent – incorporated at all levels of a major project — is a competitive advantage for companies and countries seeking to raise capital, expedite regulatory and permitting processes, and increase market share.

All net zero projects, such as clean energy projects, electrical transmission lines, and battery mineral supply projects, will be built on Indigenous lands. Centering Indigenous nations’ values and partnerships in proposed developments strengthens projects by improving outcomes that are not only important to First Nations, but increasingly to ESG-focused investors. The Values Driven Economy (TVDE) Conference Primer provides a comprehensive overview of four key themes on how we can build a more sustainable and values-driven economy:

• Diversifying Energy Sources with Hydrogen, SMRs, and LNG
• Excellence in Indigenous-Industry Partnerships on Major Projects
• Innovative Public Policy Supporting Indigenous Investment
• Securing Competitive Capital

Prepared by the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, this publication offers deep insights in advance of The Values Driven Economy conference, held on April 24-25th at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC.

“The Only Road to Net Zero Runs Through Indigenous Lands”

The Toward Net Zero by 2050 conference hosted by the First Nations Major Project Coalition (Canada) and First Peoples Worldwide (US) on April 25-26, 20221, in Vancouver, Canada convened professionals interested in the Indigenous-led net zero transition. This Toward Net Zero by 2050 Conference Findings and Report highlights the insights from thought leaders in attendance at the conference. It follows the main themes of the conference, namely:

• Part 1: The leading edge of producing critical battery minerals
• Part 2: The Net Zero Energy Transition
• Part 3: ESG+I
• Part 4: Sector-Based Concepts in Indigenous Net Zero Projects
• Part 5: Highlights of Conference Keynotes and Announcements

The report ends by summarizing the gaps identified as an outcome of the conference: how to build an Indigenous-values driven economy, the topic of the next annual FNMPC conference.

Canada and the United States must achieve net zero carbon neutrality by 2050 or risk contributing further to the catastrophic consequences of global climate change. This conference primer explores four important areas of transitioning to net zero that are, or may increasingly become, important to Indigenous nations in the United States and Canada. These areas are discussed in this four-part conference primer:

• Part 1: Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change
• Part 2: Electric Vehicle and Storage System Batteries
• Part 3: Clean Energy Transition
• Part 4: ESG Investment Standards and Net Zero

Prepared by the First Nations Major Project Coalition and First People’s Worldwide, this document offers deep insights in advance of the Towards Net Zero by 2050 conference, held on April 25-26th at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC.