Reports & Publications

Conference Papers

Every year, FNMPC hosts a major conference convening our First Nation members with other global Indigenous nations, the private sector, and governments. Each year, FNMPC releases a pre-conference primer to help focus the discussion on the conference agenda.  A post-conference report is issued annually as a way of highlighting Indigenous voices, capturing best practices, and addressing gap areas and challenges based on the dialogue that takes place at each conference. Many of these publications are used widely as reference materials.

  • The VRGM Findings and report
    The VRGM Findings and report
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    The 2025 Post-Conference Report, Valuing Reconciliation in Global Markets, captures the key insights, lessons, and leadership shared by more than 1,800 delegates at FNMPC’s 8th Annual Conference. The report highlights how First Nations are shaping Canada’s economic future through equity ownership, export infrastructure, global investment partnerships, and strong governance. Drawing on perspectives from First Nations leaders, corporate partners, global investors, and government representatives, it offers a clear view of the opportunities and challenges ahead as Indigenous participation becomes central to major project development across Canada.

  • The VRGM Primer
    The VRGM Primer
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    Your essential preview of what’s ahead at #FNMPC2025, this exclusive guide dives deep into the partnerships, perspectives, and principles behind this year’s powerful lineup of keynotes and panels.

    Gain early insight into the expert contributions shaping this year’s agenda, offering delegates a deeper understanding of the keynote addresses, panel discussions, and innovative models that will define the conversations at the conference.

  • OCA Findings and Report
    OCA Findings and Report
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    From upcoming investment opportunities for First Nations, to the launch of new resources developed specifically to support capacity for Indigenous nations — The OCA Findings and Report delves into expert knowledge, experieThe 2025 Post-Conference Report, Valuing Reconciliation in Global Markets, captures the key insights, lessons, and leadership shared by more than 1,800 delegates at FNMPC’s 8th Annual Conference. The report highlights how First Nations are shaping Canada’s economic future through equity ownership, export infrastructure, global investment partnerships, and strong governance. Drawing on perspectives from First Nations leaders, corporate partners, global investors, and government representatives, it offers a clear view of the opportunities and challenges ahead as Indigenous participation becomes central to major project development across Canada.nces, and insights collected from the 7th Annual FNMPC Conference. the overall conference narrative of Indigenous consent bringing a competitive advantage demonstrated that Indigenous nations are poised to be at the helm of Canada’s current and future major projects.

  • Our Collective Advantage Conference Primer
    Our Collective Advantage Conference Primer
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    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.

  • THE VALUES DRIVEn ECONOMY POST CONFERENCE REPORT
    THE VALUES DRIVEn ECONOMY POST CONFERENCE REPORT
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    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.

  • TVDE 2023 Conference Primer
    TVDE 2023 Conference Primer
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    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.

  • TOWARD NET ZERO BY 2050 POST-CONFERENCE REPORT
    TOWARD NET ZERO BY 2050 POST-CONFERENCE REPORT
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    “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.

  • 2022 Event Primer
    2022 Event Primer
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    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.

Roundtable Papers

As part of FNMPC’s work to advance our members interests in strategic areas of opportunity and challenge, FNMPC uses its convening power to host issue-specific roundtables. These reports capture the dialogue and outcomes of each event.

  • CRITICAL MINERAL ROUNDTABLES
    CRITICAL MINERAL ROUNDTABLES
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    The First Nations Major Project Coalition held two Critical Mineral Roundtables, the first in Vancouver (October 25, 2022) and the second in Toronto (February 7, 2023). For these two roundtables, the (FNMPC) convened experts from First Nations, the private sector, and the public sector to discuss and demonstrate how inclusion of First Nations partnerships and values in critical battery mineral supply will be the key to Canada’s participation in the net zero transition.

    The main emergent concepts and insights provided by attendees outlined in this document are:

    • Part 1: Critical Mineral Supply in Canada
    • Part 2: First Nations at the Centre of Building Canada’s Critical Mineral Supply
    • Part 3: Meeting both First Nations’ Goals and Canada’s Goals

    These two roundtables and this resulting report are a part of addressing the issues and challenges identified in the build out of critical mineral supply in Canada, and to support First Nations, industry, and governments creating a constructive path toward successful critical mineral supply and value chains and getting at the main question of: how do all parties identify, define, and respectfully centre Indigenous values in a critical mineral project?

  • NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON INDIGENOUS ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN CANADA
    NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON INDIGENOUS ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN CANADA
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    Natural Resources Canada has convened the National Roundtable on Indigenous Access to Capital on April 27, 2022 in Vancouver, BC to discuss challenges and possible solutions to addressing Canada’s waning competitiveness in the natural resource and infrastructure sectors and to develop Indigenous economic prosperity. This primer was commissioned jointly by FNMPC and BCBC in advance of the roundtable.

    The main emergent concepts and insights provided by attendees outlined in this document are:

    • Part 1: Critical Mineral Supply in Canada
    • Part 2: First Nations at the Centre of Building Canada’s Critical Mineral Supply
    • Part 3: Meeting both First Nations’ Goals and Canada’s Goals
  • Primer on Nuclear energy, smrs, and First nations
    Primer on Nuclear energy, smrs, and First nations
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    Canada is at the forefront of this re-emergence of interest in nuclear energy. It boasts a number of first-of-a-kind advanced reactors being developed for use domestically, alongside efforts to earn global market share in uranium fuel, nuclear engineering, advanced manufacturing and other services. The continued success of the nuclear industry in Canada depends not only on growing public acceptance of this type of energy, but also early and meaningful engagement of Indigenous nations.

    This is a primer to the National First Nations Small Modular Reactor Roundtable that was convened by the First Nations Major Projects Coalition on November 28, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario.

Policy & Research papers

FNMPC conducts research on issues critical to our members in a variety of topic areas including: access to capital, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and best practices to promote the inclusion of First Nations as partners in major projects

Electricity Infrastructure

Electricity infrastructure represents a large area of opportunity and involvement for our First Nation members. FNMPC has conducted research in this area to pull together examples of Indigenous led and Indigenous partnered electricity projects from within Canada and around the globe.

  • First Nations Participation and Ownership in the growing calls for new electricity generation across Canada
    First Nations Participation and Ownership in the growing calls for new electricity generation across Canada
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    First Nations are increasingly leading in and participating as owners of electrical power generation projects. This participation motivated by numerous factors, including First Nations’ self-determination, energy sovereignty, and economic development independence.

    This FNMPC paper is an introduction for First Nations interested in exploring possibilities accompanying current and upcoming calls for power.

  • indigenous utilities: The building of Indigenous-owned electrical utilities in canada
    indigenous utilities: The building of Indigenous-owned electrical utilities in canada
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    The Indigenous Utilities Paper: The Building of Indigenous-Owned Electrical Utilities in Canada, takes the pulse of Indigenous utilities on both sides of the Canada-US border. Drawing on insights from existing Indigenous-owned utilities and other field experts, it explores why Indigenous nations may form a utility, a range of possible Indigenous utility models, as well as what the barriers, challenges and risks may be.

  • National Indigenous electrification strategy
    National Indigenous electrification strategy
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    This National Indigenous Electrification Strategy prioritizes the role of Indigenous nations at the forefront of the expansion and decarbonization of Canada electricity grid, including power generation, transmission, storage, and distribution capacity.

  • REgulated Electricity in Canada: What do First Nations need to know?
    REgulated Electricity in Canada: What do First Nations need to know?
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  • The Role of Indigenous People in Major Project Development
    The Role of Indigenous People in Major Project Development
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    Part I – Paths for Indigenous Participation in Electricity Infrastructure

  • The Role of Indigenous People in Major Project Development
    The Role of Indigenous People in Major Project Development
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    Part II – Indigenous Ownership of Electricity Infrastructure: A Case Study

  • WHAT DOES BC HYDRO’S CALL FOR POWER MEAN FOR FIRST NATIONS IN BC?
    WHAT DOES BC HYDRO’S CALL FOR POWER MEAN FOR FIRST NATIONS IN BC?
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    This document is an information brief produced by the First Nations Major Projects Coalition on the recent 2023 Call for Power announced by the Government of British Columbia. This document provides a baseline of information about the Call for Power and how it is relevant to BC First Nations’ interests. This information brief outlines questions that BC First Nations may consider asking BC Hydro during their First Nations engagements sessions about the Call for Power.

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