Freddie Huppé Campbell (she/they) is a Michif, Two-Spirit person and the director of energy and climate at Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) in Canada where she leads their national and global programming. She has been with ICE since 2020, devoted to supporting Indigenous and community-led approaches to clean energy both locally and around the world. Reflecting on her recent co-authorship with IISD of a policy brief about the implementation of Canada’s sustainable jobs programming, we spoke to her about the Indigenous values in just energy transition (JET).

Just Transition to Clean Energy

How do you define a JET?

A JET means understanding the extractive and harmful approaches the fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors have taken historically. A JET should offer justice in the form of equity and rights. The term is difficult to define because the concepts that a JET aims to uphold are inherently diverse across different Indigenous communities. There are hundreds of Indigenous Nations in so-called Canada, with distinctive histories, languages, cultures, and practices. This means that JET definitions and processes need to be defined and led by the Indigenous communities they are impacting.

How has the history of energy colonialism driven Indigenous Peoples to take initiative in the JET in Canada?

Historically, energy in this country has been used as a mechanism of control through systemic forms of oppression and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples. Energy was, and continues to be, a system that is inequitable and reliant on the exploitation of Mother Earth. The energy systems that were built for this “country” focused on urban communities. There remain over 170 remote Indigenous Nations in Canada that do not have access to safe, reliable, or affordable energy. This is not energy justice. For decades, Indigenous Nations have been fighting for the right to self-determination and sovereignty. This extends past human rights and into the protection of the Earth and all beings within it. There are many different reasons folks get involved in JET work, and the renewable energy transition offers an opportunity to do things differently. A JET should enable pathways for communities to take control of energy sources, reduce costs, and explore options for cleaner, more reliable, and more sustainable forms of energy.

Historically, energy in this country has been used as a mechanism of control through systemic forms of oppression and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Values in JET

How do Indigenous perspectives on the environment and communities foster a sustainable JET?

Indigenous Nations across the world hold centuries of knowledge on how to care for and sustain Mother Earth and the beings within it. This planet’s resources are finite, and humans must take a multi-generational approach to conserve that which keeps us alive. “What we take away, we have to put back” is incompatible with capitalism and mass consumption. Rather than individualism, a collective approach should be taken to ensure accountability for actions that have impacts on other beings and on future generations. This sense of collective community reinforces the inclusiveness and sustainability of the JET.

What is important to consider when implementing a JET that upholds Indigenous values?

We need to be intentional when implementing a JET. The concept of a “just transition” risks becoming a buzzword, frequently used by governments and companies without a genuine understanding of what it means to the Indigenous communities that are most affected by such a transition. Therefore, it is essential to intentionally incorporate Indigenous values into the JET. There has been an increase in Indigenous “engagement” surrounding energy policies and programmes; however, the impact these sessions have had on actions is debateable. There is still only minimal involvement of Indigenous folks in the design process of energy policies and programmes, in addition to a lack of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) or Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Calls to Action being embedded. There are many examples of Indigenous-led just energy practices that exist throughout the world; for example, ancestral mining practices demonstrate a sustainable approach to resource extraction, taking only what is needed and avoiding complete depletion. There are also thousands of community-led clean energy projects across the world that are demonstrative of more just approaches to the energy transition.

Youth Involvement and Intersectionality

How do young people play a pivotal role in advancing a JET through ICE’s youth-oriented programmes?

Indigenous youth are visioners, and they are making waves in countless areas of practice. ICE has two youth-specific clean energy capacity-building programmes and offers training to youth through other programming too. ImaGENation participants are leading connective and innovative clean energy projects that extend to food sovereignty and community care. Some examples of these projects are: community greenhouses (some with solar and hydroponics); retrofitting existing buildings to reduce energy costs; tiny homes to support more affordable housing; and micro wind projects for telecommunications. Generation Power participants are excelling in a variety of clean energy career paths and finding new ways of implementing the JET that ensure Indigenous sovereignty. That being said, I also think it’s important to have intergenerational connections in a supported way with our Elders, whose sacrifices allowed us to speak freely about the “radical” ideas of reasserting our Indigenous autonomy.

How is gender equity reflected in a JET in Indigenous communities?

Human rights and equity under a JET extend beyond race and age to include factors such as gender, sexuality, class, and ableness, all of which require attention. That’s why taking an intersectional approach to this work is so important and necessary. And when it comes to gender specifically, many things, such as unequal pay and access to training, need to be addressed.

We have to create opportunities for everybody, and this takes time. We need inclusive and equitable design in programmes, policies, systems, and spaces, and this process should include the groups they intend to support. For example, when it comes to community events or activities, we work to ensure everyone in the community can attend if they want to — i.e., the space is accessible; information about the event is shared through multiple media (radio, newspapers, social media, community centres, posters, word of mouth, etc.); there are Elders and/or healers present in the space; kids are welcome; there are wrap-around supports; and there is food. There is never going to be a one-size-fits-all approach to this work, and usually we cannot prepare for what will happen in reality. The important thing is to show up with care, adaptability, and a desire to work and act collectively.

Mariko Yamada holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Smith College, a private liberal arts women’s college in the U.S.. In 2024, she worked as an intern at the International Institute for Sustainable Development supporting the Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions Knowledge Hub.