Energy for a Secure Future - Indigenous leaders call on G7 to make Canadian LNG a priority

4/5/2023

Ottawa, Canada, April 5, 2023

A group of Indigenous leaders, Advisory Council members of Energy for a Secure Future (ESF), is meeting with representatives of the Government of Canada, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and other senior members of the global diplomatic community, to build support among Group of Seven (G7) nations to prioritize the discussion of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) on the agenda of the upcoming G7 meeting on May 19th to 21st, 2023, in Hiroshima, Japan. 

Chief Councillor Crystal Smith of Haisla Nation, Karen Ogen CEO of First Nation LNG Alliance, John Desjarlais Executive Director of Indigenous Resource Network and Chief Billy Morin Managing Director of Axxcelus are sharing a message that Indigenous peoples are now proponents, owners, regulators, and partners of gas infrastructure projects in Canada and are positioned to help meet the energy, security, and environmental needs of the world. Indigenous involvement is de-risking projects and positioning Canada to play a greater energy security and global emissions reduction role. Canada playing this role will help reduce global emissions, create wealth and end poverty for Indigenous communities.

This outreach builds on the recent ESF publication Ownership and Beyond: HowIndigenous Peoples Are Shaping a More Secure Energy Future, which was released in early March 2023.

"Our communities are not separate from the world, what happens in Asia or Europe affects us - projects like Cedar LNG can offer a global emissions reduction solution. This will create positive benefits for the world and for our communities." 

- Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor, Haisla Nation

"Indigenous workers and businesses have a stake in the global energy conversation and are part of a new way of approaching energy development in Canada. Our nations are ready to work with Canada and our friends around the world to deliver solutions.” 

- John Desjarlais, Executive Director, Indigenous Resource Network 

"As countries seek to reduce emissions and enhance energy security by decreasing reliance on hostile global actors, Canadian LNG offers a solution - one that also advances reconciliation in Canada.

- Shannon Joseph, Chair, Energy for a Secure Future

For more information contact:
media@energysecurefuture.ca 

About Energy for a Secure Future
Energy for a Secure Future is a nonpartisan civil society initiative that brings together Canadian business leaders, Indigenous peoples, organizations, and experts in a new conversation about energy and building a secure future for Canada and our allies around
the world.