Our partners
Our approach to partnerships
Indigenous Power Coalition is an Indigenous-led organization supported by a team of diverse experts. Founded by Indigenous energy sector experts, the Coalition maximizes its impact by collaborating with a range of advisors and partners.
Indigenous Power Coalition brings together specialized experts and advisors who share the Coalition’s commitment to advancing Indigenous leadership and self-determination and can offer access to essential data, insights, connections and other resources that can support Indigenous-led projects.
Our founders
Kwatuuma Cole Sayers
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Kwatuuma Cole Sayers is a member of the Hupačasath Nation. He embodies the principles of hišimłuwa (working together as a group) and ʔiisaak (respect) as guiding principles to address the climate crisis and build a clean energy future.
He is an experienced clean energy leader known for skillfully engaging and assisting Indigenous Nations and organizations in navigating the energy transition and creating opportunities in clean energy and technology. Kwatuuma is a powerful advocate for First Nations-led and partnered projects, and for innovative policies that advance reconciliation, achieve climate targets, and foster sustainable economic growth. He was previously the Executive Director of Clean Energy Association of British Columbia.
Kwatuuma has led funding initiatives, such as the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, which supports Indigenous Nations clean energy development. He is particularly skilled at building strong relationships with government, Indigenous Nations, and industry stakeholders and is committed to working with these groups to support sustainable, economic growth in the clean energy industry.
He is a powerful advocate for First Nations-led and partnered projects, and for innovative policies that advance reconciliation, achieve climate targets, and foster sustainable economic growth.
Blaise Fontaine
Co-Founder and Indigenous Engagement Director
Blaise Fontaine is an award-winning Indigenous and public engagement professional. She is the Director of Engagement and co-founder of ProACTIVE Planning and started her career in Indigenous and Community Engagement 17 years ago.
Guided by ancestral teachings of connection and kinship, Blaise insists on treating all communities as if they were her own by bringing honesty, respect, and prosperity at every turn in her work. Blaise’s intentional methodology for working on energy projects is premised on Indigenous self-determination and advancing the priorities and interests of Indigenous Nations.
She regularly advises clients on emerging best practices on equity partnerships, and ensuring that Indigenous Nations and homelands are treated with respect. Blaise works with her clients and Indigenous Nations on all aspects of energy infrastructure projects, from early planning and relationship building, to community investment and corporate social responsibility, to procurement strategies and reconciliation action plans, capacity building initiatives, regulatory consultation, and mutual benefit agreement implementation.
Our advisors
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Dr. Blake Shaffer
University of Calgary
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Dr. Madeleine McPherson
University of Victoria
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Dr. Sue von der Porten
First Nations Major Projects Coalition
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Evan Wilson
Electrifying Canada
Our partners
Our funders
