Indigenous Opportunities
We work with Indigenous-owned businesses
Indigenous-owned businesses are a major part of Canada’s oil and gas industry. Oil sands producers have spent more than $5.9 billion with Indigenous businesses since 2017. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project alone spent more than $2 billion with Indigenous companies just in 2022.
Together, three projects – the Trans Mountain Expansion, LNG Canada, and Coastal GasLink – have spent approximately $9 billion with Indigenous-owned and local businesses.
Since 2014, Indigenous employment in Canada’s oil and gas sector has increased by more than 20 per cent, reaching an estimated 10,400 jobs in 2020.
Photo courtesy Backwoods Energy Services
Building lasting partnerships with communities
Our industry also works closely – and successfully – with Indigenous communities throughout Western Canada and beyond. In B.C., 40 out of 41 First Nations who are involved in the natural gas industry are in favour of development.
Indigenous communities are owners and investors in several current and proposed oil and gas projects. In B.C., the Haisla and Nisga'a Nations are lead investors in major proposed LNG projects, and 16 First Nations have agreed to become 10% owners in the Coastal GasLink pipeline. In Alberta, 23 Indigenous communities own a nearly 12 per cent stake in seven operating oil sands pipelines. Six First Nations have an equity stake in a major new natural-gas power plant. And there are at least 3 Indigenous groups negotiating an ownership stake in the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
We're building lasting projects with lasting benefits for entire communities. Projects like the proposed Wabamun Carbon Hub and Wolf Midstream Sequestration Hub. Facilities that could provide steady employment – and huge environmental benefits – for decades to come.
Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation
Coastal Gas Link
This major natural gas pipeline project, spanning across Northern BC, has benefit agreements with all 20 elected First Nations governments along the route. And 16 of those communities are set to share an historic 10 per cent ownership stake. Once complete, Coastal GasLink will provide Canada with the long-awaited and much-needed opportunity to export liquefied natural gas to Asia, where it can help reduce dependence on coal-fired electricity.
By the Numbers
In 2020 there were 10,400 Indigenous people employed in Canada’s oil and gas industry, a 20% increase from 2014.
Together, three projects – the Trans Mountain Expansion, Coastal GasLink, and LNG Canada – have spent approximately $9 billion with Indigenous-owned and local businesses.
The Trans Mountain Expansion has signed mutual benefit agreements with 69 Indigenous communities worth over $650 million
16 Indigenous communities have signed agreements to become 10% owners of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline