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- Shaun Nanan
Youth Voices Lead the Way at 2025 First Nations Energy & Natural Resource Forum
From May 27 to 29, 2025, the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence hosted a groundbreaking event—the inaugural Saskatchewan First Nations Energy and Natural Resource Forum & Leadership Summit in Saskatoon, Treaty 6 Territory. With the theme “Tradition to Transition: Empowering Our Energy Future,” this annual forum brought together Indigenous leaders, youth, industry experts, and educators to discuss sustainable pathways for energy and natural resource development.
The summit launched with a full-day Youth Summit on May 27, 2025 designed to inspire and engage young Indigenous leaders across Saskatchewan. Each of the province’s 74 First Nations nominated two youth to attend. The students dove into a day filled with hands-on learning, breakout sessions, and future-focused dialogue.
The morning began with a traditional opening prayer followed by breakfast and a dynamic session on Energy Fundamentals, led by professionals from Kinectrics. These sessions laid a foundation for critical conversations around clean energy, environmental services, and Indigenous engagement.
“Your voice is critical in terms of our future,” stated Sheldon Wuttunee, President and CEO of the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence. “We want to leave a legacy for you to build on, not to repair. If we can do that, together, at an event like this, it builds relationships for the long term – that’s the key.”
A highlight of the day was the lively trade shows, where organizations and institutions showcased career paths, tools, and innovations related to energy and natural resources. One exhibitor was Nanan STEM Academy, a leading educational company known for its First Nations Family STEM Program. Nanan Academy has been empowering Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan by providing culturally relevant, hands-on STEM learning opportunities.
At their booth, students engaged in interactive activities in coding, robotics, and programming a drone. A particularly popular feature was the demonstration of “Tânisi: âcimowin,” a web app developed by Saskatchewan Polytechnic students. The app supports Indigenous language learning and reflects a strong collaboration between Indigenous knowledge keepers and young developers. The Nanan Academy booth attracted large crowds throughout the day, with many youth expressing excitement about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education that honours both technology and tradition.
Kinectrics and the Saskatchewan Mining Association also delivered specialized learning sessions on Mining and Critical Minerals, helping youth understand how these vital resources intersect with Indigenous land stewardship and sovereignty.
A keynote address by The Mosaic Company reinforced the importance of investing in youth and fostering Indigenous leadership in energy development. In the afternoon, students participated in youth-led breakout sessions, focusing on:
- Nuclear Siting – Examining Indigenous perspectives on nuclear development.
- Energy Planning – Envisioning local energy futures led by Indigenous communities.
- Critical Minerals and Mining – Balancing economic opportunity with environmental and cultural considerations.
- Energy, Climate, and Wellbeing – Exploring how energy systems affect the land, people, and health.
An engaging ‘Fireside Chat’ featured inspiring leaders including Kal Ledoux (Pisim Power) and Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias (Indigenous Clean Energy), who encouraged students to get involved in shaping their future. The day concluded with a moderated discussion among FSIN Youth Chiefs, who gathered insights from the Summit to share during the Leadership address the following day.
Following the Youth Summit, the Leadership Summit on May 28th and 29th convened First Nations Chiefs, government leaders, and industry representatives to strengthen equity ownership, foster environmental stewardship, and build strategic alliances in energy development.
