The Community Energy Association (CEA) commits to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation. As an organization, we support the Calls to Action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and recognize the importance of the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Through all the work we do to help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy and support community energy resilience, CEA will:
- Acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples have suffered under colonialization and that the intergenerational trauma of unjust colonial policies and practices continues to impact Indigenous Peoples and communities.
- Commit to learn and understand the history of Indigenous and settler relationships in this place we call Canada and ensure that those learnings inform CEA’s actions so that we can build new, stronger relationships with our Indigenous partners.
- Commit to seeking meaningful and sustained relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations based on good faith, shared goals, mutual respect, and equitable processes, plans, actions and partnerships.
- Invite Indigenous Communities to become members of CEA and commit to recruiting staff who identify as Indigenous.
- Commit to ensuring our work in Indigenous territories is respectful of those territories and its peoples. We will respectfully acknowledge the traditions and knowledge that has been passed down since time immemorial.
- Invite CEA’s members and CEA’s project partners in government, industry, education, the non-profit sector, and in the communities where we work, to join us in working to end the systemic inequities faced by Indigenous communities.
CEA's UNDRIP Foundation
Developed by CEA staff and endorsed by the Board of Directors in 2023, CEA’s UNDRIP Foundation document is based around key articles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and articulates how CEA will evolve its processes related to the built environment, transportation, engagement, and planning to support energy sovereignty and resilience in Indigenous communities.
In essence: The UNDRIP report supports CEA’s work with Indigenous communities and serves to connect our work on energy and climate with the goals of Indigenous communities on energy resiliency and sovereignty.
CEA’s UNDRIP Foundation is a living document and serves as the backbone for staff education and training. This has included training with CEA Elder-in-Residence Sqwayeten, an Elder from the Kwantlen Nation, on how to be allies and partners with Indigenous communities.
As CEA gains experience and knowledge, the UNDRIP document will be updated to reflect changing circumstances and aspirations.
