Indigenous Ownership in Saskatchewan's Power Sector
- IEM
- Nov 26
- 5 min read
Saskatchewan is quietly becoming an important player in Indigenous participation and ownership within Canada’s power sector. While the province’s electricity system has historically been dominated by a vertically integrated Crown utility, recent policy shifts, new procurement models, and strengthened partnerships with Indigenous organizations are opening meaningful pathways for Indigenous equity ownership in energy projects.
As Saskatchewan faces rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth, electrification, and the need to replace aging generation, Indigenous communities are increasingly positioned to shape the province’s energy future. Supported by organizations such as the First Nations Power Authority, Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation, and the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence, Indigenous-owned and co-owned projects are gaining momentum across the province. In response, IEM prepared this article to examine the evolving landscape of Indigenous participation and ownership in Saskatchewan’s power sector.
Saskatchewan's Grid at a Glance
SaskPower is the provincial Crown corporation responsible for generating and delivering electricity across the province. Saskatchewan has an estimated 5,973 megawatts (MW) of installed electricity generation capacity and relies primarily on natural gas and coal generation (SaskPower). SaskPower owns its own generating facilities and buys power from independent producers through power purchase agreements and request-for-proposal processes.
Many remote communities also generate power locally or rely on micro-grids. Some large power consumers also strike direct power purchase agreements with independent power producers.
Indigenous Ownership Landscape
Saskatchewan is currently home to 34 power and utility projects over 0.5 MW across various stages of development that have Indigenous equity ownership. All data is sourced from our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT).
Indigenous-Owned Projects by Type in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Indigenous-Owned Projects Insights:
Most of the projects are solar farms.
Most of the projects are either majority or wholly-owned by Indigenous communities.
Project sizes range from 0.5 MW - 252 MW.
29 Saskatchewan Indigenous communities and organizations hold equity ownership stakes.
Most of the projects are currently in development.
This growing portfolio not only reflects the growing demand for energy in Saskatchewan, but also deeper commitments toward reconciliation and energy sovereignty.
Case Studies
The following projects are some examples of operating Indigenous-owned power & utility projects in Saskatchewan:
⚡Awasis Solar Project
10 MW solar project located near Regina, SK
Owned by Awasis Solar LP (Elemental Energy and Cowessess First Nation)
95% Indigenous-owned
Operating since 2022
Government funding programs utilized
⚡Wicehtowak Solar Project
32 MW solar project near Bethune Potash Mine, SK
Owned by George Gordon First Nation
100% Indigenous-owned
Under construction
⚡Seven Stars Energy Project
200 MW wind project located near Weyburn, SK
Owned byEnbridge and Six Nations Energy Development LP, a consortium of 6 Saskatchewan Indigenous communities
30% Indigenous-owned
In development
All data is sourced from our IEOT.
Indigenous Energy Institutions in Saskatchewan
Indigenous participation in Saskatchewan’s power sector is supported by a strong and growing institutional ecosystem, led by the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (FNCOE), and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation (SIIFC).
FNPA provides a direct pathway for First Nations to develop, own, and supply power to the provincial grid. By partnering with SaskPower and private developers, FNPA helps communities advance renewable projects, secure long-term agreements, and build technical and economic capacity.
FNCOE, owned by the 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, supports broader resource-sector participation. Its 2025 MOU with SaskPower commits both organizations to expanding Indigenous equity ownership, workforce development, and procurement opportunities across the power sector.
SIIFC strengthens these efforts by offering loan guarantees to support Indigenous equity investments in major projects, including clean energy, enabling communities to participate at meaningful ownership levels without taking on disproportionate financial risk.
Together, FNPA, FNCOE, and SIIFC form a coordinated institutional framework that is rapidly expanding Indigenous-led and co-owned energy projects across Saskatchewan.
Benefits of Ownership
Equity ownership provides long-term, community-led value well beyond one-time agreements or impact benefits. Key benefits include:
Revenue Generation: Long-term, stable income through equity agreements that last the full project lifecycle (often 25–40 years), supporting economic independence.
Local Jobs and Capacity Building: Employment opportunities during construction and operations, with longer-term roles in governance, asset management, and administration. Projects also support skills training, business development, and community capacity.
Control and Stewardship: Indigenous ownership enables Indigenous communities to embed cultural values and traditional knowledge into project design, environmental monitoring, and land use planning.
Reinvestment in Community Priorities: Revenues are often redirected to housing, education, health care, youth programs, language revitalization, and infrastructure, enabling self-determined development at the community level.
Challenges and Evolving Landscape
Despite strong momentum, Indigenous communities still face structural and systemic challenges in developing and owning energy projects:
Regulatory Complexity: Environmental assessments, permitting, land access, and alignment with provincial and federal processes can be resource-intensive.
Interconnection and Transmission Constraints: Many energy opportunities are located in remote or underserved regions where Saskatchewan's grid lacks sufficient infrastructure to connect new projects.
Access to Capital: Equity investments require upfront capital that many communities cannot access without external loan guarantees or blended financing tools. Even with federal and provincial supports, not all communities are positioned to participate equally.
The Future of Indigenous Power in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is entering a new phase of Indigenous participation and ownership in the power sector. While the province’s electricity system has traditionally been dominated by a Crown utility, recent procurement reforms, strengthened partnerships with Indigenous institutions, and growing demand for clean energy have opened meaningful pathways for Indigenous equity in upcoming projects. First Nations across Saskatchewan are now forming partnerships, pursuing majority ownership opportunities, and taking on more active roles in project governance and long-term operations.
With increased policy support, improved access to capital, and developers seeking Indigenous-led equity models, this momentum is expected to accelerate. Looking ahead, Indigenous ownership is poised to become a defining feature of Saskatchewan’s power sector.
How IEM is Supporting Transparency
We’re actively tracking Indigenous participation in Canada’s growing energy sector as part of our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT). The IEOT is currently tracking over 480 Indigenous-owned projects across 5 sectors - oil & gas, power & utilities, chemicals & fuel, CCUS, and mining & minerals.
By centralizing and visualizing ownership data, we help communities, developers, and policymakers:
Identify where Indigenous equity is being deployed
Benchmark successful ownership models
Understand trends across regions and sectors
Discover funding sources that get projects built
Build partnerships based on evidence
And so much more
🔗Discover the IEOT Tool Here: https://www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca/ieot
Stay Informed, Get Involved
Whether you’re an Indigenous economic development group, a project developer, a researcher, or a polciy maker, IEM's transparency and data are essential.
🔗 Explore our solutions: www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca
📩 Contact us: info@indigenousenergymonitor.ca
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