Join the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions for an inspiring online session where Indigenous professionals and youth leaders share their journeys and insights into clean energy careers and projects. This webinar is part of the Indigenous Youth Engagement Initiative and is open to Indigenous youth ages 16–30 from across British Columbia. Learn about exciting opportunities, hear stories of leadership and innovation, and get inspired to shape your future in the clean energy sector.

Register today

Speakers:

Janna Wale– Indigenous Research and Partnerships Lead, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

• Janna Wale is Gitxsan from Gitanmaax First Nation and is also Cree-Métis on her mother’s side. Where possible, Wale uses a complex human-environmental systems approach and believes that this lens can be used when looking for ways to bridge western and Indigenous climate work.In 2025, Wale received the Women of Influence Nanaimo (WIN) Award for STEM. She was selected as a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainable Youth Leader in Canada by Corporate Knights in 2024. She was also a finalist for the Community Advocate of the year award through Foresight Canada and was selected for a Community Award – Emerging Leader through the B.C. Achievement foundation. In 2023, Wale was the recipient of the Anitra Paris Memorial Award for female youth climate leadership through Clean Energy BC. She has published two reports in collaboration with the Yellowhead Institute and was named as an Indigenous Trailblazer through Diversity in Sustainability.Wale holds a Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences (B. Nrsc.) from Thompson Rivers University, and a MSc in Sustainability from UBC Okanagan, where her work focused on climate resilience in Indigenous communities, using a seasonal rounds model.

David Benton– Clean Energy Lead for the Gitga’at First Nation

• David is the Clean Energy Lead for the Gitga’at First Nation where he has been affiliated since 1999. He was the village’s Health Director, Band Manager, general project manager and since 2008, their Clean Energy Champion. David led the original Gabion Hydroelectric Project to approved Development Plan and Conditional Water Licence. He is leading the community to finally build their ~1MW hydroelectric project to serve their off-grid needs via BC Hydro. As Project Manager, David works on ‘Green Projects’ primarily, including establishing the Gitga’at Power Project hydropower facility, assessing the Chute Lake hydrogen production capacity (Feasibility and FEED studies complete) and recently the heat pump project which installed heat pumps throughout Hartley Bay. He is GFN’s main contact for issues related to BC Hydro – the community’s electric service provider. David is an active contributor to the Provincial Remote Community Energy Strategy working group and recently helped form the First Nations Non-Integrated Area Working Group. He represents GFN as intervener at the BCUC.

Kwatuuma Cole Sayers– Executive Director of Clean Energy BC

• 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 First 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.