KITAMAAT VILLAGE, B.C. – From the sidelines of industrial development to the driver’s seat of a multi-billion-dollar energy project, the Haisla Nation is providing a powerful model for Indigenous-led economic development in Canada.
In a recent interview, the Haisla Nation’s Chief Councillor detailed the Nation’s journey to becoming the majority owner of the Cedar LNG project, a floating liquefied natural gas export facility being built in their territory. The story is one of strategic vision, resilience, and a deep desire to build self-sufficiency for future generations.
“Our involvement in economic development started with a desire to no longer sit on the sidelines,” the Chief Councillor explained. For decades, major projects were built in Haisla territory without their consent or benefit, leaving their people in poverty while others gained generational wealth.
The turning point, she said, came when the Nation’s leadership began to leverage Aboriginal rights and title case law to assert their place in decision-making. This legal grounding allowed them to move from being passive observers to active partners.
The partnership on the Coastal GasLink pipeline, she noted, evolved into the Haisla’s own landmark project: Cedar LNG.
A key concern for the community was always the environment. To address this, the Nation relied on its own experts to review and explain technical information in a way members could trust, ensuring the project was evaluated on their own terms.
The revenues from these partnerships are already transforming the community. The Chief Councillor highlighted the creation of a new, self-funded cultural and language department employing 20 people, the construction of a 23-unit affordable housing complex, and the opening of the community’s first proper youth centre.
The path wasn’t without challenges. The Haisla faced heavy criticism and a “deeply felt” backlash from other Indigenous communities during the Coastal GasLink protests for supporting the project. She said the Nation navigated this difficult period by focusing on their long-term vision and maintaining open communication with their members.
The lesson for Canada, she says, is clear: “When Indigenous communities are included in economic development, the whole region prospers.”
“Respect our ability to lead,” she concluded. “Give us the room to shape our future on our own terms — because we’re doing it, and it’s working.”
