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OPINION: If Canada is going nuclear, First Nations must be at the table

What made this notable was not only the scale of the project but the role that Indigenous leadership played in shaping it.

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Last month, Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce announced an agreement between Ontario Power Generation and the Municipality of Port Hope to advance the Wesleyville site, a project the province has described as one of the world’s largest nuclear generating stations. The announcement reflects how quickly nuclear investment is moving in Canada as provinces advance new energy projects to meet rising demand.

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As those decisions accelerate, it matters who is at the table while these projects are being defined.

OPINION: If Canada is going nuclear, First Nations must be at the table Back to video

Last fall, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the township of Ignace were selected as the host area for Canada’s deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel. The site was selected by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization after a decade-long, voluntary process, marking one of the most consequential choices Canada has made in the nuclear sector in a generation.

What made this notable was not only the scale of the project but the role that Indigenous leadership played in shaping it.

Engaged in project lifecycles

A First Nation was part of the decision itself, at the centre of a project that will define nuclear policy and stewardship in Canada for decades.

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A broader shift is underway. As nuclear development expands, First Nations and First Nations-led organizations are engaging across the full lifecycle of projects, from early planning through long-term stewardship.

Across Canada, First Nations are approaching governments, utilities and developers to discuss equity agreements and participation in projects that will operate for decades. Ontario is advancing both large-scale nuclear expansion and small modular reactor (SMR) development alongside refurbishment of its existing fleet, while New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are also moving SMR projects ahead.

The urgency behind these decisions is being driven in part by demand that did not exist even a decade ago. Demand from data centres supporting cloud computing and AI is expanding rapidly across Canada, drawn by access to clean, reliable power. These facilities operate continuously and require electricity that intermittent sources cannot provide on their own. Nuclear power has become central to long-term electricity planning.

In New Brunswick, First Nations represented by the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council have entered into equity agreements with companies developing SMR technology, placing ownership at the forefront of project planning. In Saskatchewan, Indigenous-owned enterprises, including Kitsaki Management, Athabasca Basin Development and Des Nedhe Group, have signed memorandums of understanding focused on collaboration and potential investment in SMR development. These agreements bring Indigenous businesses into projects while ownership and governance models are still being shaped.

Long-term stewardship

Indigenous participation is also extending into nuclear-related industries, like Saugeen Ojibway Nation in Ontario’s partnership with Bruce Power on medical isotope production.

These examples matter because nuclear projects are fundamentally different from short-cycle infrastructure. These projects operate over decades, shaping regional economies long after governments change. Decisions made early about ownership and governance tend to endure.

First Nations are particularly well-positioned for this kind of long-term stewardship. Many have built the capacity to own and manage major infrastructure. They are already equity partners in major projects like transmission projects, roads and ports. These are serious investments involving capital at risk and long-term accountability.

Nuclear power fits that model because it is highly regulated and designed to deliver stable returns over long horizons, supporting skilled employment and predictable revenue. Yet Indigenous ownership in nuclear is still limited and projects that proceed without shared ownership and governance often face greater challenges over time. Projects built with Indigenous partners from the beginning tend to be more resilient because they reflect local priorities and long-term commitment.

Canada is entering a decisive period in nuclear development. First Nations are demonstrating clearly that they want to participate as partners and owners in projects that will shape our country’s energy future. The remaining question is whether Canada’s institutions and governments are prepared to embed that leadership across the entire nuclear lifecycle, rather than only at the margins of it.

Michael Fox is from Weenusk First Nation and is the president and CEO of Indigenous & Community Engagement

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