projects (Government of Canada, 2026). In other instances, mining projects are offering loans and grants directly. In Canada - although we are noticing the same trend in other jurisdictions - it is near impossible for any major energy, mining, or infrastructure projects to be successfully developed today without securing support and FPIC from affected Indigenous Peoples. To secure that support, more Indigenous Peoples are interested in becoming equity partners in those projects, and more project proponents are interested in partnering with such Indigenous Nations to co-create shared value, provide project certainty, and manage risks and opportunities (Fasken, 2023). Canada Nickel has converted its Indigenous partnership with the Taykwa Tagamou Nation into a competitive advantage. This Nation has a $20 million equity investment in the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project, becoming the first Indigenous Nation to secure an equity stake in a critical minerals project of this magnitude in Canada. This investment also gives the Nation the right to appoint a director to Canada’s Nickel’s Board, creating direct Indigenous representation in corporate governance and decisions. (Canada Nickel, 2026). In the Southern Hemisphere, we are starting to see arrangements where global mining companies are offering similar partnership opportunities. Wealth Minerals has taken a more collaborative step by granting the Quechua Community of Ollagüe 5% ownership stake in its Kuska lithium Project (Wealth Minerals Ltd., 2026). Indigenous Nations and groups are also forming alliances and partnerships among themselves to build capacity, amplify their voices and advocate for their interests, share experiences, and accelerate and assert Indigenous leadership in major projects and community development. In Canada, we have seen the creation of the following organizations, each of them with a specific mandate: ● Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses (CCIB), ● Indspire, ● First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC), ● First Nations Procurement Organization (FNPO) ● First Nation Finance Authority (FNFA) ● First Nation Financial Management Board (FNFMB) ● National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA)\ ● National Aboriginal Trust Operators Association (NATOA). 89
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