Towards First Nations energy self-sufficiency: Analyzing the renewable energy partnership between T'sou-ke Nation and Skidegate Band.

First Nations communities, especially in remote areas, face economic, social, and environmental challenges that threaten their future sustainability. One avenue to enhance sustainability is to achieve energy self-sufficiency. The T'Sou-ke Nation on Vancouver Island, British Columbia is on the road to achieving this. In 2009, they successfully completed a Solar Community Project, which brought numerous benefits to the community and attracted the attention of other First Nations, including the remote First Nation of Skidegate in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Thereafter, Skidegate developed a unique partnership with T'Sou-ke Nation in 2010 in which T'Sou-ke became a solar mentor to Skidegate. My research evaluated whether this partnership was successful. I assessed the technical (applicability of the T'Sou-ke Solar Community Project to meet Skidegate's energy needs) and social (strength of the relationship) elements of success. Overall, the partnership was deemed highly successful by all parties. I also identified determinants of success that may be useful in creating other First Nations-to-First Nations partnerships for renewable energy development. --P. ii.