CIER and The LEAP Group officially welcome the Thebacha Leadership Council to the Energy InSites program.
The Thebacha Leadership Council (TLC) is comprised of elected leaders from Salt River First Nation, Tthebatthie Denesuline Nation, Fort Smith Métis Council, the Town of Fort Smith, and the Government of Northwest Territories (represented by the MLA for Thebacha). The TLC was formed through CIER’s Collaborative Leadership Initiative (CLI).
On June 21, 2024, the TLC signed a historic Memorandum of Agreement, formalizing the leaders’ commitments to collaborative governance of shared priorities including the stewardship of lands and waters, and enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of the Thebacha community. The CLI helped create the conditions for trust, shared decision-making, and aligned leadership.
As a result of the commitment to the work in the CLI, the TLC is well-positioned to benefit from the Energy InSites program, demonstrating the power of collaboration in action: When leaders commit to working together, new opportunities follow.
By joining the Energy InSites program, the TLC continues its commitment to collaborative leadership by expanding its focus to energy efficiency, building retrofits and strategic planning of community infrastructure upgrades. The Energy InSites team will conduct energy assessments on major public buildings in all four TLC communities, develop detailed building upgrade plans, support funding and financing applications, and provide community-specific capacity building activities.
In alignment with Energy InSites objectives, three one-year term positions are created within the TLC communities, including two youth positions, enabling talented locals to pursue meaningful employment that enhances support for broader community objectives.
When collaborative governance creates the foundation, communities are ready to seize opportunities. Energy InSites is the next chapter in the TLC’s journey, demonstrating how collaborative partnerships lead to practical, lasting impact.
