Backgrounder: Strengthening Indigenous participation in critical minerals development

On January 14, 2026, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, announced 14 projects under the Indigenous Grants stream of the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF), representing a total federal investment of over $850,000.

The CMIF supports the building and deployment of clean energy and transportation infrastructure that will enable the development and expansion of critical minerals in Canada. CMIF Indigenous Grants fund capacity building and knowledge gathering and sharing activities related to those projects.

Project name: Capacity Building for Clean Energy and Transportation Infrastructure for the Seabridge Gold KSM Project
Recipient: Treaty Creek Limited Partnership
Location: Northwest of Stewart, British Columbia
Funding amount: $150,000
Description: Treaty Creek Limited Partnership, a 50/50 limited partnership between the Tahltan Nation and the Nisga’a Nation, will engage with Seabridge and pursue and promote opportunities related to clean energy and transportation infrastructure to service the Seabridge KSM copper mining project.

Project name: Indigenous-Led Review of the Anyox Hydroelectric Dam Redevelopment Project Through Site Visits and Engagement
Recipient: Boney Creek Development Limited Partnership
Location: Anyox, British Columbia
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: Boney Creek Development Ltd., the economic development arm of the Laxgalts’ap Village Government, will conduct site visits and host community engagement to share project information and collect feedback about local perspectives on the Anyox Hydroelectric Dam redevelopment project that will potentially service the Seabridge KSM copper mining project and the Avanti Kitsault molybdenum mining project.

Project name: Electrofishing Training to Assess Impacts Related to the Proposed Transmission Line at the Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements Project
Recipient: McLeod Lake Indian Band
Location: Chetwynd, British Columbia
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The McLeod Lake Indian Band will undertake training on sampling methods that would inform the assessment of impacts to fish habitat resulting from a proposed transmission line that would power Defense Metals Corp.’s Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements mining project. The McLeod Lake Indian Band will work with the University of Northern British Columbia and a fisheries biologist to organize and deliver the training.

Project name: Strategic Planning for Clean Energy Infrastructure to Advance Critical Minerals Development
Recipient: Shoal Lake Cree Nation Wenotisiwin Development Corporation
Location: Wenotisiwin, Saskatchewan
Funding amount: $74,667
Description: SLCN Wenotisiwin Development Corporation, the economic development arm of Shoal Lake Cree Nation, will develop a strategic plan for advancing biomass clean energy infrastructure to facilitate critical mineral exploration and production within their traditional territory. The strategic plan will include engagement strategies to seek industry investment from critical mineral proponents.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek
Recipient: Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek
Location: Beardmore, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek (AZA) will form a projectpartnership and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for the proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade project (from 115 kV to 230 kV) in relation to the Rock Tech Georgia Lake lithium mining project and other lithium exploration projects in the region.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Aroland First Nation   
Recipient: Aroland First Nation
Location: Aroland, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The Aroland First Nation will form a project partnership and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for a proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade (from 115 kV to 230 kV) in relation to the Rock Tech Georgia Lake lithium mining project and other lithium exploration projects in the region.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek   
Recipient: Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
Location: Sand Point First Nation, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (BNA) will form a project partnership and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for a proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade (from 115 kV to 230 kV) in relation to lithium exploration projects as well as renewable energy opportunities in the region.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek   
Recipient: Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek
Location: Macdiarmid, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (BZA) will form a project partnership and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for a proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade (from 115 kV to 230 kV) in relation to the Rock Tech Georgia Lake lithium mining project and other lithium exploration projects in the region.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Ginoogaming First Nation 
Recipient: Ginoogaming First Nation
Location: Ginoogaming First Nation Reserve, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: Ginoogaming First Nation will form a project partnership with neighbouring First Nations and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for a proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade (from 115 kV to 230 kV). This will strengthen regional energy reliability and potentially support critical mineral projects in the region.

Project name: Formation of Project Partnership and Community Engagement to Support FPIC for the Greenstone Transmission Line Upgrade for Red Rock Indian Band    
Recipient: Red Rock Indian Band
Location: Nipigon, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The Red Rock Indian Band will form a project partnership and undertake community engagement to support free, prior and informed consent for a proposed Greenstone Transmission Line upgrade (from 115 kV to 230 kV) in relation to the Rock Tech Georgia Lake lithium mining project and other lithium exploration projects in the region.

Project name: Aski Mamohitowin - ᐊᐢᑭ ᒪᒧᐦᐃᑐᐧᐃᐣ - Mushkegowuk Gathering on Land and Development
Recipient: Mushkegowuk Council
Location: Timmins, Ontario
Funding amount: $75,000
Description: The Mushkegowuk Council, a regional political organization representing seven First Nations in northern Ontario, will support a community-led gathering with Mushkegowuk community members (from Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Chapleau Cree, Taykwa Tagamou, Moose Cree, and Missanabie Cree) to discuss topics related to land, mining and development in the region, including Ring of Fire mining and all-seasons access road developments, Indigenous rights and community perspectives.

Project name: Indigenous Engagement to Inform Feasibility of a Utility Corridor in the Ring of Fire Region    
Recipient: Nibinamik First Nation
Location: Summer Beaver, Thunder Bay and Toronto, Ontario
Funding amount: $50,000
Description: The Nibinamik First Nation will undertake preliminary community engagement to inform a Corridor Study that would evaluate the feasibility of bringing critical infrastructure to the Nibinamik community, including a transmission line, an all-weather road and other utilities through an east–west, multi-use corridor. The study will look at linkages to the proposed Webequie Supply Road, Northern Road Link and Marten Falls Community Access Road project and will be integral for the Nibinamik community to make informed decisions on supporting access to and development in their Homelands.

Project name: Engagement to Inform Potential Solar Plant Development and Related Power Purchase Agreement Feasibility
Recipient: Dene Energy LP
Location: Saskatoon, Regina, Birch Narrows and Buffalo River, Saskatchewan
Funding amount: $75,000
Description: Dene Energy LP will engage with Indigenous groups, industry and provincial officials to inform the feasibility of advancing development of a solar power plant and a related power purchase agreement to supply clean energy to NexGen’s Rook 1 uranium mining project. The work is being completed by a local engineering firm, majority-owned by Buffalo River Dene Nation.

Project name: Engagement for Transportation Infrastructure Feasibility Study
Recipient: Cheslatta Carrier Nation
Location: South of Houston, British Columbia
Funding amount: $28,186
Description: The Cheslatta Carrier Nation will undertake engagement activities to advance its interest in ensuring free, prior and informed consent regarding an initial comprehensive feasibility study being undertaken by Imperial Metals Corp. It will evaluate an alternative shipping method for hauling copper concentrate from the Huckleberry copper mining revitalization project to tidewater.