The Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise (ICE) has developed a training and career program for Indigenous youth in the clean energy sector! Generation Power is a holistic, capacity-based program that acknowledges the skills, talent and qualifications of youth and employers.
It is modelled after successful Indigenous-led educational and training programs and focuses on collective learning through cohort-based instruction, peer-to-peer mentoring and on-the-land education.
"Considering the state of our world right now—the global pandemic, the climate crisis, and the need for Indigenous worldviews at the forefront of environmental transformation—the creation and implementation of this capacity-building program is timely.,” says Generation Power Program Manager Ricky-Lee Watts.
Generation Power encourages Indigenous youth to explore careers in clean energy. It is also an essential piece of the clean energy landscape in Canada that nurtures the leadership potential of both Indigenous youth and energy sector employers to advance a sustainable and equitable energy future.
Embodying symbolism within each icon of the logo, the Thunderbird, Feather, Cycle of Life, Earth, and Lightning each represent an important part in the wholeness that is the vision of Generation Power. A vision for a future that inspires sustainability, equity, respect, and honours our shared interconnectedness.
Something special about this design, is it's interpretative nature that all relate to the same vision. Within its imagery, some ICE team members see the sun, a wind turbine, or roots of the Earth. What do you see?
Hover over the logo for information.
A representation of powerful spiritual vision, change and transformation.
The Earth encircles and is a part of all that we are. A representation of oneness, and reminder that we’re all interconnected in our experiences of life. hišukʔiš c̓awaak - everything is one.
A representation of energy, electricity, and power. Illuminating the future of clean energy and destruction of unsustainable practices.
Guiding the vision of Generation Power, the feather represents trust, strength, wisdom and honour.
An embodiment of the medicine wheel, four directions, seasons and generations, this is an icon of renewal and holism.
A representation of powerful spiritual vision, change and transformation.
The Earth encircles and is a part of all that we are. A representation of oneness, and reminder that we’re all interconnected in our experiences of life. hišukʔiš c̓awaak - everything is one.
A representation of energy, electricity, and power. Illuminating the future of clean energy and destruction of unsustainable practices.
Guiding the vision of Generation Power, the feather represents trust, strength, wisdom and honour.
An embodiment of the medicine wheel, four directions, seasons and generations, this is an icon of renewal and holism.
Generation Power engages both Indigenous youth and energy economy employers, positioning Indigenous leadership as an essential component of Canada’s clean energy transition.
Taking a future-focused approach, the program introduces Indigenous youth to the growing clean energy economy in Canada and around the globe, and the broad range of existing and emerging energy careers. Employers — including project developers, utilities, non-profit organizations, communities and government — will gain an understanding of Indigenous youths' role in leading Canada’s energy future.
The program’s overarching objective is to enhance clean energy literacy among Indigenous youth participants and encourage energy employers to enhance their ability to attract and retain Indigenous talent. The program provides a baseline understanding of current Indigenous leadership in Canada and looks to the future to explore emerging markets, careers and opportunities.
Specifically, Indigenous youth participants will achieve the following objectives through completion of the program:
Objectives for employers who participate in the program include:
ICE expects the following long-term impacts to be achieved through successful implementation of this program over several years, recognizing that the program may be adapted to accommodate changes in the external environment (i.e. economic conditions and political support for energy transition efforts).
Generation Power Program Coordinator
Kayla is Ojibwe from Obaadjiwan (Batchewana First Nation), residing on the traditional territory of Baawaating. She holds a Diploma in Practical Nursing and is registered with the College of Nurses in Ontario. In her experiences as a nurse, she spent many years volunteering as well as working in indigenous communities on health promotion that created meaningful connections and experiences that shaped who she is as a professional today.
She is a Hospice Nurse in a now casual capacity, and took a leap in a new direction in her career to work at ICE. Kayla is passionate about participating in the movement towards change in the clean energy sector, as well as using her previous experiences to promote conversations around health and how clean energy impacts our wellbeing. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her partner and family, as well as with her golden retriever, Hunnie.
Generation Power Co-Manager
Emily Kow is a Co-Manager of the Generation Power program. She currently resides on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory in Ottawa.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology with a minor in Mental Health & Addictions from McMaster University. She is passionate about utilizing interdisciplinary and holistic perspectives to support equitable community growth and challenge systemic barriers. Emily previously led a homelessness prevention program at an Indigenous cultural centre by working with youth and families to deliver culturally grounded life skills sessions. She participated in multiple youth-led mental health initiatives and coordinated a Diversity & Inclusion strategy before joining ICE.
In her free time, you can find Emily tending to her houseplants, learning world geography, or scoping out furniture at the thrift store.
Managing Director
Eryn acknowledges, with gratitude, the territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas (Hamilton, Ontario) where she grew up. She is also thankful to the Anishinaabe people whose unceded, unsurrendered territory she lives and works in.
Eryn developed and leads the 20/20 Catalysts Program, ICE’s keystone initiative and Canada’s first Indigenous clean energy capacity-building program. In just five years it has supported over 100 Indigenous clean energy champions on their energy journeys. As Managing Director, she also oversees many of ICE’s capacity-building programs.
In her current role, much of Eryn’s work focuses on supporting community energy planning and energy education initiatives in northern communities.
In 2017, Eryn was one of twenty emerging leaders selected by the Arctic Council to take part in the Arctic Remote Energy Network Academy. In 2018, she was honoured with distinction as a 30 under 30 in sustainability and was also awarded the University of Waterloo’s Young Alumni Inspiration Award in 2020. Eryn recently authored Arctic Community Energy Planning and Implementation Toolkit, in partnership with Gwich’in Council International for communities across the circumpolar Arctic.
One of Eryn’s passions is women’s leadership in the clean energy sector. She specifically strives for the advancement of Indigenous women in the sector.
