A First Nations leader is sounding the alarm over Canada’s growing push for large-scale infrastructure development, warning that the federal and provincial governments may be heading toward renewed Indigenous resistance if Indigenous rights and proper consultation are not prioritized. The concern: that the current pace and scope of energy and infrastructure projects risk triggering a revival of the Idle No More movement, which first erupted more than a decade ago in protest of legislation that Indigenous communities viewed as eroding their sovereignty and environmental protections.
Speaking at a recent Indigenous governance conference, the chief stated bluntly that without proper, meaningful engagement and consent from Indigenous communities, these new development drives—no matter how well-intentioned—could open old wounds. “We are seeing many of the same warning signs we saw in 2012,” the chief said. “Projects are being pushed forward, territories are being carved up, and consultation is being treated as a checkbox exercise.”
A Troubling Déjà Vu for Indigenous Communities
The Idle No More movement began in 2012 in response to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s omnibus Bill C-45, which amended several environmental laws and was widely perceived to undermine Indigenous rights over land and water. The protests quickly spread nationwide and drew support from Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians alike, highlighting longstanding tensions around sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental justice.
Fast-forward to today: while many political leaders speak publicly about reconciliation, Indigenous leaders say little has changed when it comes to how governments engage with their communities on major development projects.
The current round of federal infrastructure initiatives—especially those linked to resource corridors, critical minerals, and climate transition—has raised red flags. Indigenous nations whose lands fall within or alongside project zones are voicing frustration about being brought into discussions too late in the process, and with insufficient decision-making power.
“Consultation without consent is colonialism in a new form,” the chief said. “If we are to build a country based on partnership and mutual respect, we can’t continue treating Indigenous nations as if we are obstacles to economic growth.”
Tensions Rise Over Development in the North and West
Some of the most contentious projects are concentrated in the Prairies and Northern territories, where governments are promoting massive expansions in transportation, energy infrastructure, and resource extraction. These include proposed highways, pipelines, lithium and nickel mining operations, and hydroelectric expansion—all of which intersect with Indigenous territories.
The chief highlighted how certain project approvals have gone ahead with minimal consultation or through complex legal arrangements that Indigenous communities argue are not free, prior, and informed consent as required under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Canada has adopted but not fully implemented in law.
“We keep being told this is about national interest,” the chief noted. “But whose nation? Whose interests? You can’t build a nation by ignoring the very people who have cared for this land since time immemorial.”
Idle No More Still Resonates with a New Generation
While the 2012–2013 wave of Idle No More protests eventually lost media attention, its message lives on in Indigenous youth and grassroots organizers who view it as a powerful moment of awakening. Organizers used social media and community gatherings to spread awareness, demand justice, and inspire direct action.
The current environment, with economic pressures, climate crises, and political division rising across Canada, has created fertile ground for that energy to resurface.
“If the state continues to impose without listening, to extract without sharing, and to build without consent,” said the chief, “don’t be surprised when you see the drums, the marches, and the blockades return.”
Some younger Indigenous activists are already mobilizing through university circles, social justice movements, and alliances with environmental groups. They argue that the government’s current focus on “clean growth” is still built on extractivist models that ignore Indigenous worldviews and stewardship practices.
Call for Meaningful Engagement, Not More Conflict
Despite the warning, the chief emphasized that the goal is not to create division, but to ensure Indigenous voices are genuinely included in the conversation about Canada’s future. “We don’t want another confrontation. We want partnership,” they said. “But partnership requires trust. And trust is earned—not declared.”
There are success stories to build on. Some infrastructure and resource projects have moved forward with the active involvement of Indigenous communities as equity partners, co-managers, or regulatory authorities. These models have shown that development and Indigenous rights can go hand in hand—but only when built on mutual respect and true negotiation.
Still, the overall track record remains uneven, and too many Indigenous leaders say they are brought in after key decisions are made or only as a formality.
The warning from Indigenous leadership is clear: without change, history may repeat itself. With new infrastructure megaprojects being framed as essential to Canada’s economic resilience, the failure to balance that agenda with Indigenous rights risks igniting another wave of grassroots resistance.
