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Building Energy Sovereignty through Community-Based Projects in Nunavik

Author

Listed:
  • Thierry Rodon

    (Département de Science Politique, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Louise Nachet

    (Département de Science Politique, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Christophe Krolik

    (Faculté de Droit, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Tommy Palliser

    (Pituvik, Landholding Corporation of Inukjuak, Inukjuak, QC J0M 1M0, Canada)

Abstract

Inuit communities in Canada are overwhelmingly dependent on expensive and polluting local diesel-powered generators for electricity production. This article seeks to understand the legal and political obstacles relative to the development of renewable energy in Nunavik, Québec’s Inuit territory. After an analysis of the legal regimes, political configurations, and policies affecting energy production in Nunavik, we present two case studies of renewable energy projects in the communities of Kuujjuaq and Inukjuak. This allows us to demonstrate that the development of alternative energy projects is not only determined by technical and economic issues but is also inseparable from the asymmetrical post-colonial power relations between Quebec institutions and the Inuit people. Our results not only illustrate the value of community ownership and leadership for sustainable northern development but also the ambiguous attitude of public authorities regarding the political and financial support for such projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Thierry Rodon & Louise Nachet & Christophe Krolik & Tommy Palliser, 2021. "Building Energy Sovereignty through Community-Based Projects in Nunavik," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9061-:d:613656
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karanasios, Konstantinos & Parker, Paul, 2018. "Tracking the transition to renewable electricity in remote indigenous communities in Canada," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 169-181.
    2. David Natcher & Shea Shirley & Thierry Rodon & Chris Southcott, 2016. "Constraints to wildlife harvesting among aboriginal communities in Alaska and Canada," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(6), pages 1153-1167, December.
    3. Konstantinos Karanasios & Paul Parker, 2018. "Technical solution or wicked problem?," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(3), pages 322-345, July.
    4. Konstantinos Karanasios & Paul Parker, 2018. "Explaining the Diffusion of Renewable Electricity Technologies in Canadian Remote Indigenous Communities through the Technological Innovation System Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-28, October.
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