Supporting Indigenous Leadership: At the Heart of a Just and Equitable Transition in Greater Montréal

Montréal, April 16, 2026 — No just and equitable transition can take place without recognizing and valuing the essential role of Indigenous Peoples. It is with this conviction that the Greater Montréal Climate Fund is partnering with the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation and awarding it a $110,000 grant to provide its incubation program in support of and collaboration with the Environment Protection Unit of Kahnawà:ke (KEPO). 

Since 2017, the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation has supported Indigenous communities in addressing their priority challenges through impact-focused funding. With support from the Greater Montréal Climate Fund, the organization will deploy its collaborative process of co-designing environmental, economic, and social solutions directly inspired by the needs expressed by the Kahnawà:ke community. 

More than a project, this incubation program is intended as an agile space for innovation and dialogue, where Indigenous leaders and community members, experts, investors, and public institutions come together. Working together, these stakeholders rely on targeted collaboration, a nuanced understanding of the territory, and evidence-based data to develop a shared vision for change and ultimately bring forward concrete climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. 

Guided by a holistic and culturally safe approach, this lab places a fundamental principle at the core of its work: returning decision-making power to those most directly concerned. Far from any top-down approach, the selected initiatives (such as social enterprises, programs, or partnerships) will respond directly to the community’s strategic priorities. Their implementation will be led by KEPO, the organization responsible for planning and deploying environmental protection and stewardship strategies in Kahnawà:ke.