A blueprint for reconciliation: Danielle Van Huizen’s approach to Indigenous partnerships

At RES, fostering strong relationships with the communities where we work is at the heart of our commitment to sustainability and community engagement. 

We uphold this standard for all our Canadian projects, starting with the Bekevar wind project in Saskatchewan, Canada. Here, the Cowessess First Nations people live and jointly own the wind project alongside Innagreen Investments. Danielle Van Huizen, Director of Indigenous Partnerships, was able to pull inspiration from the success at Bekevar and apply it to our Canada Reconciliation Action Plan because, for her, this work is not just a career but a passion. 

From a sports and physiotherapy enthusiast to shaping Indigenous engagement and policy in British Columbia, Danielle’s journey highlights her ability to adapt and learn. Today, she leads RES towards meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous communities, beginning with an Indigenous employment and training plan.

Danielle’s career path was not linear. Initially, she aspired to become a physical education teacher, driven by her passion for volleyball. However, as she progressed in her studies at the University of British Columbia, she realized a love for the sport didn’t mean she had to play sports her entire career. Danielle then pivoted toward business in graduate school, eventually leading her to a career in energy.  After completing her studies, Danielle joined a consulting firm as a business analyst, where she learned, alongside her soon-to-be mentor, the dynamics of Indigenous engagement. “To do business in BC, it is paramount to understand and respect First Nations,” Danielle shared. “Through this work, I recognized that for a company to be successful in Canada, they needed to have deep and trusting relationships with Indigenous communities.”

In Canada, consulting with Indigenous communities is legally required, but it is so much more than that in practice. Eventually, Danielle moved on to be the advisor to the CEO (her mentor) of BC Hydro, the main utility for the province. Danielle was called on to completely rewrite the utility’s approach to Indigenous engagement and reconciliation. Through all she learned from her experience in the industry, she and the CEO set a new industry standard that remains in place to this day.

Danielle was then ready to take on her own leadership role. She went on to lead BC Hydro’s Indigenous Relations team, which was responsible for policy and negotiations. In this role, she continued to refine strategies for consultation, partnership, and shared benefits with Indigenous groups across the province. Her leadership cemented her reputation as an expert in bridging the gap between the energy industry and Indigenous communities.

After a few other roles in which she deepened her expertise in Indigenous relations, she was led to RES, where she became the Director of Indigenous Partnerships. When Danielle arrived at RES she was pleasantly surprised with the progressive actions RES was already implementing in their work. For example, on the Bekevar wind project in Saskatchewan, RES exceeded the government-mandated 52,500 Indigenous labor hours and formed a successful equity partnership with Cowessess First Nation. A key aspect of the success at Bekevar included hiring an Indigenous labor advisor from the community to guide the initiative, creating training opportunities and scholarships, and ensuring cultural alignment and mutual benefit. Additionally, RES staff immersed themselves in the Cowessess First Nation’s culture, attending the community’s annual powwow and engaging in business conversations with local leaders. Danielle is building on the success of Bekevar and looking to create many more meaningful Indigenous partnerships across Canada, where Indigenous groups are not only owners in wind projects but are actively building and operating them as well.

Danielle still finds interest and passion in her work after all these years: “This role is exciting because we are constantly evolving and adapting, creating so much room for innovation and creativity.” She thrives on the challenge of creating new strategies, forging meaningful relationships, and ensuring that Indigenous communities are active participants in the clean energy future. Currently, Danielle is working to finalize our RES Canada Reconciliation Action Plan.

As RES continues to lead in reconciliation and community partnerships, Danielle’s story serves as both an inspiration and a roadmap for how RES can work alongside Indigenous communities to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.