Cross-Border Tribal Partnerships in Addressing North America’s Future Energy Needs: Reservation Economic Summit (RES) 2025

This Centre-facilitated panel discussion and Q&A with business, legal and political leadership from both sides of the US-Canada border will explore the unique opportunities First Nations and Native American Tribes can advance in partnership to support North America’s future energy and security needs, with a focus on critical minerals and nuclear supply chains.

The session’s premise is that First Nations and Native American Tribes are uniquely positioned to play a leadership role in the development of cross border critical mineral and nuclear supply chains by leveraging 1) our relationships and kinship bonds, 2) our unique geographical strengths (land base, natural resources, access to markets, manufacturing hubs, Tribal Free Trade zones, etc.), and 3) the promise of historic diplomatic instruments that support Tribal/First Nation cross border trade and economic development (i.e.: the Jay Treaty of 1794).  The panel will also explore opportunities to advocate for greater First Nations and Native American Tribal economic sovereignty in the upcoming 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Through this session, the Centre hopes to create momentum on both sides of the border to strategically engage our respective federal governments to cultivate a greater First Nations and Native American Tribal presence in cross border trade as both an act of economic reconciliation and in the interests of continental energy security and sustaining domestic world-leading value chains associated with advanced manufacturing and technology.  

RES 2025 is hosted by the National Centre for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED). For information on how to register and participate, please visit: https://res.ncaied.org/Summit-Info/About.