Engaging Pore Space Knowledge Keepers

Current Initiative

Bringing together technical and cultural wisdom to shape responsible, high-value subsurface development

PART OF THE 2025-26 FELLOWSHIP SOLUTION PORTFOLIO

Overview

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action 92 urges industry to engage Indigenous peoples through meaningful consultation, respectful relationships, and free, prior, and informed consent. Yet, Indigenous voices are still largely absent in subsurface and pore space stewardship conversations.

Because many energy projects depend on subsurface pore space, aligning Indigenous and technical knowledge is essential.

By creating a shared understanding of subsurface potential and limits, we can steward these lands more responsibly and ensure development delivers mutual benefit for Indigenous nations, communities, and industry.

Why It Matters

100B

Alberta’s CO₂ storage capacity in subsurface pore space is estimated to be more than 100 billion tonnes.

$1.7T

At the planned price of C$170 per tonne, that capacity represents a potential economic value of up to C$17 trillion.

$6-8M

Natural Resources Canada projects that $6–8 million per year would flow to the 5 Indigenous partner nations of Enbridge's proposed Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub.

Hypothesis

By bridging technical and cultural knowledge systems on many facets of energy development and pore space utilization, we can drive more effective and responsible use of subsurface spaces, pilot processes to accelerate fair and respectful consultation, and secure greater value for the land's resources for Indigenous nations, communities, and all Canadians.

Our Approach

This initiative will:

Create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous perspectives to be shared with subsurface leadership
Integrate Indigenous stewardship into subsurface dialogue and decision-making
Bring subsurface educational opportunities to Indigenous leadership
Bring a shared Indigenous and technical understanding of pore space development to the public