Indian Resource Council (IRC)

Background

According to the Ind ian Resource Council’s website, IRC was founded in 1987 by Chiefs representing the First Nations that produce oil and gas, “following the recommendation of a task force that was established to study the role of the Crown in the management of First Nations oil and natural gas resources.” IRC notes that “An expanded and restructured Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC) was established at the same time.”¹ IRC represents over 130 First Nations who produce or “have a direct interest in the oil and gas industry.”²

IOGC is a special operating agency within Indigenous Services Canada that regulates and manages oil and gas resources on designated First Nations land in Canada, according to the Government of Canada’s website.³ Its “dual mandate is to fulfill the Crown’s fiduciary and statutory obligations related to the management of oil and gas resources on First Nation lands and to further First Nation initiatives to manage and control their oil and gas resources such as governance.”

IRC’s CEO Stephen Buffalo described his group’s mandate in October 2023 testimony before the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee:⁴

“Our organization represents over 130 first nations that have produced or have direct interests in the oil and gas industry. Our mandate is to advocate for federal policies that will improve and increase resource development opportunities for first nations.”

In 2006, IOGC partnered with the Indian Resource Council, which resulted in a 2009 iteration of the Indian Oil and Gas Act (first drafted in 1974 in response to a world oil crisis), which resulted in the Act receiving Royal Assent, according to an archived summary at the Government of Canada.⁵

DeSmog found that the Indian Resource Council, which has previously accused pipeline protests of being beholden to hidden financial interests,⁶ received at least $200,000 from Canadian Natural (CNRL), one of the largest oil and gas producers in Canada.⁷

DeSmog reported IRC’s CEO, Stephen Buffalo, has been one of the most outspoken Indigenous voices in favor of expanding oil and gas production. In his 2022 testimony before the federal government, Bufallo said the “biggest barrier you can eliminate in indigenous economic development is to stop hampering or choking out the oil and gas sector.”⁸ Buffalo has also appeared regularly in mainstream media outlets advocating for oil and gas development and opposes limitations on the industry.

The Indian Resource Council listed its set of mandates, which it said are “currently being revamped” as follows:

“To support First Nations in their efforts to attain greater management and control of their oil and natural gas resources;

“To complement initiatives by individual First Nations to gain economic self reliance and to ensure the preservation of the Crown Trust obligations under Treaties with First Nations;

“To coordinate the promotion of initiatives with Federal and provincial governments, with industry and with other groups associated with oil, natural gas and related activities to enhance economic benefits realized by the First Nations from resource development;

“To encourage a greater development and utilization of First Nations human resources in oil, natural gas and related activities;

“To transform IOGC into a First Nations institution, working in partnership with the IOGC co-management Board. To this end work towards the establishment of an oil and gas business centre, and a First Nations oil and gas institution in the long term.”

Stance on Climate Change

October 2019

IRC representatives issued statements in response to the Edmonton Climate Strike:⁹

“We care deeply about the Earth and we understand the threat posed by climate change. But as long as there is demand for oil and gas products, we would prefer if our resources are brought to market, as we know they are ethically and responsibly developed,” stated Councillor Vincent Saddleback of Samson Cree Nation.

“On our territory, we operate under the highest environmental and social standards possible. The Blood Tribe has over seven decades of experience with oil and gas exploration, production and transmission. No harm has come to the air or water, the animals or birds as a result of that development,” stated Chief Fox.

Stephen Buffalo, IRC president, stated:

“The energy sector represents the best pathway forward for our communities to get out of poverty and take our rightful place as self-sufficient nations.” He continued, “We are finally at the point where First Nations communities are becoming the owners of large, economically significant, projects. It’s hard to understand why so many activists, who use oil and gas products everyday, want to take this opportunity away from us.”

Funding

DeSmog found that IRC received at least $200,000 from Canadian Natural (CNRL), one of the largest oil and gas producers in Canada, totalling donations from 2020 and 2021. Disclosures show IRC received an additional $250,000 in 202 2, for a total of $450,000.¹⁰

Federal disclosures required under Canada’s Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA) revealed the payments:

2022 Payment

_{CNRL disclosure docs reveal a $250,000 payment to IRC in 2022.}¹¹

2021 Payment

*_{CNRL disclosure docs reveal a $100,000 payment to IRC in 2021.}*¹²

2020 Payment

_{CNRL disclosure docs reveal a $100,000 payment to IRC in 2020.}¹³

Key People

Actions

November 23, 2023

IRC president Stephen Buffalo spoke on a podcast hosted by the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) at COP28, where he discussed topics including the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.¹⁴

During the podcast, Buffalo said his “good friend Jason Kenney,” when he was Alberta Premier, called him to discuss the creation of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, a group that helped provide investment capital for First Nations to participate in resource projects. Buffalo said he then applied to be on the board and was one of the founding board members.¹⁵

“The intention, at the time when he [Jason Kenney] was Premier, was for Nations to participate on the Trans Mountain Pipeline, the expansion,” Buffalo said.¹⁶

IRC president Stephen Buffalo summarized, speaking of the green energy transition:

“If everything goes green and stuff like that, it’s a long journey. It’s not going to happen tomorrow. You know, the world still needs energy in all factions. It’s hard to see some of the things that are happening around the world today. But at the end of the day, you know, we’re all mankind. We’re all here together, and the Earth is here to provide for us.”¹⁷

October 16, 2023

IRC president Stephen Buffalo testified before the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee.¹⁸

“In the oil and gas sector, we have Indian Oil and Gas Canada, which is a horrible regulator. It causes more problems than it needs to,” Buffalo said, adding “Some of the problems that stem from their lack of enforcement have turned into litigation against the Crown.”¹⁹

February 15, 2023

IRC’s president, Stephen Buffalo, spoke²⁰ on a panel hosted by the Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG)²¹ whose members include oil and gas producer Canadian National Resources and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and who is a sponsor/donor to the Macdonald Laurier Institute according to MLI’s annual reports.²² Alberta Premier Danielle Smith served as the president of the AEG from 2021 to 2022, according to her LinkedIn.²³

The panel included Joy Romero, executive advisor for innovation at Canadian Natural Resources Limited.; Conservative MP Greg MacLean; and Kevin Birn, head of the Centre of Emissions Excellence and chief analyst for Canadian oil markets at S&P Global Commodity Insights.²⁴

March 1, 2022

IRC president Stephen Buffalo testified before the federal government to advocate for oil and gas development.²⁵

“There’s no sector—not solar panel installation, not tourism, not golf courses—that can replace the economic opportunity that oil and gas provides for first nations. The biggest barrier you can eliminate in indigenous economic development is to stop hampering or choking out the oil and gas sector,” he said, adding “If the federal government is truly committed to reconciliation and the principles of UNDRIP, it should be supportive in whatever kind of economic development we want to be a part of, regardless of the industry.”

September 21, 2020

IRC president Stephen Buffalo was a speaker at the Canadian Gas Dialogues 2020.²⁶ Supporting groups include the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, the Canadian Gas Association, and others.

Membership

While the IRC does not publicly list its members, it describes its “membershi p criteria” as follows:²⁹

“The Indian Resource Council is made up of First Nations across Canada that have oil and gas production on their land including those that have the potential for production. The majority of our members are from First Nations located within the Western Canada sedimentary Basin […] however, there are many members of the IRC from coast to coast.”