Nangkilslas, Trent Moraes, is Haida from Skidegate, Haida Gwaii. He serves as an elected member of the Skidegate Band Council and is the current Deputy Chief Councillor. Trent is also a board member with Tll Yahda Energy, an organization driving clean energy leadership on Haida Gwaii.
Tll Yahda Energy currently operates the largest constructed solar PV system in British Columbia. With successful funding and financing efforts, the organization is already planning an expansion to 4MW, which would make it the largest remote solar system in Canada. This project is set to displace over 1,000,000 liters of diesel annually on Haida Gwaii’s North Grid. For the South Grid, where Skidegate is powered from, Tll Yahda is working with partners on power quality upgrades, including additional solar PV and a utility-scale battery storage system.
As part of his role with Skidegate Band Council, Trent actively works to assess community energy needs, educate on emerging technologies, and advance energy efficiency strategies. His leadership has driven investments in solar hot water and solar photovoltaics for community and residential buildings. Skidegate has also engaged BC Hydro at multiple levels, creating Indigenous-led pilot programs that set an example for B.C. The community’s goal is to become one of the greenest in the province.
Trent’s expertise in climate mitigation and adaptation policy has been invaluable to CEBC, deepening our understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities for First Nations in clean energy. His work on Haida Gwaii has served as a model for other CEBC members looking to implement their own projects.
Beyond his work in Skidegate, Trent is an active member of several key energy and climate advisory groups, including the First Nations Home Energy Save Advisory, Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunity Electricity Table Advisory Group, and First Peoples Food Security Table. He also serves as the Chair of the First Nations Remote Community Energy Strategy Working Group, Aboriginal Capital Committee, Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group, and Indigenous Coastal Climate Coalition. Through his relentless advocacy at the provincial and federal levels, Trent has directly contributed to the creation of several impactful clean energy programs that are delivering results today.
Thank you, Trent, for your leadership and contributions to CEBC’s success.
First Nations Remote Community Energy Strategy Working Group members with former Minister of Energy, the Honourable Josie Osborne, including the late Leona Humchitt, whose contributions and leadership will be deeply missed.
Left to right: Trent Moraes, Jamie Pond, David Benton, Patrika McEnvoy, Hon. Josie Osborne, Leona Humchitt, Edmund Haines, Sean Brennan, and Terry Webber.
