Reclaiming First Nations Heritage with Green Hydrogen Energy & Economic Opportunity

Reclaiming First Nations Heritage with Green Hydrogen Energy & Economic Opportunity

Author: Paul Ellis May 18, 2025 Duration: 31:14
The story of Salish Elements began when one man gifted a bundle of tobacco to another. Rueben George and Omar Kassem first met at a gathering designed to provide Indigenous communities with the support of technology and business activists. Omar, is an energy industry engineer, working towards safely deploying hydrogen into British Columbia's utility infrastructure. Rueben is a globally recognized environmentalist and best-selling co-author of "It Stops Here", the story of the spiritual, cultural, and political resurgence of an indigenous nation taking action to reclaim their lands, waters, and food systems in the face of colonization. The gift of tobacco from Omar to Rueben led to discussions of how a green hydrogen energy business could provide an alternative to oil as well as share an economic opportunity with other Indigenous communities and First Nations in Canada. The idea of producing green hydrogen across B.C. with other Indigenous communities has become the story of Salish Elements, which Omar and Rueben have graciously agreed to share with our followers.

Hosted by Paul Ellis, The Sustainable Finance Podcast is a resource for investors and financial advisors looking to move beyond the buzzwords and understand the practical realities of integrating environmental, social, and governance principles into portfolios. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a series of direct conversations with the people shaping the industry-from asset managers and analysts to corporate leaders and policy experts. Each episode digs into how sustainability metrics are being applied, what constitutes genuine impact versus marketing, and where the real financial opportunities and risks lie. You'll hear detailed discussions on evolving regulations, new investment vehicles, and the tangible data driving decisions. By focusing on these candid interviews with pioneers, the podcast provides a clear-eyed view of a rapidly changing landscape, offering actionable insights for anyone navigating the intersection of capital and responsibility. Tune in for a grounded perspective that equips you to participate in this critical shift within modern finance.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Sustainable Finance Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Slingshot Transition to Sustainable Business Operations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
When you’re the third-generation co-owner of a company that manufactures plastic bags for your family’s financial well-being, the idea of re-creating your business operations model to be more environmentally friendly and…
Banks and Insurers Need a More Resilient Finance Model [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:29
What sustainability progress have banks and insurers made in the last two years, given the role of financial institutions as a core component of the economy, and bearing in mind their responsibility to uphold the rigour…
Directing Capital to Drawdown on the Roadmap to Net Zero [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
ScopeFour Capital is an investment management firm focused solely on climate solutions in the public equity markets. Founder and CEO Heather Beatty is committed to climate solution investment and the great re-imagination…
Why Is Only 2% of Global Philanthropy Climate-Related Giving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:55
Climate-focused philanthropy has increased significantly in recent years, but it’s still insufficient relative to the size and urgency of the challenge. Randall Kempner is a senior advisor at the Energy and Environment P…
Ownership Works & PE Join Forces for Employee Opportunities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
More successful employees create financial value for their employers and career opportunities for themselves. Our focus in today’s episode is how Ownership Works supports increasing prosperity through shared ownership, a…
The Pathway to Decarbonization for Public & Private Companies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
In his role as General Manager of Sustainability Solutions at Microsoft, Mark Kroese leads a team that drives product, customer and market development solutions that help Microsoft realize its goals of becoming a Carbon…
Climate Mitigation Strategies to Achieve Net Zero Emissions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
The Climate Bonds Initiative has identified five Hallmarks of a credible climate mitigation transition for companies. Today the SFP is fortunate to have Sean Kidney, CEO at Climate Bonds Initiative, as our guest to updat…
Black People Want Opportunities for Economic Mobility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:39
“Policies and institutions that open opportunities for focus on people of color are not racist. They are not even an attempt to “level the playing field” after centuries of systemic racism. They are an effort to bring Bl…
One Platform Can Study Impact, Minimize Risk & Maximize ROI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:09
Companies in every sector of the global economy are discovering that the full spectrum of sustainability-focused challenges are more than their own and must be solved in collaboration with their partners in other busines…
Asset Allocation with Positive Impact Drives Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:49
I’ve had the privilege to work with both of today’s podcast guests as leaders of their company, the first to launch a Responsible Investment fund and still a leader in the field. Calvert Research and Management is part o…