Professional Affiliation

Co-Lead, Fulbright Arctic Initiative; Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS), University of Saskatchewan

Expert Bio

Dr. Greg Poelzer is a Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) at the University of Saskatchewan. He is the Co-Director with Dr. Bram Noble of a multi-million dollar SSHRC Partnership Grant (2019-2026), Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES), which spans 15 Indigenous and Northern communities across Canada, Alaska, Norway, and Sweden.  He also is the Lead of the Renewable Energy in Remote and Indigenous Communities Flagship Initiative at the University of Saskatchewan and Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Renewable Energy.  Dr. Poelzer is an alumnus and lead of the Energy Group of the inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative cohort. His exchange took place at ISER, University of Alaska Anchorage. Dr. Poelzer serves as an Advisor and Negotiator for SaskPower, working toward a global settlement with a major First Nation in northern Saskatchewan that will resolve historical issues and build new relationships going forward. A political scientist by training, his deep connections with industry, government, NGO’s and Indigenous communities in Canada and across the circumpolar states are successfully driving both initiatives.

For over twenty-five years, Greg Poelzer has engaged in research focused on comparative politics and policy as it relates to Aboriginal-state relations; energy and resource development in the Circumpolar north; capacity-building in northern regions; and northern development. He has written extensively on the historical and contemporary aspects of communities located in the circumpolar north and the Canadian sub-arctic, focusing on Aboriginal development, the development of regional infrastructure and the mining sector. His previous works have examined community engagement in environmental assessment for resource development; strategic environmental assessments for Arctic offshore energy planning and development; and Aboriginal political culture in Northern Saskatchewan. Greg’s first book, Arctic Front: Defending Canada in the Far North (2008), was awarded (with his co-authors) the Donner Prize for excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy writing. His second co-authored book, From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians, focuses on Aboriginal success stories and approaches to improved Aboriginal-state relationships, was published in 2015, and shortlisted for three book awards. In addition, Dr. Poelzer was the founding director of the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development (ICNGD), and former Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of the Arctic (2003-2008).