about Serena
MENDIZABAL
Serena Mendizabal (she/her) is a Cayuga Wolf Clan Panamanian woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Serena is a community-based researcher, grassroots organizer, and environmental advocate, and has worked in climate, environment, and clean energy for almost a decade. Serena’s desire to work in climate justice and clean energy comes directly from her community of Six Nations that has long been involved in frontline work, international advocacy, and land protection, and where she has organized since she was 10 years old.
Serena is the Managing Director at Sacred Earth Solar, an Indigenous women-led organization supporting Indigenous communities in implementing climate solutions and healing justice. Sacred Earth Solar is one of the only Indigenous non-profits implementing renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure through a climate justice approach. Through Sacred Earth Solar, Serena has implemented renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure projects alongside communities across Turtle Island.
Serena holds a Master's of Geography & Environment with a focus on Indigenous Health and Environment as she looked specifically at industrial health impacts with east coast communities, Pictou Landing First Nation, NS & Tobique First Nation, NB.
Serena first began her journey in clean energy when she was 18 working in community engagement and communications at the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, holding the largest First Nations clean energy portfolio in Canada. While working in community engagement, she found gaps in community consent with her community’s clean energy portfolio and went on to further explore what a true ‘just transition’ can look like in a community of over 28,000 members.
From there on out, Serena has dedicated her work, studies, and extracurriculars to Indigenous self-determination, climate change, environmental health impact, and just clean energy transitions. Serena’s connections to climate advocacy, research, education, and direct action are numerous.
Serena is the Co-Chair and Founding Member of the SevenGen Energy’s National Indigenous Youth Energy Council, an Indigenous youth-led organization supporting the acceleration of Indigenous Youth in the clean energy sector. Serena supported the development of ImaGENation, an Indigenous youth clean energy project development program in partnership with Student Energy and Indigenous Clean Energy. She has also been part of organizing the 2022 and 2024 SevenGen Indigenous Youth Energy Summit, the largest Indigenous youth energy gathering in Canada.
Serena is currently a Climate Action Lead at Protect the Tract, a Haudenosaunee-led organization in Six Nations enforcing her hereditary governance ‘The Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s’ moratorium on development along the Grand River. Serena is currently working to support the creation of the Grand River Climate Action Strategy, to be informed and implemented by her community.
Serena was a Course Collaborator and Subject Matter Expert for the national award-winning course ‘Connecting for Climate Change Action’ at Western University, an inaugural Youth and Environment Fellow at the Lawson Foundation, recipient of the Young Leaders award through Walking Softer, and has been nationally recognized through the Starfish Canada’s 25 Environmentalists under 25 and Corporate Knights’ 30 under 30 in Sustainability in Canada. She is currently a board member at Student Energy, a global organization supporting youth to lead in the clean energy sector, and has served on numerous community governance committees.
Serena is passionate about self-determined community development, action, and futures, and believes in a future with Indigenous communities leading; sovereign, healthy nations; and lands and waters back.