Introduction and Land Acknowledgement
SANEXEN acknowledges that we live, operate, and provide our services on Turtle Island, on lands now known as Canada.
We recognize that this country is built on the ancestral territories of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, many of which are now covered by treaties, while others remain unceded. .
We acknowledge the enduring presence of Indigenous communities on their territories as the original stewards of these lands and their knowledge. We actively draw inspiration from their deep relationship with the land, water, and all living beings, as well as from the ongoing importance of their rights, cultures, and traditions.
SANEXEN is committed to being a true ally, demonstrating humility, empathy, and solidarity in the face of the oppression, trauma, colonialism, and systemic racism experienced by Indigenous peoples throughout their history with settlers, realities whose impacts and mechanisms remain present today.
Beyond words, this acknowledgement must be reflected in our actions, our partnerships, and the way we choose to move forward together.
Ilies Tazi
CEP, Partner, Indigenous Relations
Our Commitment
At SANEXEN, our work within communities across Turtle Island is often the result of a collective decision to act in response to the harm caused by previous generations. This mission carries both responsibility and the honour of contributing to the broader process of systemic reconciliation.
For this reason, we are committed to investing all available resources to integrate Indigenous perspectives as early as possible and at the highest level in the development of our projects and initiatives.
In collaboration with communities, SANEXEN strives to ensure that investments in remediation contribute to the long-term development of infrastructure and community capacity. This includes designing projects so that mobilized equipment can support future work and local maintenance activities, as well as restoring remediated sites in ways that concretely facilitate future infrastructure projects and community uses.
Our projects
We actively collaborate with Indigenous businesses deeply rooted in their territories, including Qikiqtaaluk Environmental (Nunavut), Avataani Environmental Services (Nunavik), and Naàka Environmental (Northwest Territories). These joint ventures are fully involved in the governance of our projects—from strategic planning to on-the-ground operations. Their voices guide our actions and ensure that we move in step with community priorities and realities.
We remain committed to future generations by supporting locally defined priorities and working alongside communities on their initiatives for preservation, resilience, and self-determination. Each of these projects reflects our commitment to collaboration—grounded in respect for local contexts and traditional knowledge—to co-create sustainable solutions that serve both communities and their lands.
In the Northwest Territories, we are contributing to the remediation of the Kwetı̨ı̨ɂaà (Rayrock) site, a former uranium mine, while supporting efforts to reduce avoidance zones in areas of cultural and social significance to the Tłı̨chǫ communities.
In Iqaluit, our team supported efforts to improve access to safe, affordable, and sustainable drinking water. By valuing local resources and strengthening integrated supply management, this project laid the groundwork for greater community resilience.
In Nunavik, we helped establish the region’s first community-led environmental information centre, an initiative led by Uquutaq.
In British Columbia, we supported the Haisla Nation’s work in Kitimat to protect the Kitlope Valley—one of the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest watersheds. Our support aligned with their vision of territorial sovereignty and the protection of sensitive ecological areas.
We are deeply grateful to the communities who welcome us and place their trust in us:
Mársı | Kinanāskomitin | Quana | Qujannamiik | Nakurmiik | Miigwetch | Mahsı̀
RESTORE Pathways Program
In this spirit, SANEXEN has developed RESTORE Pathways, a training and skills development program designed as an operational extension of this approach.
This collaborative initiative aims to strengthen community sovereignty and encourage intercommunity exchange by training Indigenous participants in environmental remediation, site assessment, and ecological restoration.
Participants develop certified technical skills through real-world projects, building both knowledge and career pathways in strategic fields, while protecting and restoring the lands and waters of their communities and other territories.
Stream A - Interns
Environmental Technician Assistant
- Observation and participation in sampling activities
- Support for field operations (PPE management, inventory, documentation)
- Introduction to environmental protocols and safety.
Stream B - Temporary Employees
Junior Environmental Technician
- Field work in remediation and controlled excavation
- Operation of basic equipment (pumps, treatment systems)
- Support to mechanical and maintenance teams
- Participation in on-site environmental operations
Stream C - Researchers / Fellows
Applied Environmental Research
- Identification and prioritization of contaminated sites
- Analysis of climate impacts (erosion, permafrost, rising waters)
- GIS mapping and risk modelling
- Integration of traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions
Apply here
Don’t forget to mention the stream that interests you and include your résumé.
Our joint-ventures
Qikiqtaaluk environnement
Founded in 2003,, Qikiqtaaluk Environmental Inc. (QE) is a partnership between Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) and Sanexen Environmental Services Inc. (Sanexen).QE’s original core activities were environmental remediation and waste management and disposal, which have proven highly successful through its Environmental Waste Processing Facility (EWPF) in Iqaluit.
Over time, QE has adapted to the evolving needs of its clients and has become a leader in multiple environmental sectors, including asbestos and mould assessment and abatement, hazardous substance surveys in buildings, Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I, II and III ESAs), indoor air quality services, duct cleaning, remedial investigations, and feasibility studies.
QE is registered as an Inuit firm with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and is governed by a board composed of four QC representatives, all beneficiaries under the Nunavut Agreement, and two Sanexen representatives. QE is also registered and in good standing with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG), as well as the Nunavut Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
Avataani Environnemental
Avataani Environmental Services Inc. (Avataani) has been a partnership between Sanexen Environmental Services Inc. (Sanexen) and Avataa Explorations & Logistics Inc. since 2013. The company is registered as an accredited Inuit business in the Nunavik Inuit Business Registry. Avataani provides the following services:
- Environmental site characterization and remediation;
- Design, implementation, and operation of biopiles for hydrocarbon-contaminated soil treatment;
- Water treatment using mobile water treatment units;
- Characterization, classification, packaging, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials.
Diversity Inclusion Policy
OUR PROJECTS
Contact Us – Feedbacks & Suggestions
Contact our Indigenous Engagement Team directly.
We openly welcome suggestions, feedback, and ideas. Whether you are an Indigenous leader, community member, researcher, or ally, if you see a gap in our approach, we want to hear from you.
