Remote communities can be cut off for weeks when the rivers start running in Western Australia, with residents forced to rely on diesel generators for electricity.
Western Desert community leader Bruce Booth said it was a risky time for residents.
"We find it really hard to keep the community lights, fridges on," he said.
He said extended blackouts could result in thousands of dollars worth of medicine and groceries being thrown out.
"It's a waste of money for the community," he said.
"We don't want to chuck money out when the power goes out when a blackout hits the town or community.
"We don't want to be in that risk."
Power divide
The reality of remote living, with a lack of reliable power and water supply, sits in stark contrast to the billions of dollars being poured into mining projects across Australia each year.
Luritja man Chris Croker, who is a member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network, said the divide between Indigenous communities and industry was "really strange".
"You can actually have a 100 megawatt or $200 million investment going on down the road, supplying all this power ... but then just literally down the road or sometimes across the fence, we actually have remote houses who are still getting disconnected," he said.
"Either because they can't afford the electricity ... or the systems are so unreliable that it actually just breaks down.
"We're talking about mega-scale projects, exporting green hydrogen to the world, but then actually we still have all these issues in our backyard."
He hoped First Nations people would not be left behind as investment into renewable energy projects ramped up.
Power to remain on country
Last year the Commonwealth invested $5.5 million to develop a First Nations Clean Energy Strategy aimed at discussing ways for traditional owners, government and business to work together in Australia's transition to renewable energy.
The First Nations Clean Energy Network hoped the strategy would create opportunities for traditional owners to develop businesses, create jobs, and provide reliable power and water to remote communities.
Kariyarra Palyku woman Raylene Button, who as a Pilbara resident sees the impact of mining on the community, said it was important that her people were part of the discussion.
"It's all about having that partnership and us being at the table," she said.
Ms Button said the concerns raised at an initial meeting of First Nations groups from northern WA as part of the strategy were "all very similar".
"It's all about land tenure it's all about water rights," she said.
"Having land tenure and home ownership, it allows us to then build our capacity, and build us as a community and give us growth in our own determination."
Better life for communities
While Australia's transition to clean energy has been underway for years, Djaru woman and First Nations Clean Energy Network steering committee member, Ruby Heard, said there was "no better time than the present" to address the concerns of Indigenous people.
Ms Heard said she hoped the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy would bring about necessary change.
"We need refrigeration for medicines, we need access to health machines, dialysis and that sort of stuff so that we can have our old people on country to do these cultural things," she said.
Mr Booth said he looked forward to living conditions in remote communities improving.
He said having towns run by renewable sources such as wind turbines and solar panels, with diesel as a back up, would give his people a better life.
"We need to make it safe for our communities, so we're not just relying on diesel generators," he said.
The next First Nations Clean Energy Strategy round table will begin in Alice Springs today.
