Indigenous Success Stories: First Nations

NationTalk: Toronto, ON- Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is proud to announce they will be presenting five national awards to five esteemed recipients who are leaders in business and continue to push for Indigenous success at CCAB’s 40th Anniversary Gala Award Dinner this May.

For 40 years CCAB has continued to grow a diverse and prosperous economy by building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, communities and businesses. For the first time ever, CCAB will be celebrating all five recipients of their prestigious awards as they celebrate the significant milestone of 40 years at CCAB’s Anniversary Celebration on May 28 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.

CCAB’s awards honour the excellence of Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses, business leaders, and communities across Canada. Each award recognizes a leader in Indigenous business in a variety of categories that highlight youth, women, community, and business relationships, all with the common goal of achieving Indigenous success. CCAB’s five awards are:

• The Aboriginal Business Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by ESS Support Services Worldwide
• The Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award sponsored by ESS Support Services Worldwide
• Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Award sponsored by LNG Canada
• The Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations sponsored by Sysco
• Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Award sponsored by Rio Tinto

“This year the five incredible award recipients, who provide representation from across the landscape of Canada, will be recognized at the largest celebration in the history of CCAB,” says CCAB President and CEO Tabatha Bull. “Each one has invested their time, talents, resources and passion to advance the Indigenous economy, and we are eager to honour each of them at this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

CCAB is proud to announce that the recipients of CCAB’s 2024 awards are:

Aboriginal Business Lifetime Achievement Award
Hilda Broomfield Letemplier
Pressure Pipe Steel Fabrication
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL

Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award
Nyden Iron-Nighttraveller
Amarok Scaffolding
Kehewin Cree Nation, AB in Treaty 6 Territory

Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Award
Annette Morgan

Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre
Smithers, BC

Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations
Mark Little
Jotson
Calgary, AB

Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Award
Det’on Cho Group of Companies
Yellowknife, NT

For more information about each award and award recipient, please visithttps://www.ccab.com/awards/

All recipients will be honoured at CCAB’s 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner on May 28 following the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Learn more at https://www.ccab.com/events/

Quotes are available from all recipients and sponsors upon request.

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About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness.  CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information visit www.ccab.com.

For more information or to arrange interviews with CCAB-certified businesses, committed corporate buyers, or CCAB staff, please contact:

Alannah Jabokwoam
Senior Associate, Communications & Public Relations
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
ajabokwoam@ccab.com
T: 416.961.8663 ext. 227

NationTalk: Keith McIntosh, CEO of PLATO — Canada’s only Indigenous software testing and technology services company — is this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2023 Atlantic Overall Award winner. McIntosh was recognized alongside five other entrepreneurs at last night’s celebration hosted in Halifax.

“By harnessing the power of technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, PLATO provides the highest quality in software testing services for their clients, “ shares Gina Kinsman, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic Program Co-Director. “But their success isn’t solely measured by bottom-line growth; it’s determined by the difference they make in people’s lives and the reinvestment they make back into their communities. PLATO’s commitment to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people opens career pathways and provides initial entry into the tech industry.”

PLATO offers a comprehensive range of software testing services and is dedicated to creating technology careers for Indigenous communities. The company’s remarkable growth and success are attributed to its commitment to exceptional service in software testing, leading to strong client attraction and retention.

Their unique organizational model fosters diversity. PLATO’s workforce is made up of more than 30% Indigenous employees and 58% Indigenous representation on the board of directors, making a significant contribution to societal change and fostering a more inclusive technology workforce.

What’s more, McIntosh’s dedication to meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities led to the launch of PLATO’s train-and-employ model, offering compensation to Indigenous students during a five-month technical training period. Since its launch in 2015, the initiative has successfully trained over 300 Indigenous students across Canada and operates in 12 offices stretching from Victoria to Halifax, with a vision for even greater impact globally.

“Keith is redefining the foundation of what it means to be a socially responsible entrepreneur,” says Mike Lutes, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic Program Co-Director. “We couldn’t be prouder to have him join our global entrepreneurship network alongside the other exceptional winners — all of whom share the collective vision of propelling Canada’s economy forward while championing social activism.”

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Atlantic Award Winners:

John Flewelling | CBCL Limited

Jon King and Rob Forsythe | Milk Moovement

Rob Lane | MOBIA

Sheena Young | Young’s Lobster Company Ltd.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Atlantic Special Citation Recipients:

Wally Haas | Avalon Holographics

Hilda Broomfield Letemplier | Pressure Pipe Procurement & Management Services

What’s next?

As the Atlantic region’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023, McIntosh will compete with winners from the Pacific, Prairies, Ontario and Québec regions for the national honour of Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023, which will be presented at a celebration on November 30, 2023 in Toronto. In June 2024, Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 will then move to the world stage to compete with more than 50 other country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year^TM hosted in Monaco.

More information

Follow @EYCanada and #EOYAtlantic on X for the latest event updates. Visit ey.com/ca/EOY for more program details and a complete list of finalists and celebration dates in other regions.

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About EY

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Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.  Follow us on X @EYCanada.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year^®

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program shines a spotlight on entrepreneurs across Canada who master the artful balance of passion, determination, character and skill to create businesses that address the most complex challenges and build a better working world. By joining the program, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate success with your team, inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and gain access to an exclusive global network of program participants that help to build connections, fuel success and navigate long-term growth.

The 2023 Atlantic independent judging panel comprises Shakara Joseph, CEO, Junior Achievement Nova Scotia; Laurie MacKeigan, President, Backman Vidcom; David Savoie, CEO, Acadian Construction; Peter Woodward, President & CEO, Woodward Group of Companies.

This year’s program national sponsors are TSX Inc., Air Canada and Hillberg & Berk.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP

NationTalk: Toronto, Ontario — Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is pleased to honour Rose Paul as the recipient of the 2023 Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) award.

CCAB’s IWIL award, sponsored by LNG Canada, is presented each year to a strong leader, mentor, and businesswoman who has been instrumental in making a difference that impacts her community and/or country.

This year, Rose Paul is CEO of Bayside Development Corporation, the business arm of Pagtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, is the recipient of this award.

Paul is committed to the growth of Pagntkek community members, and under her leadership, Bayside Development Corporation prioritized working alongside other parties to complete the first phase of a highway interchange that has significantly benefited the economy of Pagtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. Her persistent efforts were also instrumental in the development of Bayside Travel Centre and the construction of a new business centre.

“We are immensely proud to present Rose Paul with the Indigenous Women in Leadership Award,” said CCAB president and CEO, Tabatha Bull. “Her tenacity, vision, and dedication to her community exemplify how to create and be a powerful force for positive change. We wholeheartedly congratulate her and look forward to witnessing the incredible impact she will continue to make as a leader and role model.”

Paul has been a tireless advocate for economic growth and has developed strong relationships within clean energy, mining, and even the sustainable food industry, thanks to partnerships with Everwind Fuels, Signal Gold and Clearwater Seafoods. She has been recognized for her achievements receiving multiple awards for women in community leadership, economic development, community building and tourism.

“I am extremely honored to be receiving the prestigious Indigenous Women in Leadership award. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work, because I am very sure that every other nominee for this award was as capable, if not more, of winning this award,” said Paul “I have faced several challenges on my way here, but each one of them has only strengthened me to make me the person I am today. Winning this award would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my community, leadership, my beautiful family and my colleagues, for whom I have the deepest respect, and from whom I have derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better at each stage.”

Paul will be honoured at CCAB’s Indigenous Women in Leadership Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia on October 18, 2023.

“On behalf of LNG Canada, congratulations to Rose Paul on receiving this year’s Indigenous Women in Leadership Award,” said Teresa Waddington, Vice President Corporate Relations at LNG Canada. “Rose is a visionary building business and industry partnerships that create business opportunities benefitting many communities. She is an inspiration and truly deserves this recognition.”

Past recipients of CCAB’s IWIL award are from all across Canada, including the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Roberta Jamieson, Dr. Deborah Saucier, and Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

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About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:

CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness. CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information, visit www.ccab.com.

Media contacts:

Alannah Jabokwoam
Senior Associate, Communications & Public Relations
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
ajabokwoam@ccab.com
T: 416.961.8663 ext. 227

Christine John an inspiration, leading Reconciliation Action Plan at OPGGraham Strong Jul 5, 2023 9:00 AM

NationTalk: Sootoday.com You could learn a lot about Christine John by this one fact. That of all the awards, recognitions, and accomplishments she’s had in her career, the recognition that means the most to her is an eagle feather an Elder gave her during a private moment. He was the firekeeper watching over the Sacred Fire during a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in her adopted community of Saugeen First Nation.

“I thought, ‘I’m going to put some tobacco on the fire,’” John said. “As I approached, he said he wanted to give me something. I thought it was papers or something (for work). But when he turned around, he had an eagle feather in his hand. He said, ‘I want to present this to you… You’ve been here a number of years and you’ve brought so much positivity and healing and help to our community.’”

It is perhaps difficult for a non-Indigenous person to understand the gravity and importance of that gift. John compared it to a Medal of Honour. It is recognition that her work and achievements are making a difference in many different ways.

Today, John is senior manager of Indigenous relations at Ontario Power Generation(OPG). But it was a long and windy road. Growing up in Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation on the North Channel of Lake Huron, she initially wanted to be a lawyer. Not that she knew any — she said that her only exposure to the profession was from watching characters on TV.

“I thought it looked like an interesting career path,” John said. “I think inside me is an advocacy-type personality anyway.”

She went to the University of Windsor for political science as pre-law, though eventually John decided it wasn’t the profession for her. By that point, business interested her so she worked towards her MBA through the University of Phoenix.

That opened up doors for John. She moved from Windsor to Saugeen First Nation and met a woman from nearby Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation at a job fair. She asked John to send in her résumé.

“I had an influx from different banks really interested in having someone to support Indigenous banking,” John said. She ultimately spent a year at RBC in Kincardine before she was recruited by Bruce Power as a workforce planning analyst. “What a great opportunity… getting to know all the jobs at the company. I learned a lot about the workforce — the number of jobs it takes to run a plant,” John said.

She worked at Bruce Power for 16 years, moving to different positions including diversity lead and communications specialist — Indigenous relations. So when OPG created the new position of senior manager of Indigenous relations, John was the perfect fit for the company. It was a perfect fit for John as well, who appreciated the groundbreaking work the 100-year-old company had already accomplished in terms of Indigenous relations.

“It makes me feel proud to work for a company with that kind of history — a desire to make a difference. OPG went above and beyond,” she said.

John contributed to OPG’s next steps forward. “When I joined the company, they were in the middle of the process for PAR recertification.”

PAR is the Progressive Aboriginal Relations certificate presented by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). At that point, OPG was at the Silver Level. John led a team that ultimately upgraded that standing to Gold Level, the highest possible PAR-level certification. John also helped put together OPG’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

“We can’t talk about OPG without talking about our Reconciliation Action Plan,” she said. “Our team led those conversations and explained, ‘What is a Reconciliation Action Plan?’ It goes back to addressing the gaps. They relate to employment, they relate to Indigenous participation in the economy, and they relate to environmental stewardship.”

John said they set aggressive targets. Two years in, and she’s happy with the progress so far. “These targets should be ambitious and challenging,” John said, though underlining that concepts such as inclusion and equal economic opportunities should be a given in our society. “It shouldn’t be an effort or an initiative. It should just be common.”

Currently, John’s team is refreshing OPG’s RAP to include new targets and commitments.

John has also had an impact on Saugeen. John is an active community member including coaching soccer, and recognizes she is now a role model herself.

“My main pull in anything I do, it’s to make a difference in the narrative. I want my kids and grandkids to know a different reality than I knew,” John said. “I did not know an engineer. I did not know what nuclear power was. I did not know that Indigenous people could have businesses and actually participate in other businesses outside of the reserve… Do you know how amazing it is for my two boys to see (Brandon) Montour and (Zach) Whitecloud (two professional hockey players of Indigenous descent) in the Stanley Cup playoffs?”

John works hard to be part of that change — and clearly she is succeeding at every step of her career. “Whatever role I’m in, I aspire to make things better,” John said.

NationTalk: Toronto ON and Winnipeg MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) and Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) are pleased to announce that Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn has been chosen as Best World-Changing Idea, North America, in the annual World Changing Ideas Awards presented by Fast Company magazine. The Awards honour sustainable designs, innovative products, bold social initiatives, and other creative projects that are changing the way we work, live, and interact with the world.

In April 2022, the organizations together unveiled SCO’s visionary plan to turn the former HBC building, which was gifted to SCO, into a space for economic and social reconciliation. The project’s working title – Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, or ‘it is visible’ – will transform the building to include approx. 300 housing units, child care, a health and healing centre, museum and art gallery, office space, retail, restaurants and a place of reflection to honour residential and day school Survivors and the children who did not make it home.

This year’s World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 45 winners, 216 finalists, and more than 300 honourable mentions—with health, climate, energy, and AI among the most popular categories. A panel of Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,200 entries across urban design, education, nature, politics, technology, corporate social responsibility, and more. The 2023 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Italy to Singapore to New Zealand.

“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is pleased the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project is
recognized as a World Changing Idea,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “Our
relationship with the Hudson’s Bay Company has enabled the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project to come to life. This project is going to empower and positively impact the lives of countless numbers of citizens in Manitoba and in Canada. It will be a gathering and healing space for First Nations citizens, as it sheds light on the need for concrete, bold steps towards reconciliation.”

“When we began this journey with Southern Chiefs’ Organization, we hoped it would signal to corporate Canada the opportunity and responsibility we all have to advance reconciliation,” says Richard Baker, Governor, Executive Chairman and CEO of HBC. “We are honoured to receive this recognition and hope this spotlight helps to build relationships and create change.”

“It’s thrilling to see the creativity and innovation that are so abundant among this year’s honorees,” says Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “While it’s easy to feel discouraged by the state of the world, the entrepreneurs, companies, and nonprofits featured in this package show the limitless potential to address society’s most urgent problems. Our journalists have highlighted some of the most exciting and impactful work being done today—from housing to equity to sustainability—and we look forward to seeing not only how these projects evolve but how they inspire others to develop solutions of their own.”

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About SCO

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 83,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

About HBC
HBC is a holding company of investments and businesses at the intersection of technology, retail operations, and real estate. It is the majority owner of iconic e-commerce companies: Saks, a leading online destination for luxury fashion; The Bay, a Canadian e-commerce marketplace; and Saks OFF 5TH, a premier luxury off-price e-commerce company offering top brands at the best prices. These businesses were established as separate operating companies in 2021. HBC also wholly owns Hudson’s Bay, the operating company for Hudson’s Bay’s brick-and-mortar stores, as well as SFA, the entity that operates Saks Fifth Avenue’s physical locations, and O5, the operating company for Saks OFF 5TH stores.

With assets spanning top markets and prime locations across North America, HBC owns or controls—either entirely or with joint venture partners—approximately 42 million square feet of gross leasable area. HBC Properties and Investments, the company’s real estate and investments portfolio business manages these assets along with additional real estate offerings, including Streetworks Development, its property development division.

Founded in 1670, HBC is North America’s longest continually operating company and is headquartered in New York and Toronto. For more information visit: www.hbc.com.

About the World Changing Ideas Awards: World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.

Media inquiries:
Southern Chiefs’ Organization
Media@scoinc.mb.ca

Tiffany Bourré
tiffany.bourre@hbc.com
DVP | Communications, PR and Heritage
Hudson’s Bay

The Globe and Mail: In the early 1990s, a treaty land entitlement in Saskatchewan gave 25 First Nations access to about $400 million to buy land that had been promised to them but never given. All of a sudden, those First Nations became an economic entity, buying farmland, buying land in the cities. And that was different—historically, First Nations weren’t in business in a way that included capital. Also, people figured out that the non-Indigenous population was aging, and the Indigenous population was young. Those two things led to the creation of First Nations Bank of Canada—because we had some leverage both in the economy and in the labour market, and we needed a financial institution that operated for us, not for the landowner or the government or corporations.

We first went to the regulator in the mid-1990s and said, “We have a great idea, and we’ve got all this opportunity.” To help us get started, we partnered with TD Bank, which allowed us to use their expertise but which would, over time, be out of the picture. Still, nobody really took us seriously. So we started slow. We got our charter in 1996. By 2009, we only had about $150-million in assets, but we began to control the bank share-wise. In 2012, we still only had $180-million, but we came off TD’s back-office system and started our own. Today, we have $1.2-billion in assets, plus a trust company that manages another $1-billion, and we’ve had 10% compound annual growth in our loans for the past 18 years.

Part of the reason I’m retiring now is that we’ve got a solid base, and it’s a great opportunity for somebody to drive this even higher. Today, First Nations, Inuit and Métis are involved in very large developments—and there are more Indigenous people running those businesses, which I’m really excited about. And many of their employees are Indigenous, too. That involvement from ownership to front line is a significant change that’s going to continue to have an impact on Indigenous economic development going forward.

There are a lot of people unserved by financial services because of the lack of internet— Keith Martell

Back in 1996, electronic services were minimal at best. Today, they’re a core part of our bank. We’ve taken a significant interest in doing business in the Far North—there are a lot of people that are completely unserved by financial services because of the lack of internet. It’s a cash society. If you lived in Baker Lake and wanted to open a bank account, you had to buy an $800 plane ticket to fly to another community. That’s changing. The internet is going to far-flung parts of the country in a big way. And that brings an opportunity for us to create a modern economy in remote parts of the country, where a lot of the people are Indigenous. But we have to be involved in all types of financing, from structured finance for infrastructure and resource development deals, right down to loans to small businesses.

I’ve been on the board of Nutrien since 2007. At one point, I looked around and counted three Indigenous people on public-company boards in Canada. There are now probably dozens of Indigenous directors on public boards, and not just on the Indigenous committee—they’re on the audit committee, the HR committee. That’s where real change happens, and having an Indigenous voice at the table is so important. /Interview by Alex Mlynek

Toronto Star: With significant funding investments announced for clean energy in the 2023 federal budget, it is integral that respect for Indigenous values and meaningful relations between corporations, government and First Nations are at the forefront of the energy transition.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) issued its final report. Call to Action No. 92 calls on the corporate sector to engage in reconciliation and adopt the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for future operational activities involving Indigenous Peoples, their lands and resources.

Economic reconciliation is central to Canada’s efforts to reach carbon net zero — and in the energy sector, it makes good business sense. Our community, Henvey Inlet First Nation (HIFN), which is near Georgian Bay, has been transformed by the Henvey Inlet Wind Project (HIW), a joint initiative between our subsidiary, Nigig Power Corp., and Pattern Energy.

We developed a partnership model that worked for our people and hope it serves as a transferable framework for fellow First Nations, business and government leaders as they explore economic development opportunities.

Like many Indigenous communities, we wanted a better future for our people that included improved infrastructure, health services, job opportunities and reduced reliance on fossil fuels and federal funds. However, taking control of our future could not come at the expense of the environment, wildlife, water and vegetation that sustains us.

The process of conceiving, developing, and operating a renewable energy project has given our nation the building blocks to achieve autonomy and self-determination. For us, renewable energy made sense.

Many challenges presented themselves, including navigating our way out of the Indian Act and developing a land management regime under the First Nations Lands Management Act (FNLMA). It took years to match and, in many cases, surpass provincial and federal environmental regulations while ensuring our community’s values regarding ecological stewardship and cultural connection to our lands were embedded into any land laws we created.

The result was worth it — we now have a rigorous legal system, created for us by us, to govern our lands, protect our sacred cultural sites, species at risk, the wetlands and more.

First Nations must have an active leadership role and an equity stake in clean energy projects. An equity stake supports self-determination and provides a path to economic reconciliation. It is not enough to “let” us have a say, we need to be equal partners at the decision-making table.

For us, our partnership meant learning about the technical side of wind energy. For Pattern, it meant learning how to incorporate our culture and values into every aspect of the project.

Our community was the first to establish an Indigenous-led model of environmental sustainability under the FNLMA. Working with industry experts, Canada Wildlife Service, hiring an environmental commissioner and community participation, has helped us become our own environmental protection agency.

An Anishinabek value is considering whether a decision will benefit the next seven generations. We created the Eastern Georgian Bay Initiative to mitigate any long-term impacts of the wind project and support the conservation of biodiversity and species at risk in Eastern Georgian Bay.

Reserves were set aside under various treaties to provide First Nations with an economic base. They are particularly advantageous for renewable energy projects as they often yield high economic benefits with minimal environmental impact. Our people have been stewards of the eastern shores of Georgian Bay since time immemorial, so this is paramount.

Indigenous perspectives regarding environmental stewardship and natural resource management offer immense value for reaching net zero emissions and achieving more sustainable outcomes in the energy transition.

In fact, they will help us leave behind a better world for the next seven generations.

WAYNE MCQUABBIE, GREGORY NEWTON AND JOHN BEAUCAGE CONTRIBUTORS

WAYNE MCQUABBIE IS THE CHIEF OF HENVEY INLET FIRST NATION;

GREGORY NEWTON AND JOHN BEAUCAGE SERVE AS CEO AND VICEPRESIDENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF NIGIG POWER CORPORATION, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY

Oneida Energy project will be made up of lithium-ion batteries, much like ones that power cellphones, laptops and electric vehicles but much bigger.

Toronto Star: OHSWEKEN, Ont.—It’s clean. It’s green. And it’s being hailed as an act of reconciliation between Canada’s settler and Indigenous populations. The 250-megawatt Oneida Energy storage project, announced Friday, will mean Ontario’s polluting gas plants aren’t turned on as often, helping the climate while also saving electricity ratepayers money.

And the largest energy storage project in Canada will provide 20 years of revenue to the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River. “It’s going to bring investments and jobs,” said Chief Mark Hill. “But the bigger picture is that it’s going to help all Ontarians. “We need to get into these types of projects yesterday, years ago, in order to be able to protect the overall health and safety of everybody — the human race.”

The grid-scale battery farm will be made up of lithium-ion batteries, much like the ones that power cellphones, laptops and electric vehicles — only much bigger. When deployed, the batteries will provide enough electricity to power a city the size of Oshawa.

When it goes online in 2025, the project will more than double the amount of energy storage currently on Ontario’s grid from 225 megawatts to 475 megawatts. “This is incredibly important to making sure our grid is as efficient as possible,” said Energy Minister Todd Smith.

More than 30,000 wind and solar-generation projects are scattered around the province, supplying 17 per cent of the electricity used annually. But that production is intermittent, only happening when the sun shines and the wind blows, and not always when the power is needed. That’s why batteries and other electricity storage options are expected to play such a big role in the future — one that will grow as more renewables are added to the grid. 

“This is what we need to store that power so we’re not shipping it off to neighbouring jurisdictions at a loss,” said Smith. “We’ll be able to capture that power and use it during peak demand times to help make our system more efficient and benefit ratepayers.”

The project received $50 million from the federal government and another $170 million from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank. It will be co-owned by the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp., Northland Power and NRStor, a pioneering battery storage company. 

“When I started to look for the market for energy storage, there wasn’t any,” said NRStor CEO Annette Verschuren. After four years of negotiations with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the province, the regulations were established for battery farms to sell electricity into the grid just like nuclear or natural gas generators.

“Someone had to be first,” she said. 

The stage is now set for many more battery projects that could go a long way to decarbonizing Ontario’s electricity system, as the province has announced it will procure an additional 2,500 megawatts of grid-scale energy storage.  “It’s really easy. It’ll be the best tool in the toolbox for the IESO,” Verschuren said. “It will be able to do things that no straight generator can do.”

Not only do the batteries convert renewable energy into on-demand energy, they also reduce the province’s reliance on natural gas peaker plants, so called because they only turn on when demand is highest. Now non-emitting batteries can be used instead. 

Nevertheless, the province is moving forward with plans to build 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas plants after the IESO determined they would be necessary to meet growing demand for electricity without resorting to rotating blackouts. A recent report found, however, that new renewable electricity projects coupled with battery storage can provide electricity more cheaply than gas peaker plants. 

The Oneida Energy storage project is expected to reduce Ontario’s grid emissions by between 2.2 million to 4.1 million tonnes, the equivalent to taking up to 40,000 cars off the road, the province said in a statement.  But the project alone won’t be enough to stop the rising emissions from the electricity sector — set to increase by more than 700 per cent by 2040.

Premier Doug Ford often refers to Ontario’s grid as clean because it is more than 90 per cent non-emitting, but fails to mention that it has become more polluting since he took office. “We need to continue to find ways to keep our energy supply clean and green so we can strengthen the Ontario advantage,” he said Friday.

This spring, the federal government has said it will unveil clean electricity regulations that will mandate 100 per cent non-emitting grids nationwide by 2035.

Six Nations has already invested in almost one gigawatt of renewable generation and sees the battery storage product as the next logical step. “We take the highest and best use of what we have before we go and build more,” said Matt Jamieson, president and CEO of Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp. “That’s part of a sustainable mindset.”

Battery storage projects like these are wins for the economy, for the environment and for Indigenous people, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland at Friday’s launch. 

“Canada is an amazing country. But we have an original sin and reconciliation is the path forward. I absolutely believe that Indigenous prosperity, built through projects like this one, is an essential part of the path to reconciliation.”

Marco Chown Oved is a Toronto-based reporter covering climate change for the Star. Reach him via email: moved@thestar.ca

HUMBER COLLEGE PROFESSOR ADDRESSING LACK OF INDIGENOUS BUSINESS CONTENT THROUGH NEW RESEARCH PROJECT

NationTalk: Humber Today – A new project led by Humber College in partnership with the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is producing case studies on Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to be used as a free and open access educational resource.   

Audrey Wubbenhorst is a professor with Humber’s Public Relations program and the principal investigator for the Indsights: A Window into the Indigenous Economy project.  

Wubbenhorst notes that in textbooks and case banks, there isn’t a great deal of available research on Indigenous businesses. She and her team of two students are addressing that gap through Indsights.

Each case study reflects on barriers Canadian Indigenous businesses face while showing how they demonstrate economic leadership and innovation.  

The project aims to educate post-secondary students on the importance of Indigenous economic development in Canada, which will be demonstrated through case studies of successful Indigenous businesses, partnerships, and illustrations of positive stakeholder engagement.  

Multiple case studies already published  

So far, three of the case studies have been published with plans to publish another four early next year. The goal is to have 15 case studies available by the end of 2023.  

“Indsights is about developing content that teachers and professors can use in the classroom so students can learn about the wide variety of Indigenous businesses that are thriving across the country,” said Wubbenhorst. “We are so grateful to the participants for sharing their time and stories.”  

One of the published case studies is about Birch Bark Coffee Company, which should be familiar to Humber’s coffee drinkers as it’s available at North and Lakeshore campuses. Owner Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow’s company has a social goal to go along with the business goals. Its mission is to work toward bringing clean drinking water to every Indigenous home living under boil water advisories by providing and installing certified water purification systems for those in need.  

One of the other case studies looks at Pawgwasheeng Economic Development Corporation (PEDC). Ginny Michano is the president of PEDC, which is a 100 per cent owned Indigenous corporation by Pawgwasheeng, Pays Plat First Nation. It generates and maximizes economic development and commercial opportunities that encourage community and membership growth.  

There’s also Shades of Gray Pet Treats, which is a farm and retail pet food store owned and run by the Indigenous people of Algonquin of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Keri Gray runs it and is committed to participating in and advancing the community’s heritage, which is why she is passionate about helping Indigenous communities, youth, and education.  

Wubbenhorst notes that many business classes use case studies focusing on larger, global businesses such as Apple or Google. She believes the businesses and entrepreneurs they’re profiling will be more inspirational for students who have an entrepreneurial spirit, as they’re examples of how to start and run a successful small or medium-sized business.

“It’s inspiring and motivating for students to hear their stories,” said Wubbenhorst. “These are stories of employment and economic development and entrepreneurs creating jobs for their communities.”  

Each case study has a written component and a supplementary video as well as a recommended teaching note to guide a facilitated discussion. Down the road, Wubbenhorst envisions the case studies potentially being taught as a post-secondary course.
   
Positive impact of Indigenous economic development   

Previous research completed by CCAB has shown that economic development in Indigenous communities positively impacts the general well-being of the community. This has led to increases in job opportunities, developed skills and capacity, and has put money into Indigenous economies.  

“Using innovative digital storytelling, the Indsights project works directly with Indigenous businesses resulting in stories that can inspire future generations of Indigenous business leaders and the broader Canadian population,” said CCAB President and CEO Tabatha Bull. “The wide range of economic structures and businesses illustrated in these stories demonstrates there is no one-size-fits-all paradigm for Indigenous economic success.”  

The project is part of Humber and CCAB’s shared vision of putting the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s 94 Calls to Action into action, particularly Calls 63 and 64 on education, to encourage more Indigenous voices to be included in mainstream curriculum.  

Wubbenhorst received a grant worth $360,000 over three years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s College and Community Social Innovation Fund for the project. It was awarded in June 2020.  

Those interested in more information can visit the project’s website

Meadow Lake Tribal Council turns wood waste into heat and power, shuts down old beehive burner

CBC News: As the temperature dips to -28 C, Paul Opikokew is ready for the unexpected at the newly-built Meadow Lake Tribal Council Bioenergy Centre in northwestern Saskatchewan, now being tested by its first winter in operation.

Opikokew, 44, a process operator, monitors 980 alarms on a computer system that tracks every part of the $100-million facility — from the wood chips coming in from the nearby sawmill to the power going out to roughly 5,000 homes.

“It’s something new, something that I’m excited about because it’s new technology and good for the environment,” Opikokew told CBC News during an interview at the facility located on the outskirts of Meadow Lake, 250 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

Opikokew, who grew up at Canoe Lake Cree Nation, is thrilled that NorSask Forest Products, the largest First Nations-owned sawmill in Canada, is ditching a dirty habit.

Half century of spewing smoke and ash

For 50 years, the sawmill has simply burned its wood waste — including bark, wood chips, and sawdust — in what’s known as a beehive burner. The free-standing conical steel structure, notorious for air pollution, has been phased out or banned in most parts of Canada. Yet, NorSask Forest Products continued to dump 56,000 tonnes of leftover wood inside the antiquated incinerator, spewing out smoke and ash.

The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC), made up of nine First Nations in northwestern Saskatchewan — including Opikokew’s band — became a part-owner of the NorSask sawmill in 1988, then the sole owner in 1998. And while it has prided itself on generating jobs and revenue for its communities, the beehive burner has been a nagging stain on its environmental record.

Tina Rasmussen, the chief business officer for MLTC and a member of Flying Dust First Nation, said elders, in particular, expressed their discomfort with wasting a quarter of each tree harvested from traditional land.

The bioenergy centre changes that.

“[Wood waste] is now being combusted in a closed-loop system that produces both combined heat and energy that allows us to make use of 100 per cent of that tree. So it’s incredible. We’ve fulfilled what our communities have expected, which is making use of that resource. If you’re taking it, then you need to use it all and not waste it.”

“It’s pretty amazing,” she said, “that this whole facility is 100 per cent Indigenous-owned.”

Any time wood is burned, it produces greenhouse gas emissions. However, the bioenergy plant uses air pollution control devices, including a filter to remove particulate matter and extremely high combustion temperatures that break down harmful pollutants into ash that’s sold to farmers.

Rasmussen and others argue that replacement forests will gradually soak up any carbon dioxide emitted when the wood waste was burned for energy, making the whole process carbon neutral.

• THE FIFTH ESTATEWood from B.C. forests is being burned for electricity billed as green — but critics say that’s deceptive

Not all bioenergy facilities are universally celebrated. Those that harvest trees for the sole purpose of creating wood pellets to generate electricity have faced mounting criticism, both for what is happening in the forest and for the carbon emissions produced by burning the pellets. However, this facility uses leftover wood from trees that were already cut down for lumber that’s used to build homes or furniture.

Electricity for roughly 5,000 homes

Our CBC News crew was the first to be shown the bioenergy facility, now operational after months of delays.

Through a small window, it’s possible to see into the blazing red combustion chamber, where temperatures reach nearly 1,000 degrees C. The fire slowly heats tubes that are filled with thermal oil, and that heat energy is converted to electrical energy. 

The MLTC Bioenergy Centre generates 8.3 megawatts of power, 6.6 of which is fed into the provincial grid, purchased by SaskPower, and used to power roughly 5,000 homes. The rest of the energy runs the bioenergy centre and heats a sawmill kiln that dries lumber.

Clean energy project not cheap, easy, or quick

The MLTC began exploring the idea of a biomass power plant in 2008.

Its goal was to phase out its beehive burner, generate carbon-neutral green power, and create jobs and revenue for its nine First Nations.

In 2012, the Harper government announced $499,000 in federal dollars to cover project design and environmental assessments. At that time, the proposed facility was expected to generate 36 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power roughly 30,000 homes. It would take another seven years to get to the point in 2019 that Trudeau’s government approved $52.5 million from its Investing in Canada green infrastructure program for a scaled down version of the project.

“The project is expected to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by more than one million tonnes over 25 years, and reduce smoke and other harmful matter to significantly improve air quality for residents,” said a Government of Canada release from that announcement.

The pandemic and supply-chain issues inflated prices, driving the total cost just above $100 million, and added delays to construction and commissioning. The facility was initially slated to open in February 2022, but didn’t get running until late October.

Of that total price, about $35 million in contracts went to Indigenous companies, according to Al Balisky, who oversees all of MLTC’s investment projects.

“Indigenous participation, in terms of ownership, in terms of construction and now in terms of operation … from start to finish was the goal and we’ve achieved that,” said Balisky, adding that seven of 13 employees are Indigenous.

Balisky said the “biggest challenge” was getting the money to “pull it all together.” He said it wouldn’t make commercial sense for a private company to pursue this kind of clean energy project without taxpayer funding.

“These are very expensive projects to undertake so without that assistance, this project would not have happened,” he said.

The MTLC business team says it hopes the bioenergy facility will yield profits over time that can be returned to their communities to support health, education and housing programs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bonnie Allen

Senior reporter

Bonnie Allen is a senior news reporter for CBC News based in Saskatchewan. She has covered stories from across Canada and around the world, reporting from various African countries for five years. She holds a master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Oxford. You can reach her at bonnie.allen@cbc.ca

NationTalk: Toronto, ON – Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) plans a celebration to honour Dawn Madahbee Leach as the 2023 Business Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and Lesley Hampton, as the recipient of the Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award. Recognizing their contributions to the Indigenous economy at different stages in their careers, both are to be honoured and celebrated at an Awards Dinner following CCAB’s Central Business Forum on February 7^th at the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre. ESS Support Services Worldwide is the Award Sponsor for both national awards and Bruce Power is the Lead Sponsor for the Central Business Forum.

“I am looking forward to our event on February 7^th to celebrate two exemplary and inspiring Indigenous women,” said Tabatha Bull, President & CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. “Over the span of her career, Dawn Madahbee Leach continues to make significant contributions toward Indigenous economic development and demonstrates lifelong leadership. Lesley Hampton, an up-and-coming icon as an artist and fashion designer, continues her activism in the fashion industry and serves as an inspiration to other young Indigenous entrepreneurs.”

CCAB’s Business Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis person whose business leadership has made a substantive contribution to the economic and social well-being of Indigenous people. The jury’s unanimous decision to recognize Dawn Madahbee Leach, a respected international Indigenous business leader with CCAB’s national award.  Through her work with the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, she continues to be integral to Indigenous economic development in Canada. She has a deep connection to her routes as an Anishinabe Kwe from the Aundeck Omni Kaning and Whitefish River First Nations, as she continues to be a part of the development of Indigenous strategies in multiple sectors, regionally. She is also notably one of the key leaders in the 2022 National Indigenous Economy Strategy, developing 107 calls to action that lead to economic prosperity for all Canadians.

Her longstanding career has allowed her to have a deep understanding of the challenges that Indigenous businesses and communities face, and how to develop strategies for long term success. As general manager of Waubetek Business Development Corporation, she has been responsible for more than $110 million in financing and funding to 27 First Nation communities.

“This Lifetime Achievement Award from Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is humbly accepted on behalf of all who have guided, supported and encouraged me on my life’s journey to be brave, to work hard, and to bring about positive change,” said Dawn Madahbee Leach. “I am extremely grateful to have among my teachers many inspirational Indigenous leaders from within our communities, in business, in national organizations, and around the world who share a vision of prosperity for our people.”

“ESS is proud to sponsor the Aboriginal Business Lifetime Achievement Award; I send my congratulations to Dawn Madahbee Leach for her dedication to advancing economic development in Indigenous communities across Canada and around the world.  Dawn’s lifetime commitment has had a tremendous impact on all who she’s encountered; community leaders, young women and men with whom she has worked, students, business owners, elders and leaders.” said Johanne Belanger, president, ESS North America. “Dawn is a lifelong leader and trail blazer in Aboriginal economic development.”

The Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur award recognizes the young business leaders of today who are driving the Indigenous economy forward. Lesley Hampton, an inspirational business owner and young Indigenous leader, continues to make her mark and the well-deserved recipient of this award. An Anishnaabe kwe from Temagami First Nation, fashion designer and artist Lesley Hampton represents authentic Indigenous representation in the fashion industry through storytelling on the runway and steering away from typical fashion norms. Her business is 100 per cent Indigenous-owned, with a strong advocacy for size-inclusive clothing, mental health awareness, and body positivity.

Lesley Hampton designs have been seen through Vogue, Buzzfeed, and worn by various artists and actresses at award shows such as the 2021 Emmy Awards, 2020 Golden Globes, 2022 Juno Awards, 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, and Vancouver International Film Festival. She is a laureate of the 2021 Indspire Youth Award, 2021 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards Fashion Impact Award, and 2021 Fashion Group International Toronto Visionary Award. As she continues to be successful in the Canadian market, she is growing internationally, with clients through direct sales and e-commerce sales. As Lesley Hampton’s business and brand continue to grow Indigenous representation increases in the fashion industry.

“I’m so honoured to be the recipient of the Young Entrepreneur Award and thankful to the CCAB for this recognition; to follow the footsteps of so many incredible young leaders. I dedicate this award to my community and my team who empower and inspire me daily,” says Lesley Hampton.

“ESS is proud to sponsor the Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award; my sincere congratulations go out to Lesley Hampton for raising the profile on mental health awareness, body positivity and authentic representation in fashion, media and beauty,” said Johanne Belanger, president, ESS North America. “Lesley is an important voice in the Canadian fashion landscape and her work is building a more inclusive tomorrow.”

CCAB is thrilled to be kicking off the first event of the year in Toronto at the Central Business Forum and Awards Dinner, sponsored by Bruce Power, on February 7^th at the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre. CCAB events focus on connecting people and businesses to innovate, learn, engage in discussions, pursue partnerships, make connections, and celebrate success. Early bird tickets go on sale Monday, December 5^th!

For event tickets and information go to ccab.com/events.

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About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business:

CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness. CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information, visit www.ccab.com.

Contact: 

Alannah Jabokwoam
Senior Associate, Communications & Public Relations
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
ajabokwoam@ccab.com
T: 416.961.8663 ext. 227

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: As part of its 40^th annual Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs), the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is proud to announce Tabatha Bull, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), as the 2022 CEO of the Year Award recipient. This award is given to a CEO that has demonstrated exceptional leadership over the past 12 months, bringing their organization to a new level of growth and success within their industry.

“We are extremely proud to honour Tabatha Bull as this year’s CEO of the Year recipient,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Tabatha has led her team to exponential growth and success, while advocating for economic reconciliation at a critical time in the country’s history. Her work helps build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to foster an inclusive economy for all.”

The OBAAs is the most distinguished industry celebration in the province recognizing business success. This year’s 40th anniversary special will feature community leaders and organizations working toward an inclusive economy. These include the CEO of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards for exceptional leadership and those that contribute to generating opportunities for persons with disabilities, climate action, inclusive hiring and advancing digital literacy.

“I am humbled and honoured to receive the CEO of the Year Award and owe it to my tremendous staff and all those that have supported the work that we do at CCAB,” said Bull. “Over the last couple years, I have seen tremendous growth and progress in our work to help improve economic reconciliation for Indigenous communities and businesses. We all stand to benefit by supporting, partnering, procuring from, and investing in Indigenous businesses, communities, and peoples.”

The CEO of the Year Award televised episode will explore Tabatha’s story and celebrate her accomplishments since becoming CCAB’s President and CEO in 2020. Under her leadership, the organization is breaking barriers and committed to supporting Indigenous procurement. Tabatha’s recent advocacy work includes helping develop a National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada and being a member of the federal government’s COVID-19 Supply Council.

Watch the 2022 Ontario Business Achievement Awards on Saturday, November 12 at 3:30 pm ET. on TLN TV– now on free preview across Canada. This year’s OBAAs are supported by our Series Presenting Partner, CN and Broadcast Partner, TLN Media Group. The CEO of the Year Award Episode Partner is Laborers’ International Union of North America. To learn more about the broadcast and our partners, see the OBAAs website here.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the OCC has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business  
CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness. CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information, visit www.ccab.com.

For more information, please contact:
Alissa Reid
Coordinator, Public Affairs, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
alissareid@occ.ca | (705) 205-1434

Alannah Jabokwoam
Associate, Communications, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
ajabokwoam@ccab.com | (416) 961-8663 xtn 227

NationTalk: Vancouver, BC – The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined today by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Council Chairperson Khelsilem on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw traditional territory to announce the federal government will provide $1.4 billion to create nearly 3,000 homes on traditional lands in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood. This project is the largest First Nations economic partnership and the largest loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in Canadian history.

These funds will support Sen̓áḵw, an on-reserve residential and commercial development project that will be owned and operated by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. Sen̓áḵw, “the place inside the head of False Creek,” is located on land that was forcibly taken away from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw in the early 1900s and returned by the courts in 2003. The ancient Sen̓áḵw village, located on this land, was burned down and the people who lived there were forced to relocate.

When complete, the Sen̓áḵw development project will feature striking Coast Salish architecture and design across a ten-acre site, over half of which will be publicly accessible, with green spaces, parks, and plazas. Everyone in the community, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, will be able to live at Sen̓áḵw. Sen̓áḵw’s vision will demonstrate how humanity and nature can co-exist, and the development aims to be the largest net-zero residential project in the country. In addition to thousands of rental units, including affordable units, the project is expected to create hundreds of good jobs and long-term economic opportunities for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. Construction is already underway, with the first residents expected to move in in 2025.

With today’s announcement, the Government of Canada is supporting the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw’s long-term vision for the Sen̓áḵw lands, while helping to define a new generation of First Nations reconciliation and leadership, grow our economy, and create good jobs. We will continue to work together to advance meaningful reconciliation, including economic reconciliation, and ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.

“The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and the federal government’s partnership to support the residential development of Sen̓áḵw is a historic moment in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous communities. This economic partnership is the largest in Canadian history between a First Nation and the federal government. This investment will build many needed rental apartments and generate long-term wealth for Squamish People across many generations. The wealth generated from these lands can then be recirculated into our local economies and communities to address our people’s urgent needs for affordable housing, education, and social services.”
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Council Chairperson Khelsilem

“Everyone should have a safe place to call home. Today’s announcement not only builds more much-needed homes for Vancouverites, it supports the Squamish Nation’s vision for their traditional lands and their path to continued economic independence and self-determination. When we all work together as partners – federal and Indigenous governments, private sector, local communities – we innovate, and we find solutions to the challenges we face.”
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Through our National Housing Strategy, we’re creating more housing supply in communities that need it most by working closely with partners from all levels of government, industry leaders, organizations, and of course, Indigenous governments. With projects like Sen̓áḵw, these partnerships are leading the way in building a better future for generations to come, as we continue to move forward together on the path to reconciliation.”
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

For more information, please contact Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw at media@squamish.net  or PMO Media Relations at media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca.

NationTalk: Westbank, British Columbia – The First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with BFL CANADA, one of the largest employee-owned and operated insurance brokerage firms in Canada, which takes the initial steps toward establishing the first-ever non-profit Indigenous-owned insurance model for Indigenous communities and businesses in Canada.

“Access to insurability is a major barrier facing First Nations in their efforts to build healthy and prosperous communities,” said Ernie Daniels, President, and CEO of the FNFA. “Providing Indigenous communities with access to broad insurance coverage at affordable rates would be a major step forward on the path to economic reconciliation.”

FNFA’s Ernie Daniels and BFL CANADA CEO, Founder and President Barry F. Lorenzetti signed a Memo of Understanding to move forward to test the feasibility of the model. “We are committed to being a part of this project which will establish a collaborative alternative risk transfer model that serves communities effectively, creates new jobs and careers, and develops new sources of revenue for Indigenous communities,” said Mr. Lorenzetti. “This is how we begin to take action toward economic reconciliation within the insurance industry. First Nations leaders from across turtle island have come forward in support of the initiative requested to participate in this study.”

First Nations communities and organizations have limited options in finding insurance for community-owned assets and economic development initiatives and are often forced to accept take-it-or-leave-it offers at higher cost. FNFA’s proposed model is being developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners, government, and industry. Its aim is to empower Indigenous communities and organizations to own and manage a collective insurance and risk management program which would enhance the economic strength and well-being of their communities.

As a non-profit, Indigenous-led lending institution, FNFA has provided over $1.7 billion in low-cost loans to First Nations to help bridge the huge $30 billion infrastructure gap that exists between Indigenous communities and the rest of Canada. The FNFA is determined to bring the same kind of innovative approach to developing an Indigenous insurance and risk management program.

‘‘It is time that our communities and businesses operate and fully own a National Indigenous Insurance Model” Ernie Daniels President and CEO, FNFA

‘‘Every Rez spends tens of thousands of dollars annually on business and home insurance. It’s time to all work together to create our own insurance company.’’ Chief Clarence Louie Osoyoos Indian Band

“Every First Nation and Indigenous Business in Canada has a need for insurance coverage and millions of dollars are spent annually. We need to collectively own and manage this spend to benefit all communities. It’s time to create our own insurance company!” Robert Louie Chairman, Lands Advisory Board

About the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA)

The FNFA is a not-for-profit First Nation institution that plays a crucial role in the social and economic development of First Nations across Canada by providing qualifying First Nations with access to the capital markets at competitive rates. Established by the federal First Nations Fiscal Management Act in 2005, FNFA is by First Nations, for First Nations. The FNFA will continue to expand and diversify, looking to strengthen its credit rating and increase the financial benefits to its growing membership.

About BFL CANADA 

Founded in 1987 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, BFL CANADA is one of the largest employee-owned and operated Risk Management, Insurance Brokerage, and Employee Benefits Consulting services firms in North America. The firm has a team of over 1,100 professionals located in twenty-four cities across the country. BFL CANADA is a founding Partner of Lockton Global LLP, a partnership of independent insurance brokers who provide Risk Management, Insurance and Benefits Consulting services in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, visit bflcanada.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

On a sunny day last month, a group of about 30 people toured the Nanticoke Solar facility, a 44-megawatt project built on the former site of what was Ontario’s biggest coal-fired plant before it was decommissioned in 2013.

Beyond the symbolism of solar panels on the shores of Lake Erie, on a site once dominated by two looming coal stacks, the tour marked another shift: the growing role of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s renewable energy landscape.

Nanticoke Solar, in production since 2019, is a commercial partnership between Ontario Power Generation and Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp., which has a 15-per-cent interest, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, which owns 5 per cent. The solar plant is one of several Indigenous partnerships at OPG, which signed its first such agreement, for a hydropower plant with the Lac Seul First Nation, in 2009.

The tour group was co-ordinated through 20/20 Catalysts, a three-month program that links industry mentors with First Nations, Inuit and Métis participants, aiming to provide them with knowledge they can put toward renewable energy projects in their home communities or parlay into jobs or other opportunities in the energy sector.

The Nanticoke stop, which featured flocks of sheep used for weed control, came on the Ontario leg of this year’s Catalysts program. It also included site visits in Kelowna, B.C., and Iqaluit, Nunavut, and is run by Indigenous Clean Energy, an Ottawa-based non-profit. About 100 people have gone through the program, which is currently lining up its sixth group of participants.

Matt Jamieson is president and chief executive of Six Nations of Grand River Development Corp., and he spoke to the Catalyst participants before they toured the Nanticoke facility. For him, such mentoring is as much a part of his job as crunching the numbers for new investments.

“If there’s an opportunity for us to showcase what we’ve done, and to provide an opportunity for others to learn from – we’re all in,” said Mr. Jamieson, who is a member of the Tuscarora Nation.

That enthusiasm is line with industry trends. The number of mid- to large-sized Indigenous renewable energy projects grew by nearly 30 per cent from 2017 to 2020, according to a 2020 report by Indigenous Clean Energy. With the push toward net-zero targets, that momentum is expected to increase.

Other factors are also nudging the needle toward Indigenous equity stakes and participation, including Recommendation 92 of Canada’s 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The recommendation calls on corporate Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a “reconciliation framework.”

The Six Nations development corporation is part of that evolving picture. Officially launched in 2015, it is a stand-alone corporation, designed to separate business from politics, with a mandate to generate revenue the community can use for needs including health care, education and infrastructure.

Those needs are significant. The infrastructure gap between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous ones – what it would cost to bring services in line with those available in most municipalities – has been estimated as being as high as $30-billion. In Six Nations, estimates of the cost to connect all households to a central water system range as high as $200-million. (A new water treatment plant opened in 2014, but it is connected only to some buildings and homes in a central area; most households rely on water trucked to their homes.)

Six Nations of the Grand River are the most populous First Nation in Canada, with about 30,000 members, of whom 12,000 live on a reserve that spans about 180 square kilometres.

That’s only about 5 per cent of the lands granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River in the Haldimand Proclamation, an 18th-century decree that set aside a tract of land to the Six Nations in recognition of their support of British forces during the American Revolution. The area is subject to multiple land claims and a court claim filed by the Six Nations elected council against the governments of Canada and Ontario.

With those issues unresolved and potential settlements likely years away, the Six Nations development corporation has focused on generating income in the short term. It has stakes in a transmission line, wind and solar projects, and a 50-per-cent stake in the proposed Oneida Energy Storage Project, a 250-megawatt battery storage facility intended to store renewable energy so it can be used when power demand spikes.

The group’s partner in the Oneida project is Toronto-based NRStor Inc., which has built several small energy storage projects and now wants to roll out the technology on a larger scale. NRStor works with Indigenous partners from the outset of any project, said chief development officer Jason Rioux.

“It makes sense for us, it makes sense for our Indigenous partner and I think it makes sense in setting an example across Canada for more projects to come,” he said.

According to Six Nation development corporation reports, the group has generated more than $110-million in direct economic impact for the Six Nations community since 2015.

Indigenous communities are also eyeing opportunities in the hydrogen sector. The Canadian and German governments in August signed a deal to co-operate on exporting hydrogen fuel to Europe, with a target of 2025 to begin shipments from Eastern Canada.

The Six Nations development corporation is talking to a prospective partner about green hydrogen, but the financial feasibility of such a project has yet to be confirmed, Mr. Jamieson said, adding that any new ventures would need community support.

“What we do as a development corporation is pursue a future that fits within our values, to create something. So that our future generations can look back and and say, ‘Wow, we didn’t have to wait for a court ruling. We don’t have to wait for a transfer payment. We stepped up, asserted our interests, got organized and conducted business, and did a good job of it.’ That’s really the goal.”

The Bank of Canada announced today it has officially begun a one-year term as chair of the Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion (CBNII). The Network also plans a bi-annual Symposium on Indigenous Economies. The first symposium was hosted by the Bank of Canada in November 2021, in partnership with the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

In 2021, under the leadership of the RBNZ, the Network focused on building awareness of members’ respective economic and Indigenous histories.“As the Bank of Canada assumes the role of chair, we have an important opportunity to support the growth and evolution of the network, and to deepen both the relations that have been developed and our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the Indigenous Economy,” said Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri. “We look forward to building upon the sterling work done by Te Pūtea Matua, which served as the Network’s inaugural chair in 2021.”

Global Affairs Canada – The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, announced Canada’s endorsement of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA).

IPETCA was developed in close cooperation with Indigenous peoples in Canada through Global Affairs Canada’s Indigenous Working Group on Trade Policy and is open for other economies to join. IPETCA acknowledges the importance of enhancing the ability of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous businesses to benefit from the opportunities created by international trade and investment. As a cooperation-based and voluntary instrument, IPETCA establishes a framework for facilitating cooperation between participating economies in order to identify and remove barriers to Indigenous peoples’ economic empowerment and participation in trade. It comprises provisions on responsible business conduct, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.

The agreement also includes a provision whereby participating economies acknowledge that it is inappropriate to weaken or reduce protections for Indigenous peoples in order to attract trade or investment. Indigenous representatives from each participating economy will be involved in the implementation and operation of IPETCA alongside government officials.

Symposium on Indigenous Economies:

Tiff Macklem, Governor of Bank of Canada: One of the main goals of the Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion is to recognize the shared history of colonialism in our countries, and to work together to acknowledge and address some historical wrongs… Over the next two days, we’ll take a historical look at Indigenous economies, and we’ll consider various aspects of present-day economies. This includes access to capital, resource development, and Indigenous businesses and labour markets. We’ll also talk about the impacts that policies throughout history have had on current-day inequalities.

Part of this includes economic reconciliation, which relates to our mandate as Canada’s central bank. Fundamentally, it’s our job to promote the economic and financial welfare of our country and all peoples within it. The report encourages organizations to apply reconciliation principles, norms and standards to their policies and operational activities. This speaks directly to one of the goals shared by all of us at this symposium: making our workplaces and policies more inclusive. That means eliminating long-standing barriers and ensuring that all voices are heard. Because when we listen to more diverse voices, we have a greater understanding of how our policies affect all Canadians. This helps us make better decisions.

The report also calls for meaningful consultations with Indigenous peoples and communities on economic development and equitable access to jobs, training and education. As Canada’s central bank, we play an important role in creating the conditions for opportunity for Canadians. And this must include meaningful opportunities for Indigenous peoples within Canada. Together, we’ll define what reconciliation means for the work of the Bank of Canada—toward a more inclusive and prosperous economy for everyone.

April 13, 2021 – The IGF is Canada’s newest and largest Indigenous social impact fund and will be under the management of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA).

The Fund’s lead investors are the Government of Canada and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), with further commitments from Export Development Canada (EDC) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC). BDC’s partnership with NACCA has been integral in bringing the Fund to fruition leading negotiations on behalf of the federal government and other investing Crown corporations and supporting NACCA with additional resources.
The IGF will enable Indigenous entrepreneurs throughout Canada to receive the capital they require to start or expand their businesses through the Aboriginal Financial Institution (AFI) that serves them. AFIs will access the IGF for capital to build on their 30-year track record of lending to Indigenous-led small and medium-sized businesses.
The Fund will be operational and capital will begin to be deployed to AFIs later in 2021. Once fully utilized, the Fund will increase AFI lending by $75M annually with loans to roughly 500 businesses.

Indigenous economic development is a critical aspect of reconciliation in Canada. Since the early 1980s, the developmental lending programs offered by AFIs have supported Indigenous communities and their members by creating opportunities from within. Where a lack of capital has long been the most significant barrier to Indigenous people seeking to start up or expand their businesses, the loan programs the AFI network supported by NACCA stimulate the emergence of Indigenous-led Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Whether owned by communities or individuals, Indigenous-led SMEs contribute to the economic self-determination of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. Representing more than simply job creation for Indigenous peoples, these SMEs are the heart of development in communities. Ultimately, these SMEs provide the promise of a better future for business owners and their families, and a motivating environment for other community members – who benefit both from their examples and from the goods and services they offer. Most successful Indigenous-led enterprises start by entrepreneurs addressing local needs. These businesses also contribute to their regional economies and bring positive impacts to Canada as a whole.
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2021/11/remarks-tiff-macklem-and-lawrence-schembri-november-29-2021/

Toronto Star – Frog Lake First Nation is an example of how Indigenous nations are pursuing development strategies sensitive to responsible environmental stewardship. The Frog Lake Energy Resources Corp partnered with Kanata Clean Power and Climate Technologies to build net zero energy infrastructure. Frog Lake invested $1.5M from the wholly-owned subsidiary in Kanata. Money earned from legacy oil and gas projects is now being used to develop clean-burning fuels – natural gas with zero emissions. It’s a model for Indigenous developmemnt and energy transition; self-funded Indgenous enterprise in the green economy.
More specifically, the first Kanata project will be a natural-gas powered electricty plant using innovative technology that burns natural gas in oxygen, with the resulting CO2 being captured and heated to create electricity or sequestered undergound. Kanata’s technology, conceived by fast growing NET Power, turns grubby into clean making Natural Gas emissions-free. It will generate 300 magawatts of electricity and pridice watwer for 15,000 households, guven that ckean watewr is a by=-product of the process.

The Financial Post – A $40-million partnership deal between eight Indigenous communities and Suncor Energy Ltd. is being hailed as an economic shot in the arm for the Northern Alberta communities, as they unite to buy a stake in a pipeline crucial to the energy giant’s oil sands operations. Those involved in the deal say the Indigenous energy partnership is a sign of things to come in the oil sector, which has long grappled with ensuring proper consultations over energy projects. Under the arrangement, announced Thursday, a joint Suncor-Indigenous partnership called Astisiy will buy 15 per cent of the Northern Courier Pipeline from TC Energy.
The remaining 85-per-cent stake in the pipeline remains in the hands of Alberta’s investment manager, Alberta Investment Management Corp., or AIMCo, which purchased it two years ago.

All eight communities are based in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which sits in the northeast corner of the province and takes in Fort McMurray. The partnership is expected to generate gross annual revenue of about $16-million for its partners. The transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The Indigenous communities’ buy-in of Northern Courier is supported by a loan guarantee of up to $40-million from Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corp., or AIOC.

It’s the third major infrastructure deal backed by the AIOC, a Crown corporation established by Alberta’s United Conservative government as part of a 2019 election campaign. “This was an extraordinarily strong deal,” she said. “It really is an example of the type of Indigenous-to-industry partnership that the AIOC would be pleased to do over and over again.” Alicia Dubois, CEO of AIOC.

Astisiy is made up of:

• Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation,
• Chipewyan Prairie First Nation
• Conklin Métis Local #193,
• Fort Chipewyan Métis Local #125
• Fort McKay Métis Nation,
• Fort McMurray Métis
• Fort McMurray #468 First Nation
• Willow Lake Métis Nation and
• Suncor.

Tulo Centre for Indigenous Economics and First Nations Tax Commission

NationTalk – Bank of Canada, Te Putea Matua (Reserve Bank of New Zealand) and the Reserve Bank of Australia, along with Indigenous partners – Tulo Centre for Indigenous Economics and First Nations Tax Commission – have formed a voluntary network to foster ingoing dialogue and raise awareness of Indigenous economic and financial issues. The Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion, established January , 2021, aims to share knowledge and best practices, promote engagement with Indigenous Peoples, and foster greater understanding and education about Indigenous economic issues and histories.

The network will focus on:

• Conducting research for and with Indigenous peoples on economic issues, including the development of best practices, such as using Indigenous data respectfully
• Building cultural awareness, recruitment practices and other aspects of corporate culture to foster Indigenous inclusion within member organizations
• Strengthening engagement practices with Indigenous groups and communities
• Supporting economic and financial education for and about Indigenous peoples

In addition, the network will plan a recurring Central Bank Symposium on Indigenous Economics. The first symposium will be hosted by the Bank of Canada in late 2021.
The Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion will serve as a community of practice and will not aim to set or take policy positions.

“The Bank of Canada wants to better understand the Indigenous economy and the obstacles and opportunities that Canada’s Indigenous People’s face.” Governor Tiff Mackem said “Our membership in this network provides us with an invaluable opportunity to learn from each other, to forge stronger bonds with Indigenous communities and contribute to making our workplaces and policies more inclusive.”

First Nations Finance Authority – has hit an historic milestone by breaking through the one-billion-dollar mark in financing for First Nations. “Working with Indigenous communities, we are beginning to see real results in addressing the huge infrastructure gap between First Nations and the rest of Canada,” said Ernie Daniels, President and CEO of the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA). “The projects we are financing are helping to bring fresh water, better health care, green energy projects and modern infrastructure to First Nations that have created jobs and are building the Indigenous economy.”
115 First Nations have become borrowing members of the FNFA. This has created over ten thousand jobs in the past five years while making strides in building an Indigenous economy aimed at lifting communities out of poverty. The $1 billion dollars in loans provided by the FNFA to date to First Nations does not include the $250 million loan commitment to the Mi’kmaq First Nations Coalition to purchase offshore fishing licenses as part of the announced purchase of Clearwater Seafoods.
The FNFA is a not-for-profit First Nation institution that plays a crucial role in the social and economic development of First Nations across Canada by providing qualifying First Nations with access to the capital markets at competitive rates. Established by the federal First Nations Fiscal Management Act in 2005, FNFA is by First Nations, for First Nations.

The Conference Board of Canada released “A Tide of Opportunity: Liquefied Natural Gas Development in BC and its Impact on Indigenous Communities” that while reducing the conflict between traditional hereditary chiefs and elected band councils to “governance” issues at least acknowledges that “The LNG sector and Indigenous communities in B.C. are working to invest in addressing these historical, traditional, and legal aspects in order to realize the full social, environmental, and economic benefits associated with LNG expansion. The problem – and challenge – is that all the members of the First Nations LNG Alliance who partnered with the Canadian LNG Alliance only represent the elected band councils.
The report was funded by the Canadian LNG Alliance an advocacy group of corporate oil and gas companies:

• Kitimat LNG – Chevron Canada and Woodside Petroleum
• LNG Canada (Shell, PetroChina, Korea Gas Corporation and Mitsubishi
• Woodfibre LNG (Pacific Oil and Gas)
• Woodside Energy Limited (Australia)
• Fortis BC (Triton LNG (AltaGas, in partnership with Idemitsu Kosan
• Enbridge Inc.
• ExxonMobil

Coastal GasLink has committed to spending $1 billion of its $6.6 billion budget on Indigenous employment.
https://www.conferenceboard.ca/temp/9bca3eeb-fce6-4a3f-a299-4df4ddc910a1/10873_IB_lng-develop_impact-indig-commun.pdf

The report shows that opportunities for Indigenous communities stemming from the growth of the B.C. LNG sector include:

• job creation;
• training and capacity building;
• closing the wage gap;
• ownership and equity positions in projects and related infrastructure;
• capacity for Indigenous entrepreneurs to establish new businesses to serve the sector; and
• long-term revenue streams for Indigenous communities to fund the revitalization of language and culture, and to maintain and expand community services.

The Conference Board of Canada report also outlines other significant examples of Indigenous participation in the industry to date, including:

• TC Energy awarded Indigenous and local companies across Northern B.C. $870 million worth of contracting and employment funding.
• Coastal GasLink negotiated procurement with every Indigenous partner along the pipeline’s route.
• Through the Woodfibre LNG project, the Squamish First Nation received over $4 million in procurement opportunities with BC Hydro.
• The First Nations Limited Partnership is a $500-million commercial partnership by and for First Nations who, together, negotiated and concluded a commercial benefits agreement regarding the PTP.
• Kitimat LNG has awarded Haisla Nation businesses about 85 per cent of construction spending.
• HaiSea Marine, a joint venture between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan ULC, was awarded a $500-million contract to provide tug services to LNG carriers. HaiSea Marine will train and employ approximately 70 Indigenous people as mariners and onshore roles.

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business – Release of “Insights into Indigenous Post-Secondary Graduates Experiences in the Canadian Workforce”

The objective of this report is to develop a better understanding of how Indigenous post-secondary experiences are associated with entrepreneurship, working for Indigenous employers and overall labour market outcomes. In order to explore these relationships, we retrieved and analyzed data from Indspire’s 2020 National Education Survey (NES) of Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards (BBF) recipients, as well as Statistics Canada’s Census of Population (2016).

Using data from the NES survey, we review the characteristics of BBF recipients who go on to be employed by Indigenous employers, that is, Indigenous businesses, organizations and governments, and those who go on to self-employment. We present key findings relating to their post-secondary and employment experiences, as well as differences between self- employed BBF recipients and those employed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous employers. Additionally, we use survey data to determine the geographic outcomes of BBF recipients — whether they were required to relocate for work, and if they work in an Indigenous community.

“Indigenous youth are the fastest growing demographic in Canada and a key part of Canada’s current and future workforce,” said Tabatha Bull, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. “This report is a first step in the conversation about how to attract, retain, and support this important demographic in all Canadian workplaces.”

Findings:

• BBF recipients who work for Indigenous employers in Ontario report being more satisfied with their current employment than those working with non-Indigenous employers.
• On average, they more strongly agree that they feel valued at work, are satisfied with their current employment, that they work the desired number of hours, and that their workplace encourages a healthy work-life balance.
• Approximately 35% of BBF recipients report working for an Indigenous employer.
• A full three-quarters (75%) of BBF recipients employed by an Indigenous employer find suitable work in an Indigenous community. BBF recipients are more likely to be self-employed than Indigenous workers in the same age cohort.
• Self-employed BBF recipients are more concentrated in the health care and social assistance, educational services, construction, and real estate rental and leasing sectors than in the broader Indigenous population.

https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CCAB-Indspire-AODA_English3_FINAL-SEP3.pdf

NationTalk – The Québec Port Authority has received the formal support of the Huron-Wendat Nation through its Grand Chief, Konrad H. Sioui, for the Québec City container terminal project, Laurentia. the Grand Chief expressed in his letter that this project offers environmental commitments as well as concrete actions for the region and Québec and that it will be able to respond to contemporary issues of the economy and integration through a Huron-Wendat perspective.

A framework agreement to formalize and guide the discussions was developed in 2016 and has since been improved following fruitful collaboration between the Nation and the QPA. The agreement was signed in 2018 by the Grand Chief and Mario Girard. In addition to becoming the most ecological and technologically advanced container terminal in North America, the Laurentia deep-water terminal project will position Québec as a hub thanks to the establishment of a new logistics chain that will allow regional businesses as well as those in the North American mid-west to be served.

The Laurentia project will mark the entry of the Port of Québec into a new strategic network and world of maritime routes and ports offering containerized freight services. Thanks to a joint $775 million investment by Hutchison Ports, CN, and the Port of Québec, Laurentia will be home to the deepest container terminal on the St. Lawrence with the greenest environmental characteristics in North America.

Our Huron-Wendat enterprises benefit from the activities of the Port of Québec, which is an essential service for our development and our economic aspirations while maintaining respect for our values.” Konrad H. Sioui, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation
http://nationtalk.ca/story/the-huron-wendat-nation-gives-its-support-to-the-port-of-quebecs-laurentia-project

Release of “Indigenous Economic Reconciliation: Recommendations on Reconciliation and Inclusive Economic Growth for Indigenous Peoples and Canada” report, which provides an overview and thorough analysis of the ideas and recommendations heard during the Expanding the Circle forums:

• First Nations (Feb. 15, 2017)
• Métis (Nov. 8, 2017) and
• Inuit (Nov. 29, 2018)

The first part focuses on four key recommendations based on common themes and issues raised during the three forums:

• Procurement: establish a comprehensive and easy to access directory of Indigenous businesses (similar to Australia’s Supply Nation), and provide meaningful funding to Indigenous businesses to increase awareness and readiness for procurement opportunities.
• Access to capital: adequately fund Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs), provide AFIs loan loss protections, and devolve economic development programming to AFIs.
• Capacity development: put in place incentives, including funding, internships and scholarships to increase Indigenous participation in business training and certification; and encourage post-secondary education institutions to increase access to these programs for Indigenous learners.
• Wealth sharing: implement strategies and innovative options to increase equity positions and involvement of Indigenous peoples in resource development, and to support growth of traditional economies and participation in environmental stewardship.

The Board anticipates hosting three follow-up forums in 2022, as well as a follow-up report on economic reconciliation will be released in 2023 which will include data from the 2022 NIEDB Indigenous Economic Progress Report. The Board will use these tools to track, monitor, and assess the state of economic reconciliation in Canada.
http://www.naedb-cndea.com/reports/NIEDB – Economic Reconciliation – Final Report.pdf

The Globe and Mail – The Fort McKay Group of Companies business portfolio generates gross revenue of about $500-million a year and creates about 2,000 jobs. Only about 5 per cent of its annual net income is derived from government transfers; the other 95 per cent is own-source revenue from business activities.
Fort McKay’s Community Well-Being Index, based on income, employment, housing quality and education, has steadily risen until it is almost as high as the average for all Canadian communities. The average after tax income for Fort McKay residents was $73,571 in 2015 – significantly higher than for Alberta ($50,683) and Canada ($38,977). This is an outstanding achievement for a First Nation whose people just a generation ago were hunters and trappers in a remote wilderness area.