2023 Agenda.
Our thanks to enabling patron sponsor GCT Global Container Terminals. Please note that the below panel/meal break times are subject to change.
With the exception of the late-night social activities off-site, all proceedings are occurring at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West) and are being live-streamed via Wordplay’s Vidflex platform, provided by digital sponsor TELUS.
We would like to acknowledge the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and Supernaturals Modelling for their support delivering cultural programming at this year’s event, and to Graham Construction, our Cultural Ambassador sponsor. Additional thanks to:
Visual artists Mix̲alhítsa7 (Alison Pascal) and Tsawaysia (Dominique Nahanee), co-curators of the photography exhibition UNCEDED (S7ULH TEMÍXW / TI TMICWKÁLHA / OUR LAND), which will be displayed around the event space,
Sixth-generation master carver Ray Natraoro (Ses Siyam), whose cedar canoe Si7la (Grandmother) will be seen in the foyer, and
World-renowned Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant, whose pieces will be worn by a diverse cast of models during the June 1st dinner show.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
PRE-CONFERENCE
Early registration at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West) will be open between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm.
Welcome Reception
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
It will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
In addition to snacks and a cash bar, attendees will enjoy the musical styles of DJ Paisley Eva.
Sponsored by Onni, with additional thanks to Mowi.
June 1, 2023
PRE-PROGRAM
Breakfast: Day 1
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 7:15 am to 8:25 am
Registration will open at 6:45 am, with breakfast being served in the ballroom foyer from 7:15 am to 8:25 am.
The hot breakfast buffet will include options for everyone, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets.
Sponsored by Concord Pacific.
INTRODUCTION
Chair: Chief Ian Campbell.
Moderator: Simon Baker.
Sponsor: Cheryl Yaremko.
Welcome: Mayor Ken Sim.
Opening Ceremonies
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 8:30 am to 8:55 am
Following a traditional welcome by Les George (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), the Hon. Larry Campbell will speak on behalf of the day’s breakfast sponsor, Concord Pacific.
Opening remarks will be provided by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, Event Chair Chief Ian Campbell, Conference Moderator Simon Baker, and Cheryl Yaremko, representing event patron sponsor GCT Global Container Terminals.
PANEL
Young Indigenous Leaders in Conversation
Moderator: Justen Peters.
Participant: Kali Stierle.
Participant: Curtis Avery.
Participant: Georgina Dan.
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 8:55 am to 9:35 am
Our panelists will share insights on how corporate Canada can help empower Indigenous youth leaders, while addressing challenges and opportunities in their careers. Attendees will learn more about how industry can best support a new generation of Indigenous leaders in business, education, and entrepreneurship.
Participants:
Justen Peters, Okanagan College (moderator),
Kali Stierle, SFU Beedie School of Business,
Curtis Avery, Nipissing First Nation, and
Georgina Dan, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
Justen Peters is a member of the Okanagan Indian Band. He has a strong passion for leadership and community development, particularly among Indigenous young adults. He served as the elected male youth representative for the BC Assembly of First Nations.
Kali Stierle is currently pursuing her BBA in Accounting with a minor in Indigenous studies at Simon Fraser University. She is Nêhiyaw (Cree), Métis, and German and is a member of Peepeekisis Cree Nation.
Curtis Avery is a proud member of the Nipissing Nation, a Northern Ontario-based community with Ojibway heritage. He serves as the manager of environment for Nipissing First Nation. He is also an entrepreneur, co-founding the first on-reserve cannabis dispensary in the province of Ontario.
Georgina Dan is from the Lil’wat Nation and serves as Cultural Administrator for the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and as the Cultural Leader of the Spo7ez Performance team.
Sponsored by Beedie.
DISCUSSION
A Treetop View: the Forestry Profession in the Reconciliation Era
Participant: Trevor Joyce.
Participant: Keith Atkinson.
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 9:35 am to 10:00 am
Forestry in British Columbia is a sector in rapid transition. Innovative industry-Indigenous partnerships have it defined as a leading driver of Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation in the provincial economy. Registered Professional Foresters and subject-matter experts, Trevor Joyce (Mosaic Forest Management) and Keith Atkinson (BC Forest Practices Board) will discuss the evolution and lessons gained from transformative trends such as shared decision-making, interest-based discussion, and Indigenous-led forest management.
Participants:
Keith Atkinson, RPF, Board Chair, BC Forest Practices Board, and
Trevor Joyce, RPF, Director Indigenous Investment, Mosaic Forest Management.
Sponsored by Mosaic Forest Management.
BREAK
Morning Networking: Day 1 & Mini-Panel
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 10:00 am to 10:25 am
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables and enjoy a mid-morning snack.
Simultaneously, a breakout session on the main stage will feature a discussion on the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensure at least 5% of federal procurement derives from Indigenous-owned or led businesses.
Participants:
Jessica Sultan, Director General (Economic Policy Development Branch), Indigenous Services Canada, and
Tara Hartley, Regional Director (Procurement Assistance Canada), Public Services and Procurement Canada
Sponsored by Procurement Assistance Canada.
Participant: Tara Hartley.
Participant: Jessica Sultan.
PANEL
Participant: Ginger Gosnell-Myers.
Participant: Cory Douglas.
Participant: Ian Humphreys.
Participant: David Wells.
Vancouver Community College: Indigenizing the Urban Built Environment
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 10:25 am to 11:05 am
Post-secondary institutes are undergoing significant changes to advance reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and Vancouver Community College (VCC), serving more than 11,000 students, has been determined to trailblaze new practices. In 2020 when VCC commenced a new campus planning process, it learned there was significant yet untold Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh Nations (“MST”) history of the site of the new buildings. Honouring the history of Skwachàys, otherwise known as the City’s Creative District, has become the foundation of VCC’s new campus planning process.
The panel will discuss how post-secondary institutions can fully and innovatively embody truth and reconciliation — and how land development in urban centres can contribute to the process of economic and culture Indigenization.
Participants:
Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Cultural Advisor,
Cory Douglas, Cultural Advisor,
Ian Humphreys, Vice President Administration and International Development, VCC, and
David Wells, Vice President Academic, VCC.
Sponsored by Vancouver Community College.
PANEL
Participant: Matthew Foss.
Participant: Brenda Wills.
Participant: Arthur Tsai.
Moderator: Hayley Woodin.
Canadian Export Commodities: Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Trade
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 11:05 am to 11:40 am
This expert panel will put Canada’s emerging Indigenous trade policy into context, reviewing how Indigenous economic inclusion is driving export growth, which forms of innovation in policy and partnership formation are enabling Indigenous participation in the trade economy, and what cross-sectoral efforts to advance reconciliation mean for Canada’s reputation abroad.
Participants:
Matthew Foss, Vice President Research & Public Policy, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business,
Brenda Wills, Senior Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada in Singapore,
Arthur Tsai, Head of Market Intelligence, Paper Excellence, and
Hayley Woodin, Editor-in-Chief, Business in Vancouver Media Group (moderator).
DISCUSSION
Moderator: Daniol Coles.
Participant: Waneek Horn Miller.
Concentra Trust: A Conversation on “Trust”
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 11:40 am to 12:00 pm
Participants:
Daniol Coles, Director of Indigenous Trust Services, Concentra Trust (moderator), and
Waneek Horn Miller, VP, Indigenous Financial Solutions.
Sponsored by EQ Bank/Concentra Trust.
BREAK
Lunch: Day 1
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 12:00 pm to 12:55 pm
Johanne Senécal, Vice President (Sustainability, External Relations and Indigenous Affairs) at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, will provide opening remarks.
A hot buffet lunch with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will follow.
Sponsored by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
Attendees enjoying buffet lunch in 2020.
PANEL
Panelist: Tsitsáyxemaat (Rebecca Duncan).
Panelist: Chief Ian Campbell.
Interpreter: Vanessa Campbell.
Economic Reconciliation: A Dialogue in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Snichim (Squamish Language)
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 12:55 pm to 1:25 pm, followed by a special 10-minute announcement from TELUS
IPSS 2023 marks the first time a business conference will feature a panel entirely in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language). Attendees will have the option of tuning into real-time English interpretation provided by Vanessa Campbell, who has worked to revitalize the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language for decades.
The panelists will speak about the impact of colonization and residential schools on the Squamish Nation’s culture and language, in addition to the revitalization efforts underway and how they will impact the next generation. They will discuss the importance of the Nation’s community and history, their relationship with the land and each other, and how economic reconciliation goes hand-in-hand with language and cultural revitalization.
Participants:
Vanessa Campbell, Associate Editor, Skwx̱wú7mesh-English Dictionary, and Advisor, Squamish Language Program (interpreter),
Tsitsáyxemaat (Rebecca Duncan), Language Teacher/Translation Specialist, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, and
Chief Ian Campbell, Hereditary Chief, Squamish Nation.
Sponsored by TELUS, with gratitude to Encore Canada for technical assistance.
DISCUSSION
Participant: Chief Barry Nikal.
Participant: Dennis Callaghan.
Unlocking the Resource Economy Through Industry-Indigenous Partnerships
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 1:35 pm to 1:55 pm
Since 2014, Kyah Resources has grown from a mid-sized forestry operation to a full service civil contractor. A 50/50, fully Indigenous-owned partnership between Roga Group and Witset First Nation, Kyah Resources is a community business.
Joint venture partners, Chief Barry Nikal, a hereditary chief of Tsayu Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation, and Roga CFO Dennis Callaghan will discuss how the business is ensuring a strong, local economy for current and future generations, and embodying the industry-Indigenous partnerships needed to unlock the full potential of BC’s resource economy.
Participants:
Chief Barry Nikal, Witset First Nation, and
Dennis Callaghan, Chief Financial Officer, Roga Group.
KEYNOTE
Participant: Kimberly Murray.
Participant: Chief Willie Sellars.
Moderator: Karen Restoule.
Land and Economic Reconciliation: Leading Indigenous Perspectives on Development
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 1:55 pm to 2:55 pm
Legacy and contemporary action toward economic inclusion cannot be disentangled. Meaningfully engaging with both is not only a requirement for Canadian business in the modern era, but it also enables Canadian society as a whole to fully envision what a reconciled Canadian economy can look like.
The 2023 keynote session will dive deep into the significance of land and how generations of advocacy and business activities by Indigenous communities have set the foundation for the economic transformation taking place across Canada today. It will leave attendees from all industries equipped to navigate shifting policy and business practices.
First, Kimberly Murray will share an executive update on her work as the independent, federally-appointed Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Burials. Her presentation will put recent findings into context, delving into the implications of centuries of dispossession and oppression for modern-day development in an era of reconciliation.
Next, Chief Willie Sellars from Williams Lake First Nation and Kim Murray will join returning IPSS speaker Karen Restoule, now Vice President at Crestview Strategy, in a powerful conversation about the unique challenges Indigenous communities are overcoming to drive their own destinies and how relationships are making this change possible.
Chief Sellars will conclude by sharing his vision for a reconciled Canadian economy, exploring nation-led development, partnerships with industry, and the future of Canada’s economy and diverse society post-reconciliation.
Participants:
Kimberly Murray, Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools,
Chief Willie Sellars, Elected Chief, Williams Lake First Nation,
Karen Restoule, Vice President, Crestview Strategy (moderator), and
Kim Brenneis, Director of Community and Indigenous Engagement (Canada), Enbridge Inc. (introducer).
Sponsored by Enbridge.
BREAK
Afternoon Networking: Day 1
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 2:55 pm to 3:20 pm
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables and enjoy a mid-afternoon break. Enjoy an opportunity to connect and network with hundreds of Indigenous and business leaders from diverse industries across Canada.
Michelle Laviolette, Vancity’s Director of Indigenous Banking, will provide brief remarks before announcing the following segment.
Sponsored by Vancity.
Sponsor: Michelle Laviolette.
Attendees connecting at IPSS 2020.
DISCUSSION
Speaker: National Chief RoseAnne Archibald.
Moderator: Chief Ian Campbell.
In Dialogue with National Chief RoseAnne Archibald
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 3:20 pm to 3:50 pm
Following solo remarks by the Assembly of First Nations’ National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Hereditary Chief Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell will join the National Chief for a discussion.
Their discussion will cover a range of topics relevant to the future of reconciliation, including progress toward full economic inclusion for Indigenous communities across Canada and the role of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners on the journey to success.
Sponsored by Vancity.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Special Remarks: Minister Harjit S. Sajjan
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 3:50 pm to 4:10 pm
Join the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), as he announces support for partnerships that are advancing economic growth, clean energy development, and training opportunities. Minister Sajjan, a prominent figure in Canadian politics, has a distinguished background focused on public service and leadership. He is deeply committed to fostering collaborations that drive economic growth and sustainable development. With his extensive experience and expertise, Minister Sajjan has been a strong advocate for clean energy initiatives and the creation of training opportunities that empower individuals and communities. His announcement underscores the government's commitment to fostering innovation and cooperation, ensuring a prosperous future for Canada and its Pacific region.
For 11 years, Minister Sajjan was a member of the Vancouver Police Department, based primarily in South Vancouver. He completed his career as a detective with the gang crime unit. As a member of the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), he participated in four operational deployments—one to Bosnia and three to Afghanistan.
Duet: Reconciliation in the Political Discourse
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 4:10 pm to 4:30 pm
BC MLA and former Haisla Nation Chief, Ellis Ross will join Tom Siddon, former Minister of the federal department then known as Indian Affairs, for a special discussion on how the practice of economic reconciliation has evolved over recent decades. The session will be moderated by IPSS event lead, Margareta Dovgal.
Peter Lister, Senior Vice President (Commercial and Business Development Services) will speak afterwards on behalf of reception sponsor Seaspan Marine.
REMARKS
Participant: Ellis Ross.
Participant: Tom Siddon.
Moderator: Margareta Dovgal.
NETWORKING BREAK
Afternoon Networking: Day 1
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables, and enjoy a pre-reception break.
Sponsored by BCIT.
IPSS 2022 attendees networking.
Seaspan Reception
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Both conference and dinner attendees will adjourn to the ballroom foyer and terrace to enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and stunning contemporary and traditional visual art displays.
DJ Kookum will lay down the beats for a dynamic reception atmosphere, followed by a Coast Salish dance performance by Sierra Tasi Baker.
Sponsored by Seaspan.
SOCIAL
Attendees network at the IPSS 2022 reception.
Performer: DJ Kookum.
Performer: Sierra Tasi Baker.
BANQUET
Dinner
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Moderator: Geena Jackson.
Performer: Joey Stylez.
Performer: Lancelot Knight.
Performer: Shawn Gairdner.
The IPSS 2023 banquet dinner will take place in the Ballroom, hosted by Geena Jackson, the creator and Executive Producer of reality television show The Bears' Lair.
After a traditional welcome from Carla George (Squamish Nation), Regional Chief Terry Teegee (BC Assembly of First Nations) will deliver opening remarks.
Guests will enjoy the musical artistry of returning IPSS performer Joey Stylez. An award-winning Indigenous hip hop artist, Stylez has been selected by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as one of the top 25 Canadian rappers of all time. Following Joey Stylez will be none other than Haida Gwaii’s Shawn Gairdner on the drums and Saskatoon’s Lancelot Knight playing guitar.
Wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be served with dinner. Attendees will be welcome to stay until 9:30 pm.
Sponsored by LNG Canada, Woodfibre LNG, and TC Energy.
Fireside Chat: HaiSea
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 7:20 pm to 7:45 pm
Participant: Chief Crystal Smith.
Participant: Ed Ross.
Participant: Jordan Pechie.
Participant: Luke Schauerte.
During the plated three-course dinner, attendees will enjoy a fireside chat on the HaiSea initiative.
The HaiSea Marine partnership between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan will provide marine services for LNG Canada, the country’s first large-scale export facility located in Kitimat, BC, on the ancestral territory of the Haisla First Nation.
HaiSea Marine pairs the Haisla’s thousands of years of Indigenous knowledge gained from living off the land and waters with Seaspan’s record of safety and reliability for the purpose of creating sustainable, local economic opportunities. Haisla members are actively training and preparing to work locally in the marine industry on what will be one of the greenest tugboat fleets in the world.
Providing responsible, dependable and purposeful marine services to LNG carriers calling in Kitimat demonstrates how LNG Canada is designing, building and operating a project in consideration of community interests and providing benefits to north coast communities.
Participants:
Chief Councillor Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation,
Jordan Pechie, Senior Vice President, Seaspan Marine Transportation,
Ed Ross, Cook/Deckhand, Seaspan Marine Transportation, and
Luke Schauerte, Vice President (Asset), LNG Canada.
Sponsored by LNG Canada.
Fashion Show
Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 8:00 pm to 8:20 pm
A collection of pieces by Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant will be showcased by models from Indigenous-owned Supernaturals Modelling, while DJ Kookum plays.
Joey Stylez and Carsen Gray will perform starting at 8:30 pm.
Sponsored by LNG Canada, Woodfibre LNG and TC Energy.
Agency: Supernaturals Modelling.
Designer: Dorothy Grant.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Following a traditional welcome by Kathy Charles (Musqueam Nation), Kim Brenneis, Director, Community and Indigenous Engagement, Canada will speak on behalf Enbridge. Following this, Chris Sankey will deliver remarks on behalf of the breakfast sponsor, Boom Jet Club. Finally, event founder Stewart Muir will deliver final remarks.
PRE-PROGRAM
Breakfast: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 7:15 am to 8:25 am
Registration will open at 6:45 am, with breakfast being served in the Ballroom Foyer from 7:15 am to 8:25 am.
INTRODUCTION
Opening: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 8:30 am to 8:45 am
DISCUSSION
Fireside Chat: Accelerating Economic Reconciliation Through Net-Zero Opportunities
Participant: Chief Crystal Smith.
Participant: Christine Kennedy.
Moderator: Michelle Mungall.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 8:45 am to 9:10 am
Participants:
Chief Councillor Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation,
Christine Kennedy, President, Woodfibre LNG, and
Michelle Mungall, former BC Minister of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources (moderator).
Sponsored by Woodfibre LNG.
PANEL
Strengthening the Urban-Rural Indigenous Wellness Continuum
Panelist: Jocelyn Formsma.
Panelist: Trent Zacharias.
Panelist: Anita Huberman.
Panelist: Chief David Jimmie.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 9:10 am to 9:45 am
Participants:
Jocelyn Formsma, CEO, National Association of Friendship Centres,
Trent Zacharias, Director of Community and Indigenous Affairs, Cenovus Energy, and
Chief David Jimmie, Squiala Nation.
Anita Huberman, President and CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade
Sponsored by Cenovus.
BREAK
Morning Networking: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 9:45 am to 10:10 am
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables, and enjoy a mid-morning snack. Enjoy an opportunity to connect and network with hundreds of Indigenous and business leaders from diverse industries across Canada.
Sponsored by MNP
Attendees networking at IPSS 2020.
DISCUSSION
Redefining Collaborative Development in Treaty 8 Territory: the Tsáá? Ché Ne Dane Perspective
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 10:10 am to 10:40 am
Panelist: Chief Trevor Makadahay.
Chief Trevor Makadahay has been Chief of Doig River First Nation since 2015. Since then, Doig River has demonstrated notable successes in governance, leadership, administration, and economic development. In 2017, Doig River was awarded the AFOA Canada Community Award of Excellence in part due to its exceptional financial performance ratios and low dependency on federal program funding and the establishment of their Economic Development Corporation Uujo Developments, a separate entity from the Nation’s administration.
Under Chief Makadahay’s leadership the community has completed its Treaty Land Entitlement Claim, established the first Urban Reserve in northeast British Columbia and will embark in a land code vote in June 2023. Chief Makadahay and his council are very committed to restoring and asserting Doig River’s jurisdiction over its lands for the benefit of its members.
Moderator: Laureen Whyte.
Sponsor: Tyson Pylypiw.
Laureen Whyte is Principal Consultant of Arbutus Consulting, based in Vancouver. She is a social performance professional with over 25 years of experience as an executive, senior practitioner, project manager, and strategist.
Working primarily with First Nations and in the transportation, and natural resource sectors, Laureen specializes in land and resource use management, stakeholder and Indigenous engagement, consultation, and community economic development as well as in permitting, environmental assessment and regulatory strategy. She has negotiated several agreements between companies and First Nations at all stages of project development, and between provincial government and First Nations.
Laureen previously was Executive Director of Clean Energy BC, and Vice President of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC. She serves on the Board of Catalyste+, chairing the Indigenous and Northern Services Board Committee, on the Indigenous Affairs Committee of the Prospectors & Developers Association, and was founder and Chair of the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association.
Participants:
Chief Trevor Makadahay, Doig River First Nation,
Councillor Starr Acko, Doig River First Nation,
Laureen Whyte, Principal, Arbutus Consulting (moderator), and
Kevin Emes, COO of Uujo Developments LP.
Tyson Pylypiw, Indigenous Relations Manager, Ovintiv (introducer).
Sponsored by Ovintiv.
PANEL
Charting a Path to Sustainable Indigenous-led Seafood Partnerships
Moderator: Dallas Smith.
Panelist: Chief Chris Roberts.
Panelist: Isaiah Robinson.
Panelist: Dave Stover.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 10:40 am to 11:15 am
Participants:
Dallas Smith, President, Na̲nwak̲olas Council (moderator),
Chief Chris Roberts, Elected Chief, We Wai Kum First Nation,
Isaiah Robinson, Councillor, Kitasoo / Xai'xais Nation, and
Dave Stover, CEO, Brown's Bay Packing
Sponsored by Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship.
DISCUSSION
Minister Murray Rankin & Miles Richardson with Kareem Allam
Participant: Minister Murray Rankin.
Participant: Miles Richardson.
Moderator: Kareem Allam.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 11:15 am to 11:40 am
Minister Murray Rankin was elected the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head in 2020. He is the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Murray is a lawyer with expertise in environmental, Indigenous, and public law. He holds law degrees from the University of Toronto and Harvard Law School. Before entering the provincial government, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Victoria and served from 2012 until 2019. During this period, he was appointed Justice and Attorney General critic, Health critic and also served as NDP House Leader.
Miles Richardson is the Former President of the Haida Nation and is ChairPerson of the HaiCo board of directors. He grew up among his people on Haida Gwaii, and from 1984 to 1996, he served as President of the Council of Haida Nation. Miles has advised the Government of British Columbia and First Nations in the province on how parties could begin negotiations to build a new relationship. In 2007, Mr. Richardson was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2019, Mr. Richardson was appointed as Chairperson of the HaiCo Board of Directors. Currently, Miles is the Director of the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development at the University of Victoria.
Kareem Allam will moderate the discussion. Kareem is a partner at Fairview Strategy with two decades of private and public sector experience in public affairs. Recently, Kareem successfully managed the Kevin Falcon for BC Liberal Leader Campaign and the ABC Vancouver Municipal Campaign, electing 19 out of 19 candidates, including Mayor Ken Sim. In 2023 Kareem was named #9 on Vancouver Magazine's Power 50 list. Prior to Fairview, Kareem spent the last five years in senior Indigenous Relations roles with Britco, Civeo, Trans Canada Pipelines, and a national Public Relations firm.
DISCUSSION
From Adversity to Intergenerational Prosperity: Steven Stark in Conversation with Chief Ian Campbell
Participant: Steven Stark.
Moderator: Chief Ian Campbell.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 11:40 am to 12:10 pm
Steven Stark is a manifester who wholeheartedly applies his considerable energy to ideas and opportunities that lift up Indigenous people. It’s the kind of ethos that’s led him to wisdom and wealth.
But it wasn’t always so. Substance abuse, homelessness and displacement affected Stark from a young age.
At 26, he chose a different path: a life of equal parts service and serial entrepreneurship. Now, Stark offers a perspective on culture, commerce and life that few could imagine. It’s this full-circle journey that will be highlighted as part of his discussion with Squamish Nation hereditary chief Ian Campbell.
“It wasn't until I got clean at 26 that I began to find my way through the help of my community and especially our beloved Chief Ken Baird,” explains Stark. “When we rediscover our identity and take pride in our past, we can see our future defined not by our challenges but by the legacy of our ancestors – Canada’s “first entrepreneurs” – who built a thriving economy all the way up and down the coast and into the interior, in harmony with our values and environment.”
Stark firmly believes that his cultural confidence helped him overcome the challenges he faced in life – and it’s precisely that resilience that drives today’s Indigenous businesses towards success.
His pathway to entrepreneurship included a three-decade career in fishing, followed by the establishment of the Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc. and its four divisions: marine, bussing, street sweeping and water trucking.
Participants:
Steven Stark, President, Two World Transportation, and
Chief Ian Campbell, Event Chair, Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase (moderator).
Sponsored by GCT Global Container Terminals.
BREAK
Lunch: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 12:10 pm to 1:05 pm
A hot buffet lunch with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be served.
Sponsored by PCI Developments.
Attendees enjoy a buffet lunch at IPSS 2020.
PANEL
Capitalizing Indigenous Business: Towards A Supercharged Canadian Economy
Participant: Bill Lomax.
Participant: Alfredo Di Blasio.
Participant: Geordie Hungerford.
Moderator: Sharon Singh.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 1:05 pm to 1:50 pm
Participants:
Bill Lomax, Incoming CEO, First Nations Bank of Canada,
Alfredo Di Blasio, Founder and CEO, Longhouse Capital Partners,
Geordie Hungerford, CEO, First Nations Financial Management Board, and
Sharon G.K. Singh, Partner and Co-Head of Aboriginal Law Practice, Bennett Jones (moderator).
OPEN FORUM
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 1:50pm to 2:10pm
Attendees are invited to join others for the IPSS open forum. This session provides a formal opportunity for participants to listen, share, and reflect with others on the event proceedings.
IPSS 2022 attendees discuss proceedings.
PANEL
Indigenous Digital Equity in the AI Era: Connectivity and Opportunity
Participant: Shawn Gervais.
Participant: Shazia Zeb-Sobani.
Participant: Kory Wilson.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 2:10 pm to 2:40 pm
Our expert panel will dive into Indigenous digital equity, skills development, and how robust policy mechanisms can enable fulsome participation by Indigenous peoples in Canada's digital economy.
Participants:
Shawn Gervais, VP Strategic Foresight, Digital Technology Supercluster,
Shazia Zeb-Sobani, VP Customer Network Implementation, TELUS, and
Kory Wilson, Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships, British Columbia Institute of Technology.
BREAK
Afternoon Networking: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 2:40 pm to 3:10 pm
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables, and enjoy a mid-afternoon break.
IPSS 2022 attendees networking.
REMARKS
Working with the UN to Empower Indigenous Women in Chile: the Originarias Program
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 3:10 pm to 3:30 pm
Herman Urrejola Ebner, Director of Social Management at Teck Chile, is a Forest Engineer with over 21 years of experience in the development of ESG management systems in direct work with indigenous communities across Chile. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in Teck's social management in Chile, as well as in providing support and leadership in social matters for projects and operations in Latin America.
During his almost 11 years at Teck, Herman has led actions focused on two relevant axes: Women and Indigenous Peoples. Among his achievements are the Originarias program, implemented by UN Women, which sought to empower indigenous women in mining and in the community in general. He also led the Elige Crecer program, a training and employability project for the Tarapacá region.
In addition, Herman has been responsible for the creation of a joint conservation area with the indigenous community of Ollague and has established long-term collaboration agreements with indigenous communities associated with the development of Teck's QB2 project.
Herman’s presentation with be followed by audience Q&A.
Sponsored by Teck Resources.
DISCUSSION
In Conversation with Chris Sankey: From Both Sides of the Negotiating Tables
Participant: Chris Sankey.
Moderator: Kirk LaPointe.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 3:30 pm to 3:50 pm
Chris Sankey is committed to “strengthening communities, one person at a time to achieve communal prosperity”, helping him do business with small, mid-size and large corporations throughout Canada, United States, and overseas in the Oil and Gas sector. A serial entrepreneur, he built the Blackfish brand from his grass roots and heritage, which includes a heavy civil operations company, an energy stakeholder and Indigenous relations consultancy, and is currently working on an energy project in partnership with indigenous communities.
He is a member of the Coast Tsimshian community of Lax Kw’Alaams near Prince Rupert, British Columbia and was a former elected Councillor for the Lax Kw’alaams Band where he served his community for six and a half years, and the former Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the Governing Council.
Chris was effective in implementing the first ever Emergency Response and Marine Safety table in the Coast Tsimshian territory and was a part of a team that negotiated the $36 billion dollar Pacific Northwest LNG agreement where he was one of the two negotiators to reach the first ever Environmental Monitoring Agreement between the Coast Tsimshian and Provincial and Federal Governments of Canada.
During his tenure, Chris was instrumental in establishing the new DevCorp for his community and Council where he separated the politics from business. In addition to his work with the Lax Kw’alaams Band, he sat as Board of Directors for Lax Kw’ Alaams Business Development Ltd, Chaired the Human Resources Committee, was Chair for the Finance and Audit Committee and also sat on 2 other local community based business boards.
Participants will include:
Chris Sankey, CEO, Blackfish Enterprises, and
Kirk LaPointe, Business in Vancouver (moderator).
PANEL
Cultivating Indigenous Leadership: RBC's Collaborative Approach to Talent, Community, and Financial Empowerment
Participant: Crystal Muldoe.
Participant: Chris Hunt.
Participant: Riley Bonshor.
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 3:50 pm to 4:10 pm
RBC is forging pathways to success for Indigenous peoples through skills and talent development programming and community-focused initiatives. Gain insights into the innovative Future Launch Scholarship program delivered in partnership with not-for-profits, the Indigenous Peoples Development Program, and RBC's commitment to listening, learning, and growing together with Indigenous communities for a brighter, shared future.
Participants will include:
Chris Hunt, Director Senior Commercial Markets, Indigenous Financial Services, RBC,
Crystal Muldoe, Senior Manager Indigenous Markets, RBC, and
Riley Bonshor, Banking Advisor, RBC.
Chris Hunt began his banking career in 2003 and joined RBC in 2017 as a CAM Intern. Chris took on progressively more responsibility within the Indigenous Markets Team and is Director Senior Commercial Market, Indigenous Markets. He brings his experience in the branch network, including 6 years in branch management. Chris graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria. He is from the Kwakiutl Nation, located on Northern Vancouver Island.
Crystal Muldoe took on the newly created role Senior Manager, Indigenous Markets in June 2022 after 21 years working in the branch network. In this role, Crystal works with Indigenous communities and Indigenous individuals to achieve homeownership by coaching and supporting branch staff and mortgage specialists with RBC’s on-reserve lending programs. She is from the Gitxsan Nation located on Northern BC, and she has been an elected Councillor for her Band since 2012. Crystal currently resides in Hazelton, B.C. and enjoys spending time with her children, two huskies and cat.
Riley Bonshor is a proud member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation in Kingcome Inlet, BC. Starting his career with RBC in downtown Vancouver as a Client Advisor, he now works at the Denman and Barclay branch as a Banking Advisor serving the communities’ personal and small business clientele. Riley is active in the Indigenous banking community at RBC and serves on the BC Royal Eagles Leadership Cabinet which spearheads educational Indigenous initiatives for RBC Employees in BC.
Sponsored by RBC.
CONCLUSION
Closing Ceremonies
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:10 pm to 4:30 pm
Witness Miles Richardson (Haida Nation) will reflect on the proceedings of the 2023 Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase.
Event Lead Margareta Dovgal, Event Chair Chief Ian Campbell, and Moderator Simon Baker will offer concluding thoughts.
Pictured: Git Hayetsk, 2022 performers.
NETWORKING BREAK
Afternoon Networking: Day 2
Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Attendees will be invited to connect, check out expo tables, discuss the conclusion of the second day.
Sponsored by Tourmaline.
IPSS 2022 attendees networking.