Rights & Respect, Issue 3.
Reconciliation in Action – Treaty 8 Territory
“The thing that makes our Nation shine is our council hustles hard. We all have different portfolios. We all work together,” says Chief Trevor Makadahay.
Speakers: Chief Trevor Makadahay (Doig River First Nation), Councillor Starr Acko (Doig River First Nation), Laureen Whyte (Arbutus Consulting) and Kevin Emes (Uujo Developments LP).
Session sponsored by Ovintiv.
Reconciliation in Action – VCC Indigezining The Urban Built Environment
When Vancouver Community College (VCC) began planning its new Center for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation at its Broadway campus in Vancouver, BC, they turned to Ginger Gosnell-Myers and Cory Douglas to help ensure that Indigenous knowledge be incorporated every step of the way.
Speakers: Cory Douglas (Cultural Advisor), David Wells (Vice President Academic), Ginger Gosnell-Myers (Cultural Advisor) and Ian Humphreys (Administration and International Development).
Session sponsored by Vancouver Community College.
Reconciliation in Action – Accelerating Net Zero
Chief Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation says she often gets goosebumps when she thinks about Cedar LNG, the Haisla majority-owned proposed floating LNG facility in Kitimat, within the Haisla’s traditional territory in northwest BC. The project, done in partnership with Pembina Pipeline Corporation, was granted its Environmental Assessment Certificate from the Province of British Columbia and a positive Decision Statement from the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change in March 2023.
Speakers: Chief Crystal Smith (Chief Councillor Haisla Nation), Christine Kennedy (President, Woodfibre LNG) and Michelle Mungall (former BC Minister of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources)
Session sponsored by Woodfibre LNG.
Reconciliation in Action – Unlocking Resource Economy
A decade ago, the Witset First Nation—whose economy has long revolved around forestry— experienced the devastating effects of an ongoing slump in the sector. At the time, the northwest BC Nation owned Kyah Wood Forest Products, a finger joint sawmill, and Kyah Industries, a small logging company.
“Our mill went into curtailment,” says Witset Chief Barry Nikal. “Ninety-four of our members lost their job. And with our logging outfit, everything slowed down and we ended up going about $670,000 in debt. So, we were back to managing poverty. And our band council said we can't keep doing this. We need to create jobs.”
Nikal says the council recognized they needed help, so he talked with their forester. “I said, ‘Find us a partner. Somebody who's going to teach us how to run our business, look after it, look after our people.”
Speakers: Chief Barry Nikal (Witset First Nation) and Dennis Callaghan (Roga Group)
Reconciliation in Action – Teck Chile
Within Canada, Teck Resources is known as one of the country’s largest mining companies, with operations in several BC communities. Less well-known in Canada is that Teck also operates in the United States, Peru, and Chile.
In 2016, the company began considering how it could positively contribute to the people of the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile, where it holds a majority interest in the Quebrada Blanca copper mine…
Speaker: Herman Urrejola Ebner, Director of Social Management at Teck Chile
Session sponsored by Teck Resources
Inspiration – Chief Willie Sellars
For Chief Willie Sellars, making an effort matters – even if that effort doesn’t result in immediate success. He tells a story of attending a meeting where a school superintendent was introducing someone.
“He used the Indigenous language of that territory, and he butchered it. I remember thinking in my head, ‘Wow, great effort.’ And you know, we've all been there. I've been there. You're intimidated to have that discussion, to go out on a limb and say those words—but you're brave enough to do it…
Speakers: Chief Willie Sellars (Williams Lake First Nation) and Karen Restoule (Crestview Strategy)
Session sponsored by Enbridge.
Inspiration – Steven Stark
On the big screen at IPSS 2023, a video is playing. In it, a man introduces himself as Steven Stark of the Tsawwassen First Nation.
“I've been asked over the years to share my story in many forms,” says the man on the screen. “And I have shared it in all types of open meetings and discussions and awareness. And I think it's important to share the story as it unfolds. I've been asked over the years to make a documentary about what has happened to me and the years of living on the streets and my years of addictions and where I am today.” …
Speakers: Steven Stark (Two World Transportation) and Ian Campbell (Event Chair, Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase)
Session sponsored by GCT Global Container Terminals.
Inspiration – Dialogue in Squamish
Read about the discussion between Chief Ian Campbell of the Squamish Nation and Rebecca Duncan, Squamish Language Teacher, taking place entirely in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language).
Speakers: Tsitsáyxemaat (Rebecca Duncan) Language Teacher/Translation Specialist, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and Chief Ian Campbell, Hereditary Chief, Squamish Nation.
Session sponsored by TELUS, with gratitude to Encore Canada for technical assistance.
Reconciliation in Perspective
The road to reconciliation has been long and arduous, and the journey is far from complete. Over the decades, there have been many who worked to clear the path—champions who have broken ground so those following in their stead might find the next stage of their travels, if not easy, perhaps a bit smoother. As a forum for celebrating those who have taken on these difficult tasks, IPSS enables these champions to share their success stories along with the challenges they encountered along the way.
One of the critical areas of reconciliation, and one most often fraught with difficulties, is Crown-Indigenous relations.
“One thing that we constantly come back to is how politics fits into the issues,” says IPSS Event Lead Margareta Dovgal. “Sometimes politicians respond, sometimes they lead, sometimes they're the fringes of social movements and they find themselves needing to rapidly catch up and be a part of the change that's taking place.”
During IPSS 2023, three individuals took the stage to discuss the important work they have done in this realm over the years: Tom Siddon, former Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Ellis Ross, current BC MLA, Skeena; and Kimberly Murray, Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools.
Strengthening the Urban-Rural Indigenous Wellness Continuum
Significant gaps exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Life expectancy for Indigenous peoples is an astounding 15 to 20 years shorter than that of those non-Indigenous. Of the 1.8 million Indigenous people living in Canada in 2021, 18.8 percent lived in a low-income household, nearly double that of the non-Indigenous population; about one-third of First Nations people living on reserve live in a low-income household. Inadequate housing conditions are a major issue, with Indigenous people being three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, and two times more likely to live in crowded housing.
Speakers: Anita Huberman (Surrey Board of Trade), Chief David Jimmie (Squiala Nation), Jocelyn Formsma (National Association of Friendship Centres) and Trent Zacharias (Cenovus Energy)
Session sponsored by Cenovus
Indigenous Digital Equity in the AI Era: Connectivity and Opportunity
In an era where digital connectivity is crucial to the economy and AI is set to transform how work is done, many Indigenous communities are already at a distinct disadvantage: an estimated 50 percent of indigenous communities in BC still only have access to dial-up internet. In Manitoba, the numbers are even more bleak: only 15 per cent of households on First Nations have access to high-speed internet.
Speakers: Kory Wilson (BCIT), Shazia Zeb-Sobani (Telus) and Shawn Gervais (Digital Technology Supercluster)
A Treetop View: the Forestry Profession in the Reconciliation Era
For much of the 20th century, the forestry sector was a major contributor to BC’s economy, yet Indigenous peoples saw few, if any, benefits from the profits it generated. Two decades ago, provincial policy created a direct award tenure process and invited First Nations to become licensees; however, limitations on the awards hindered First Nations’ ability to build viable and sustainable businesses. While revisions made in the ensuing years have created more favorable conditions, progress has been slow, resulting in further investment uncertainty for the entire sector. To counter these challenges, many First Nations and companies found innovative ways to collaborate and partner.
Speakers: Keith Atkinson (BC Forest Practices Board) and Trevor Joyce (Mosaic Forest Management)
Session sponsored by Mosaic Forest Management
Path Forward – Capitalising on Opportunities
How can Indigenous people and communities capitalize on the economic opportunities ahead? Good governance, sharing of business resources, and astute asset management emerged as key themes in the IPSS 2023 conversation among three of the country’s top Indigenous financial leaders.
Speakers: Alfredo Di Blasio (Longhouse Capital Partners), Bill Lomax (First Nations Bank of Canada), Geordie Hungerford (First Nations Financial Management Board) and Sharon G.K. Singh (Bennett Jones)