Speakers.

Regional Chief Kluane Adamek (Aagé) is a proud northerner and citizen of Kluane First Nation, welcomed into the Dakl’aweidi (Killerwhale) Clan by clan Matriarchs. She is the AFN’s lead on climate change and the environment and serves on the Net-Zero Advisory Body to the Minister of Environment and Climate. She has also served as the Co-Chair of the COVID-19 Northern and Remote Communities Working Group. She holds the Modern Treaties portfolio. Since 2009, she has worked with Yukon First Nations and local communities in the areas of education, economic development and governance serving on several boards and committees including the Yukon College Board of Governors, Kluane Dana Trust, Actua, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and the Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Roger is President and Chief Executive Officer for FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc., overseeing electricity and natural gas business operations. He has more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry including senior financial roles with Westcoast Energy prior to joining FortisBC in 2004. As a senior executive in the energy industry, Roger serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Gas Association, Electricity Canada and Western Energy Institute. In addition, Roger is a member of the Business Council of BC’s Board of Governors.

Born and raised on the Squamish Nation, Simon is an acclaimed actor in hit TV series and Hollywood feature films over the last two decades. A graduate of the Vancouver film school acting program, Simon was one of only eight actors selected in the inaugural year of the Actors Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre. Cast as the host of RealWorld’s international docuseries “Native Planet”, Simon is now evolving his career behind the camera as both host and Associate Producer for RealWorld’s latest docuseries: Twindemic. Simon is lending his voice to promote Indigenous equity and inclusion in the Canadian film and television industry.

As Vice President of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Amber coordinates engagement for the AIOC. She has the critical responsibility of driving AIOC’s mandate and establishing a platform to facilitate and welcome Indigenous investment and equity share ownership and partnerships in Alberta’s natural resource, transportation, telecommunication, agriculture, and related infrastructure projects. Amber is a proud member of the Red Rock Indian Band in Northwestern Ontario and comes to AIOC with more than 18 years in the banking industry.

Stephen Bruyneel works under contract for the Fraser River Discovery Centre Society (FRDCS) as the Director, External Relations & Development. He is also a member of the Indigenous Relations Committee of the FRDCS Board of Directors and, in that capacity, works closely with Musqueam Indian Band (MIB) on an exciting new partnership emerging out of a recent memorandum of understanding.

Ian Campbell is a hereditary chief of the Squamish Nation and served for sixteen years as an elected councillor. He was a lead negotiator on various resource projects and in the establishment of the MST Development Corporation, which oversees land development in a joint partnership between the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

Harley Chappell is the elected chief of Semiahmoo First Nation in South Surrey, BC. He currently serves as a coastal Indigenous representative on the Fraser Basin Council, a Board Member of the Shared Water Alliance, and a Director for the Emergency Planning Secretariat. As a founding board member for the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) he is seeking to ensure that Indigenous voices have a key role in guiding industrial development and government processes and that First Nations are well equipped and resourced to properly engage in policymaking.

Mr. Charles is privileged to serve as a Council Member for the Musqueam Indian Band for the last 30 years and has played an active role on council committees dealing with substantive treaty, lands and finance issues. He serves as a Director for the Musqueam Capital Corporation (MCC), a member of the Board of Directors of the Fraser River Discovery Center Society and – most recently – has been appointed to the Board of Directors at Science World and to the BCAFN Gaming Commission.

Chief Judy Desjarlais of the Blueberry River First Nations, located in Treaty 8 Territory, Northeast BC, is Dunne’za/Nehiyaw (Beaver/Cree) raised by her Grandparents May & Bernard Apsassin. Her recent election win, in January of 2022, saw her enter a governance landscape framed by the BC Provincial Court ruling on the Treaty Rights of her Nation. She will be sharing remarks on the path forward.

Tumia has served as a Council member for Kwantlen First Nation for over the past two decades and has been involved in leading a variety of government, land, economic, and resource self-determination initiatives and program development on behalf of Kwantlen during this time as a practicing lawyer. She is honoured to be a part of the establishment of SSIGA with neighbouring Nations and is excited for the important and needed work of SSIGA going forward to ensure the rightful place of Indigenous voice and perspective to decisions and processes impacting traditional territories and resources.

The great-granddaughter of the legendary Chief Louie, Corrina Leween was first elected Chief of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation in 2003, the youngest Cheslatta person and the third woman ever to hold that position. She has served four terms, being re-elected by acclamation as Chief in 2015 and again in 2017. A graduate of the University of Victoria, Chief Leween is also the Chair of Carrier Sekani Family Services and Vice Chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. After over a decade of building innovative partnerships, Chief Leween was part of the First Nation Major Project Coalition Team that successfully negotiated an equity agreement with the Coastal Gas Link pipeline in 2022.

Jesse is the Director, Research, Innovation and Legal Affairs for the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. He previously served as the Director of Policy and Indigenous Relations for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Director of Rights Implementation for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. As a proud citizen of Canada, the Anishinabek Nation and the Oneida Nation (Wolf Clan), Jesse is committed to the achievement of reconciliation through the implementation of rights, treaties and responsibilities.

Michael has worked as a founder, director and executive leading the development of mineral resource projects and companies throughout North America and internationally. He is a specialist in the environmental, regulatory, Indigenous and financial aspects of the natural resources sector and has held senior executive and board positions with both industry and the Government of Canada. Michael is currently the Co-Chair and Founding Partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants Ltd. and the co-author of the best-selling book: “Weaving Two Worlds – Economic Reconciliation Between Indigenous Peoples and the Resource Sector”.

Tiffany Murray is the Director of Indigenous Relations for Coastal GasLink working for TC Energy. In this role, Tiffany leads an Indigenous Relations team that is responsible for implementing the project agreements with all elected Indigenous groups along the project corridor. In addition, her team is responsible for Indigenous contracting and procurement, which has awarded over $1 billion in subcontracting value to Indigenous businesses on the project to date and has helped facilitated three Indigenous partnerships with prime contractors for major pipeline construction. Tiffany is also responsible for the equity option agreements with Indigenous partners on behalf of TC Energy for Coastal GasLink.

Steven Muzzo is the founder, CEO and chairman of OZZ Electric. Established in 1991, OZZ Electric is a full service electrical, data communications and energy efficiency services company. Mr. Muzzo’s vision of a new energy economy has also resulted in the founding of a variety of successful businesses redefining how energy is generated, delivered and managed.

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Negrin has established himself as a leader in the Development and Construction Industry throughout Canada, developing strong working relationships with First Nations throughout British Columbia. He is a long-time Director and former President of the Urban Design Institute (UDI) and from 2008 to 2016, David served as the President of Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. There, he established partnerships with Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Tsawwassen First Nation culminating in over 1 Million SF of development.

Marian specializes in innovative and progressive approaches in the field of government relations – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Honing in on rationales for processes– if the status quo does not allow for needs to be addressed, she works to develop partnerships and solutions that do. Marian has previously worked in both government and industry. With the latter, she was part of the core team at Woodfibre LNG that worked with Squamish Nation in the establishment and enforcement of the first-ever Indigenous-issued environmental certificate.

Chief Terry Paul of the Membertou First Nation successfully negotiated Mik'maq equity ownership in North America's largest shellfish producer. Chief Paul has been elected chief for 38 years, during which he guided his community and administration into one of the most efficient and economically flourishing Indigenous communities in the country.

Karen Restoule is an Indigenous thought-leader and CEO of Shared Value Solutions, where she works with Indigenous communities to achieve goals of jurisdiction, prosperity and self-determination. Before joining the organization, she was a key leader in the modernization of Ontario’s administrative justice system, with a remarkable career in the Indigenous justice system. 

Sheryl Rivers (also known as Siamtnaat or Milnitdi) is a member of the Squamish Nation and owner of Rivers Consulting Solutions. She currently serves the City of North Vancouver as the commissioner for the North Vancouver Museum & Archives.

Chris is a Senior Partner at Nation Origination Ventures Group, Principal owner and President at Blackfish Enterprises, and part owner of a heavy civil construction company. He is also a Senior Fellow at the MacDonald Laurier Institute where he provides advice on Indigenous affairs, research and policy. Chris was also recently appointed to the C2C2C Unity Corridor Foundation Board of Directors. A member of the Coast Tsimshian community of Lax Kw’Alaams, Chris was an Elected Councilor for the Lax Kw’Alaams Band where he implemented the first ever emergency response and marine safety table on the North Coast and helped negotiate the $36 billion-dollar Pacific Northwest LNG agreement.

Christy Smith is a K’ómoks First Nation matriarch with some settler ancestry, living in her traditional territory on Vancouver Island. Engaging and building good relationships are at the core of what Christy does as a changemaker, mentor, liaison, project manager, and engagement expert. Christy currently serves as partner and Vice-President, Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations, with Falkirk Environmental Consultants and Vice President of Sustainability for TDG Gold Corp. Christy is the co-author of the best-selling book: “Weaving Two Worlds – Economic Reconciliation Between Indigenous Peoples and the Resource Sector”.

Chief Crystal Smith has served the Haisla people for twelve years through her work with Haisla Nation Council, starting as Executive Assistant to Chief and Council from 2009 to 2013, then being elected Chief Councillor in 2017. In November 2019, she was named Chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance, a group committed to encouraging First Nations development of the LNG industry to provide employment and other sustainable benefits for BC’s aboriginal people.

Dallas has roots from all four corners of the Kwak̓wala speaking peoples. He’s spent the majority of his career working to bring greater human well-being and capacity to the Nations of the Great Bear Rainforest (GBR). As one of the architects of the GBR agreements and the Founder and President of Na̲nwak̲olas Council, he has built positive working relationships with all levels of government, industry, and philanthropic communities to balance conservation and sustainable economic development.

Johnna is a member of the Musqueam First Nation. Her unique experience began as the Communication Protocol Officer in the Musqueam Indian Band and as Coordinator for the Musqueam Indian Band in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Her previous work experience and relationships built with development executives in Vancouver have led her to her current role as Indigenous Relations Advisor in Development. There, she spearheads a team of development coordinators actively participating in the development and municipal process and are fostering grassroots community engagement in the three partnering nations: Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh.

Steven Stark serves on both the Legislature and the Executive Council for Tsawwassen First Nation. He is also a business owner and an avid fisherman and crabber that has been involved in various environmental studies along the Salish waterways. As a founding member of SSIGA, Steven seeks practical solutions that break the cycle of continual disadvantage faced by so many First Nations when it comes to development decisions and environmental assessments.

Dennis Thomas “Whonoak” is a member and an elected Councillor of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (People of the Inlet) in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. Since working for his community as the coordinator for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Dennis pursued business with his Nation and managed several band-owned companies, including Takaya Tours. He also led new business ventures, including implementing the largest Solar array project to date in the North Shore. As a consultant, he was TWN Cultural Liaison for MST Development Corporation, where he ensured Tsleil-Waututh Nations' history and culture are at the forefront and rooted in the building structure, architectural design, and the overall public realm. He was recently selected by Business in Vancouver’s 2021 Top Forty under 40.

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., has built a strong reputation as a bridge builder and champion of good governance and accountability. She served as Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville from 2015 to 2021, holding roles including Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, making her the first Indigenous person to serve in the portfolio. Prior to politics, Wilson-Raybould was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver before being elected Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission and later as BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009. In 2021, Wilson-Raybould released her memoir "Indian" in the Cabinet, which became a #1 national bestseller. She is also the author of From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada.

From 2017 to November 2020, Don was the Deputy Minister to the Premier, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service of British Columbia. His previous government service included positions as Secretary to the Treasury Board and as Deputy Minister in the Ministries of Forests, Trade and Investment, and Education in the Saskatchewan and British Columbia governments. Don has also worked as a senior private sector executive and as the President of BCIT.