Latest News & Updates
All-Access Pass—Save $100
Maximize your experience by bundling your Conference registration with the Workshops—and enjoy exclusive savings.
Scholarship Passes for Indigenous Youths
Ten complimentary passes are available for Indigenous youth. Register for the conference and nominate a candidate to benefit from this opportunity.
* Scholarship passes will be awarded to the first ten eligible nominees.
Celebrating a Decade as Atlantic Canada’s Trusted Forum for Indigenous Consultation, Engagement, and Partnership Building
Join Indigenous leaders, advisors, government decision-makers, regulators, and industry partners at this milestone event as they examine the evolving realities shaping consultation and engagement across the region. From Indigenous rights and economic participation to resource development and reconciliation, explore the legal, political, and practical developments transforming projects and partnerships today.
Gain actionable insights, hear diverse perspectives, exchange ideas, and build the respectful, long-term relationships needed to advance responsible development and meaningful collaboration.
Conference Co-Chairs
Renée Pelletier
Partner
Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP
Nadir Andre
Partner
JFK Law LLP
Honoured Guest
Geri LeBlanc
Elder
Saulteaux/Kanawake
Keynote Speaker
Patti Doyle-Bedwell
Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies
Dalhousie University
Featured Speakers
Dr. Colin Curry
Fisheries Biologist
Wolastoqey First Nation
Margaret Melanson
CEO
Horizon Health New Brunswick
Tracy Menge
Relationships and Arrangements Manager
Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn
Ian Peach
Consultation Manager
Wolastoqey First Nation
Deidre Puddister
VP Sustainability
NexGold Mining Corporation
Tamara Young
Chief
Pictou Landing First Nation
View All Speakers
Featuring Key Topics
Bill C-5 & the Future of Consultation
Navigate Canada’s Changing Consultation Framework
Indigenous Rights, Governance & Self-Determination
Advancing Indigenous Sovereignty Through Consultation
Building Meaningful Partnerships
From Consultation to Long-Term Collaboration
Environmental Stewardship & Resource Development
Balancing Indigenous Rights with Sustainable Development
Consultation in Practice
Practical Strategies to Strengthen Consultation & Reduce Risk
Indigenous Perspectives Across Sectors
Learning Directly from Indigenous Leaders & Communities
10
Years
1,100+
Delegates
55%
Indigenous Communities & Government Organizations
20%
Energy, Natural Resources & Infrastructure
35%
Directors, Executives & Decision-Makers
A Decade of Change: From Duty to Consult to Economic Reconciliation
Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia
The Supreme Court of Canada issued the first-ever declaration of Aboriginal title in Canadian history, fundamentally changing how governments and industry approached consultation, consent, and Indigenous land rights nationwide.
Read Story
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
Consultation is shifting toward reconciliation, relationship-building, Indigenous participation and becomes central to engagement practices across governments, industry, and Indigenous communities.
Read Story
Canadian Institute Launches Our First Aboriginal Consultation Atlantic Conference
The conference became one of the region’s leading forums for advancing dialogue on Indigenous consultation, engagement, reconciliation, and economic partnerships.
Major Projects & Revenue Sharing Gain Momentum
Consultation evolves beyond compliance toward economic partnership. Natural resource, port, mining, energy, and infrastructure projects became major drivers of consultation dialogue across Atlantic Canada.
Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69) Receives Royal Assent
New federal legislation transformed consultation standards for major projects nationwide, including Atlantic offshore energy and infrastructure developments.
Moderate Livelihood Fisheries Become National Focus
Following the implementation of Mi’kmaq moderate livelihood fisheries in Nova Scotia, tensions escalated between Indigenous and non-Indigenous commercial fishers. The issue became one of the defining Indigenous rights and consultation discussions in Atlantic Canada, renewing national attention on treaty rights and Crown consultation obligations.
Read Story
UNDRIP Act Becomes Canadian Law
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) receives Royal Assent, establishing a federal framework for implementing UNDRIP in Canadian law and policy. The legislation accelerated conversations around consent, co-development, Indigenous jurisdiction, and aligning consultation processes with reconciliation objectives.
Read Story
The Pandemic Transforms Consultation
COVID-19 restrictions forced Atlantic communities rapidly adopt virtual consultation tools, transforming engagement practices for fisheries, energy, environmental, and infrastructure projects. This period permanently changed how consultation processes are conducted across Canada.
Wolastoqey Nation Title Claim Advances
The New Brunswick land claim significantly increased awareness of land title issues among governments, municipalities, developers, and resource companies.
Read Story
Atlantic Canada Emerges as a Clean Energy & Economic Reconciliation Hub
Consultation evolves from accommodation toward long-term economic partnership. Offshore wind, hydrogen, transmission, ports, and critical mineral developments increasingly prioritized Indigenous participation, procurement, equity ownership, and co-development agreements.
Read Story
Indigenous Equity & Co-Development Become the New Standard
Major Atlantic projects increasingly adopt Indigenous partnership models centered on shared ownership, stewardship, and economic reconciliation.
10th Annual Conference on Indigenous Consultation & Engagement Atlantic
As the Federal Government’s definition of Consultation and Engagement evolves, this year’s milestone conference gives attendees greater insights, and helps advance co-operation in a trusted space, toward respectful and results-driven partnerships.
Who You Will Meet
Chiefs and Councillors, Senior Executives, Directors, and Managers of:
- Indigenous Relations
- Internal and External Affairs
- Stakeholder Relations, Community Relations
- Project Development
- Environmental Planning
- Government and Corporate Affairs
- Policy Analysts
- In-House Counsel and Partners
From
Indigenous Communities and Organizations
Provincial and Federal Government
Oil and Gas
Mining and Exploration
Power Generation and Transmission
Agriculture and Forestry
Engineering and Environmental Services
Law Firms
Benefits to Attending
Tailored Focus on the Atlantic Region
Get region-specific insights and solutions tailored to the unique challenges of Atlantic Canada that you won’t find anywhere else.
Holistic Perspectives and Strategies
Hear directly from Indigenous leaders, government officials, and industry representatives to understand diverse viewpoints and build more balanced, effective consultation strategies.
Legal Updates and Practical Implications
Stay current on the latest court decisions impacting Indigenous consultation, and walk away with tools to better support Indigenous clients and navigate evolving legal responsibilities.
Interactive, Action-Oriented Sessions
Engage in collaborative discussions with Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to address real-world challenges and co-create culturally informed solutions.
Relationship-Building Opportunities
Reconnect with peers and build new relationships with key players in the consultation space—from community leaders to senior decision-makers across sectors.
Accreditation
This 2-day conference program can be applied towards substantive hours of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as required by the Law Society of Ontario. Members will also receive an additional substantive hours at each pre-conference workshop.
Learn more“I enjoyed the different speakers and topics that were covered. There was enough time to interact with speakers and ask questions. It was great to meet other people I wouldn’t meet otherwise. I found the speakers were knowledgeable on the topics they covered.”
“It was great, and I will attend again.”
“Really enjoyed it and very informative.”
Sponsors & Partners
Supporting Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
Media Partners
Sponsor Opportunities
With conferences in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, the C5 Group of Companies: American Conference Institute, the Canadian Institute, and C5 Group, provides a diverse portfolio of conferences, events and roundtables devoted to providing business intelligence to senior decision makers responding to challenges around the world.
For more information please contact:
Jason Kanagalingam
Business Development Manager
Phone: 647-649-2438
Email: [email protected]
