Western Indigenous Consultation & Engagement

Registration Opens and Breakfast Is Served

Co-Chairs Opening Remarks

Meaghan Conroy
Partner
MLT Aikins

Shaleigh Raine
Consultation Office
Louis Bull Tribe

Traditional Welcome

Keynote Address

Shaleigh Raine
Consultation Office
Louis Bull Tribe

Urban ATR as a Tool for Economic Sovereignty

Ryan M. Lake
Partner
Maurice Law

Morning Networking and Refreshment Break

INDIGENOUS LEADERS PANEL

How UNDRIP is Changing the Duty to Consult and the Evolving Meaning of Consultation – Done Well!

Eriel Deranger
Executive Director
Indigenous Climate Action

Callie Davies-Flett
Regulatory Advisor
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Brian Fung
Manager, Government Relations
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Robb Campre
Member
Fort Mckay First Nation

• Examining a “then and now” review of treaties in Northern Canada on the 30th Anniversary of the Modern Northern Land Claims Agreements
• Examining the federal government’s efforts to develop resources in First Nation communities
• Decolonizing the process of engagement and consultation
• Communicating information throughout the entire community

Strengthening Rights Based Relationships in an Urban Context: Municipalities and the Duty to Consult

Jaimy Miller
Director, Indigenous Relations, Social Development, Community Services
City Of Edmonton

Morgan Bamford
Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations
EPCOR

Troy Chalifoux, B.A., L.L.B
Executive Director, Negotiations
Maurice Law

Municipalities, corporations, and industry are increasingly undertaking projects and partnerships with rights bearing First Nations and Métis communities, in regards to the duty to consult, Indigenous intergovernmental relations, and economic reconciliation in an urban context.

Networking Luncheon

LEGAL PANEL

How Legal Cases are Affecting Consultation Practice

Meaghan Conroy
Partner
MLT Aikins

Kate Kempton
Senior Counsel
Woodward & Company

William (Bill) Mcelhanney, K.C.
Partner
Ackroyd LLP

Focusing on significant legal developments in the duty to consult, this session will concentrate on noteworthy legal advancements regarding the duty to consult. This session will explore recent case law, legislative changes and practical resources developed by Indigenous Peoples to fulfill the duty to consult and accommodate.

• Exploring current legal cases that are influencing consultation procedures, including:
  • First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun v Yukon (Government of), (2023) YKSC
  • Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), (2023) BCSC
  • Whiteduck v Ontario, (2023) ONCA
  • Reference re Impact Assessment Act SCC

Deep Dive into the Aboriginal Rights and Information System

Catherine James
Analyst
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System (ATRIS) is a web-based, geographic information system that locates Indigenous nations, groups, communities, and organizations and displays information pertaining to potential or established treaty rights.

Join us for an overview of ATRIS, its main functions and how it impacts Western Canada. Participants will also learn how information is organized and how to conduct their own consultation research.

Afternoon Networking and Refreshment Break

Roadmap: A Path Towards Economic Reconciliation

Delanie Bulldog
Indigenous Relations Manager, Strategic Opportunities
First Nations Financial Management Board

Closing Remarks from the Conference Co-Chairs
Conference Adjourns to Day Two

Registration Opens and Breakfast Is Served

Co-Chairs Opening Remarks

Meaghan Conroy
Partner
MLT Aikins

Shaleigh Raine
Consultation Office
Louis Bull Tribe

Aftermath of the Blueberry River Court Decision and how to Effectively Assess Cumulative Effects and the Impact Assessments of a Projects

Bryn E. Gray
Partner
McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Carol M. Wildcat
Consultation Coordinator
Ermineskin Cree Nation

This session will focus on the precedent-setting British Columbia Supreme Court which ruled that the Treaty Rights of Blueberry River First Nation were infringed upon through the cumulative effects of decades of natural resource developments. Points of discussion will include:

• Examining how the Blueberry River court decision is affecting development projects
• Identifying how the court decision is being applied to consultation and engagement in land-use planning
• Deciphering the effect on future natural gas development in the region and across Canada
• Debating how government agencies could engage with First Nations to ensure effective collaboration and cumulative effects assessment
• Determining the new legal obligation as a result of the court decision

Morning Networking Break

How Natural Resource Companies are Successfully Collaborating with Indigenous Communities on Project Development

Terry Mitchell
Vice-President, Indigenous Relations
Graham Construction & Engineering

• Assessing the level of interest from Indigenous or community groups in your project
• Developing skills and resources to enable the active involvement of First Nation groups in their own initiatives
• Analyzing various approaches to training for First Nation communities
• Establishing effective means of securing funding
• Customizing engagement and consultation methods to suit regions and communities
• Developing best practices for developers
• Navigating the dynamics of different industry and Indigenous leadership styles
• Fostering the relationship after the completion of the consultation process and what happens next

Strengthening Relationships: Understanding Cultural Protocols During Consultation and Engagement

Terry Mitchell
Vice-President, Indigenous Relations
Graham Construction & Engineering

Florence Glanfield, PhD
Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming & Research), University of Alberta
Citizen, Métis Nation of Alberta

Placing Indigenous knowledge at the forefront of consultation is crucial for ensuring meaningful engagement. In this session, our audience will acquire a deeper understanding of the utilization of consultation protocols to facilitate engagement on various topics of interest and concern to communities. Points of discussion will include:

• Exploring how protocols foster the development of relationships and establish clear roles and responsibilities between governments and Indigenous communities
• Examining the advantages of protocols for Aboriginal communities
• Assessing the potential outcomes that can be achieved through the implementation of a consultation protocol
• Distinguishing the differences between the ideologies of companies and Indigenous communities
• Analyzing the significance of gift offerings in the consultation process

Networking Luncheon

Hot Topic

Indigenous Economic Development: Balancing Community and Industry Priorities and Achieving Mutual Growth Opportunities in First Nation Communities

Devin Gambler
Owner
Pamihtâw Consulting Inc.

• Identifying the corporate and tax considerations unique to indigenous owned projects
• Examining the challenges that arise when signing Indigenous communities as co-owners of a project
• Analyzing how Indigenous ownership changes the consultation and regulatory approval process
• Improving the quantity of commercial prospects for western Canadian Fist Nation Communities
  • Strategizing ways to include Traditional Knowledge, including culture and history, and its affect on project development
  • Examining royalties and power purchase agreements

Success Stories

Analyzing the Success of Top-of-Mind Natural Resource Projects in Western Canada

Melvin Abraham
Consultation Coordinator
Frog Lake First Nation

Examine the projects taking place in Western Canada and what you can learn from their successes. Learn how these projects will impact future participation and consultation, as well as the status and schedules of mining, forestry, and nuclear. The following projects will be discussed:

• McLeod Lake Indian Band $5B energy hub
• Historic Costal Gas Link pipeline ownership agreement
• TC Energy’s $5B project
• Landmark equity pipeline partnership between Enbridge and 23 Indigenous communities
• Commission on Rocky Mountains coal mine

Networking Break

How to Negotiate Business Contracts and Joint Venture Agreements for Indigenous Partnerships

Jeremy Barretto
Partner
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Monika Wilson
Vice President
Fort McKay Landing

Jeremy Makokis
CEO and Founder
Turtle Island Solutions

• Negotiating practical graduated agreements and arrangements
• Understanding how an Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) applies differently to the mining sector, forestry, and green energy projects
• Optimizing a resource revenue sharing agreement to benefit your community
• Identifying options for structuring Joint Ventures

Resource Revenue Sharing Agreements: How Provincial Governments are Now Addressing Negotiations and What is Going to Court

Harold Blyan
Councillor
Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement

Todd Bailey
Consultation Director
Swan River First Nation

Discover new ways of implementing resources revenue sharing into project agreements, from the natural resource projects, mining energy, gas, and forestry industry.

Co-Chairs Closing Remarks, End of Conference