Speakers

Conference Co-Chairs

Melody Lepine

Business and Environment Lead
Firelight Group
Mikisew Cree First Nation

Shaleigh Raine

Lands, Consultation, and Economic Development Manager
Louis Bull Tribe
2025 Conference Co-Chair

Distinguished Faculty

Jeremy Barretto

Partner
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Stephen Buffalo

President & CEO
Indian Resource Council (IRC)
Samson Cree Nation

Mark Calette

Senior Director, Indigenous Relations
Saskatchewan Research Council
Métis Nation, Saskatchewan

Troy Chalifoux, B.A., L.L.B

Senior Counsel
Maurice Law

Al Crawford

Indigenous Drummer
Bigstone Cree Nation

Greg Desjarlais

Grand Chief
Confederacy of Treaty 6
Chief, Frog Lake First Nation

Malek Eid, CPA, CA

Chief Investment Officer
Mikisew Group of Companies

Jackie Esmonde

Partner
Cavalluzzo LLP

Max FineDay

Chief Executive Officer
Warshield
Sweetgrass First Nation

Tracy Friedel

President
Lac St. Anne Métis Community Association

Bennie Graydon

Employment and Relations Specialist
Squamish Nation Training & Trades Centre
Snuneymuxw First Nation

Paul Heighington

Senior Advisor
UN Declaration Act Implementation Secretariat, Justice Canada

Kimmy Houle

Director of Environment, Lands, and Economic Development
Siksikaitsitapi Blackfoot Confederacy
Kainaiwa (Blood Tribe)

Robin Howse, MSc.

Impact Assessment Analyst
The Firelight Group

Linda J. Innes

Chief
Gixtaała Nation

Kate Kempton

Senior Counsel
Woodward & Company

Ian Ketcheson

Vice-President, Indigenous Relations
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Ryan M. Lake

Partner
Maurice Law

Clayton Leonard

Senior Counsel
JFK Law

Kenneth Letander, BSW, MBA

Business Owner
Strat First Inc.

Koren Marriott

Senior Counsel
Aboriginal Law Center, Justice Canada

Trevor Mercredi

Grand Chief
Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
Chief, Beaver First Nation

Terry Mitchell

Corporate VP, Indigenous Relations
Graham Construction Group
Heart Lake First Nation (Treaty 6)

Marcel Pelletier

Vice President, Indigenous Relations
AECOM

Robert Phillips

Political Executive
First Nations Summit
Tsq’escen’ (Canim Lake) First Nation, a part of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation

Brenda Heelan Powell

Staff Counsel
Environmental Law Center

Patricia Marie Shortneck

Elder
Louis Bull Tribe

Angelina Silver

Crown Consultation Coordinator
Canada Energy Regulator
Kainai Nation (Blackfoot Confederacy)

Sharon G.K. Singh

Partner | Co-Head, Indigenous and Environment
McMillan LLP

S. Ronald Stevenson

Counsel
Power Law

Cynthia Westaway

Senior Counsel
First Peoples Law

Carol M. Wildcat

Consultation Coordinator
Ermineskin Cree Nation