Western Indigenous Relations & Partnerships

The 19th Annual Conference on Western Indigenous Relations & Partnerships is organized by the Canadian Institute (CI), a provider of professional conferences and business intelligence programs. The conference is part of CI’s Indigenous Affairs Series, bringing together Indigenous communities, government representatives, and industry professionals to advance consultation, engagement, and responsible development in Western Canada.

The 19th Annual Western Indigenous Relations & Partnerships conference focuses on building enduring, consent-based relationships between Indigenous communities, government, and industry. The program examines Indigenous rights and consultation obligations, economic participation and project ownership, environmental stewardship, and major resource and infrastructure development. Attendees explore practical approaches to strengthening trust, advancing Indigenous-led opportunities, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships.

The 19th Annual Western Indigenous Relations & Partnerships conference will take place February 17–18, 2027, at the Matrix Hotel, located at 10640 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta. Additional pre-conference virtual workshops covering consultation and engagement, emergency management, and disaster relief are also offered.

The conference is designed for Indigenous Chiefs, Elders, Councillors, community leaders, senior executives, and professionals responsible for Indigenous relations, consultation, engagement, economic development, and resource management. It is also relevant to government officials, environmental and lands managers, project developers, engineers, legal counsel, policy advisors, and industry representatives involved in major projects and Indigenous partnerships.

The conference brings together professionals from oil and gas, mining and exploration, power generation and transmission, nuclear energy, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, and environmental services. Participants also represent Indigenous governments and organizations, federal and provincial government agencies, engineering firms, legal practices, and consulting organizations working in Indigenous relations and responsible development.

The conference covers Indigenous consultation and consent, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), Treaty rights, Indigenous sovereignty, emerging case law, and changes to major-project approvals in Canada. The 2027 program also explores Indigenous ownership of natural resource projects, access to capital, Indigenous Monitoring and Advisory Committees, procurement and workforce risks, nuclear development, and environmental concerns surrounding AI data centres. Additional sessions address Indigenous data sovereignty and OCAP principles, the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline, and measuring partnership success through Two-Eyed Seeing.

Attendees will gain practical strategies for developing respectful, consent-based relationships, navigating consultation obligations, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into project planning and environmental oversight. They will examine approaches to assessing Indigenous equity ownership opportunities, accessing financing, managing project risks, and measuring long-term community benefits. Optional workshops provide additional guidance on consultation roadmaps, emergency-management grant applications, and preserving community knowledge and operational capacity.

The faculty brings together Indigenous Chiefs and community leaders, Indigenous monitoring committee co-chairs, senior industry executives, Indigenous relations and economic development professionals, legal counsel, policy specialists, and regulatory representatives. The 2027 conference is co-chaired by Tiara Folkes of TC Energy and Terry Mitchell of Graham, with contributions from Indigenous organizations, industry, and public-sector specialists.

The 2027 faculty includes representatives of TC Energy, Graham, the Canada Energy Regulator, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Imperial, Wood, and the Mikisew Group of Companies. Indigenous organizations and initiatives represented include Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, the Lac Ste. Anne Métis Community Association, IAMC-Line 3, IAMC-TMX, and IndigiSTEAM Society. Other faculty organizations include Unified Valve Group Ltd, Woodward & Company Lawyers LLP, and Woven North Consulting.

Attendees can connect during morning meet-and-greets, breakfast, scheduled breaks, peer exchanges, and the conference cocktail reception. Cultural programming, including smudging, Indigenous singing, and drumming, provides additional opportunities to engage with Indigenous leaders, government representatives, and industry professionals.

Yes. Groups of 4–8 attendees receive a 10% discount on conference registration, while groups of 9–12 receive 15%; groups of more than 12 should contact the Canadian Institute at 1-877-927-7936. Group members must work for the same organization and register together in one transaction; discounts apply to the conference fee, not workshops or other add-ons.

For the most up-to-date information on delegate substitutions and cancellations for Canadian Institute events, please review the Delegate Substitutions and Cancellation policy here.

A limited number of rooms are available at a negotiated delegate rate at the Matrix Hotel, 10640 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta. To request the rate, contact the hotel directly at +1 780-429-2861 and quote “CI / Indigenous Consultation and Engagement.” The room-block cut-off date is January 22, 2027; availability and the negotiated rate are not guaranteed after that date or once the block is filled.

The conference offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours for eligible legal professionals, with additional substantive hours listed for each pre-conference workshop. The program includes accreditation information for the Law Society of Ontario and guidance for lawyers in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta. Please refer to the conference’s CPD Accreditation page for the applicable credit categories and hours; CME credits are not specified.