Energy and the Oil Sands Aboriginal Perspectives Conference

As you gear up from your holiday break, you’ll want to mark this exciting conference in your 2014 calendar. 

January 22 – 24, 2014 at the Sawridge Inn & Conference Center in Fort McMurray, AB the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN) in partnership with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) will present Energy and the Oil Sands, Aboriginal Perspectives.

Panel topics will include:

• Economics Overview - the oil industry: the present state and future outlook
• Industry Forum – working with Aboriginal business and First Nations
• Best Practices Presentation – working in the oil industry, including success stories
• Networking in the Oil Industry – how associations work on behalf of Aboriginal business
• Aboriginal Perspectives and Issues – Treaty and Aboriginal rights
• The Environment – State of address and working with the oil industry

Speaker list includes: 

• Chief Jim Boucher, McKay First Nation
• JP Gladu, CEO Canada Council for Aboriginal Business
• Chief Allan Adam, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
• Bill Gallagher, LL.B., Lawyer, Strategist, Author – Resource Rulers
• John Rhind, Vice President Heavy Oil, Shell
• Peter Read, Vice President, Syncrude
• David Tuccaro, President & Owner, Tuccaro Inc.
• Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO & Owner, Bouchier Group
• David Collyer, President, Canadian Association Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
• Mitch Mercredi, President, Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA)
• Dr. Kevin F. Nagel, President & CEO, Keyano College
• Dr. Karim-Aly Saleh Kassam, International Proffesor, Cornell University
• Dr. Marie Delorme, President & CEO, Imagination Group                

This event will be breaking new ground as it’s the first for this type of in-depth oil sands conference in northern Alberta. The emcee is Wab Kinew, who is known most notable for hosting The 8th Fire series by CBC and who will be sure to be creating meaningful discussions. The important and very timely topics will cover topics and key issues about First Nations and Aboriginal businesses, economic development, best practices, and the environmental concerns in northern Alberta, and will be applicable to regions beyond.

In addition to the insights given by panel discussions at the conference, there will also be a gala banquet on Thursday evening that will feature Adam Beach as the emcee and have performances by musician Don Amero.

It is $750 to register as a conference delegate, $350 for the Gala Banquet and $1,000 for attendance in all conference sessions and the Gala Banquet. You can get the registration form online here and see the full schedule online here. (Update 20.01.14: Registration is now closed)

For more information and / or for sponsorship opportunities contact

Frederick McDonald at: frederickrmcd@gmail.com or at: 1-780-370-8374

Photo of Chief Boucher by Stuart Gradon of Postmedia News. Photo of Adam Beach from CBC.

Eagle Sponsor: 

Delegate Bag and Media Sponsor:

Additional Sponsors:

Silver Sponsor: Karin Buss Professional Corp, Teck Resources Ltd.

Notebook Sponsor: Nation Imagination, the Aboriginal Gifting Company

Coffee Break Sponsor: Ackroyd LLP

VIP Reception Sponsor: MNP

Pre-Registration Sponsor: Bouchier Group