The day started off with a short address by breakfast sponsor ICEIS's President & Owner Massey Whiteknife (Mikisew Cree First Nation). He started off the day speaking about the importance of hard work and being able to go to bed at night with a clear conscience (like he said he did the night prior). His tenacity is clear as he is an advocate for anti-bullying and has to overcome many hurdles to gain his current success.
Following breakfast was the Best Practises Forum: Working in the Oil Industry: Including Success Stories with moderator Clint Davis, VP of Aboriginal Affairs, TD Bank. First up was Janet Annesly, VP Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) who shared her top three tips for networking that was relatable for many in the audience who are entrepreneurs or those in burgeoning careers. Her first tip was to ensure that you are offering value to the other party first before thinking "What's in it for me?"
Following her presentation was Dr. Kevin Nagel, President and CEO of Keyano College who discussed their initiatives in the industry sector. Brad Anderson, Executive Director of the Alberta Chamber of Resources attested to the organization's best practises. Finally we had Mitch Mercredi (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), President of the NorthEastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association speak on their organizational success. While these three presentations provided pertinent points of discussion, they weren't in line with the topic of networking in a relevant and applicable manner.
The Aboriginal Issues Forum: Treaty and Aboriginal Rights, etc. was the next panel that was eagerly anticipated by all. Moderator Max Faille, Lawyer and Partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP opened up the panel by quoting William Faulkner: "The past is never dead. It's not even the past." He then went on to give a quick overview of treaties with focus on Treaty 8.
Bill Gallagher, lawyer, strategist and author of Resource Rulers, gave a fully loaded presentation that surely had some people squirming in their seats as he discussed the evolution of Aboriginals and industry. "2014 will see the climax of Native empowerment," he says. Jerome Slavik, Lawyer Ackroyd LLP took the throne and stresses the importance of the treaties and their role in the development that has happened to date.
"You wouldn't have this development going on without Treaty 8. Imagine this kind of development going on in BC where there are no treaties - it wouldn't happen."
Jerome Slavik
As Canada is the only country in the world with Aboriginal treaty rights imbedded in it's constitution, Slavik explains, we can become a model for responsible resource development for Indigenous groups around the world. Karin Buss, Lawyer for Klimek Buss Bishop Law Group, took to the throne next to discuss the three aspects in relation to the increase in litigation (scope of Crown consultation, how the process is conducted, and regulating regime for oil sands).
For our treaty grand finale, we had Cliff Supernault (Metis) who stressed the importance of early consultation process and engaging elders for traditional land use studies. He also regaled us with jokes about the Blackfoot coming up north to work in Cree territory, creating a whole new nation of "Creefoots."
"The process has to be participatory, everyone has to be involved because everyone has to live with the consequences."
Dr. Karim-Aly Kassam
After the lunch address by John Rind, VP Shell Upstream Americas, Oil Sands JV, everyone was anxious for the Environmental Forum: State of Address with the Oil Industry to get underway. We were given the great opportunity to have Dr. Karim-Aly Kassam, Professor at Cornell University, in our midst to moderate the panel discussion. His key points echoed Supernault's messaging on early engagement and traditional land use studies.
Ed Whittingham, Executive Director of Pembina Institute opened up the discussion as the first panelist recognizing the treaty territory of which he was speaking on (Treaty 8), and where he lives (Treaty 7), which was shockingly the first time I heard mention of recognizing traditional territories by any of the panelist. He lightened up the mood with his joke: Why is sustainable development like high school and sex? - We talk about it more than we actually do it, and those that are doing it, aren't doing it well. Of course that brought out a lot of chuckles throughout the room.
Dan Stuckless, Sustainability Department for Fort McKay First Nation, spoke about FMFN and development on their land - 70% of their territory is leased out. Dr. John O'Connor, the family physician who was demonized in Ezra Levant's Ethical Oil, was present to discuss the issues from his perspective.
"I am not anti-industry. I think that for anyone to suggest shutting down (the oil sands) would devastate the industry. I would love to see the Aboriginal people and industry collaborating slowing things down, and forcing government to look at the health issues."
Dr. John O'Connor
Chief Allen Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation was the final panelist of the conference and he brought a much-anticipated gusto of energy.
"We are fighting and the First Nations people across the country are waking up. The old Dene story that always said that the Sleeping Giant will one day wake and the people will realize that we are in trouble. I'm here to tell you that the Sleeping Giant has awaken. This country will never look the same again."
Chief Allen Adam
Wab Kinew, emcee of the conference, wrapped up his portion of the closing by taking a sip of that water and stating that we are in this together. And that perfectly hits upon the point of the entire conference, we are in this together for the long-term and the time has never been better to create meaningful dialogue.
Chief Jim Boucher (Dene) spoke last night about how Fort McKay First Nation had a history with the fur trade and how their economic development opportunities took a drastic shift after the anti-fur campaigns in the mid-eighties.
This notion of creating new economic development opportunities through resources resonated with conference co-host JP Gladu, CEO of Canada Council for Aboriginal Business.
"There are old ways and new ways to be able to adapt to the new trapline. We need to know and live with the best of both worlds," says Cree Elder Bob Stevenson from Fort Fitzgerald who came all the way from his current home in Awkwesasne, ON to attend the conference.
That sentiment is precisely the spirit that the conference came from when JP Gladu and Chief Jim Boucher met last March at the CAPP Renewable Clean Energy Awards in Calgary. Discussion, dialogue and different ways of approaching the future, together.
Further Coverage:
#EOSAC coverage of Day 1 here
#EOSAC coverage of Day 1 Gala here
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