The First Nations Major Projects Coalition will host a strong line-up of keynote and panel speakers at the third annual Industry Engagement Event taking place in Prince George (Lheidli Territory) March 2-3.
The morning keynote on Day One features Steven Fleckenstein, Managing Director, National Bank Financial. Fleckenstein will speak to the changing financial landscape of Indigenous participation in major projects, and he will address concepts designed to help overcome the challenges of First Nations access to capital to fund equity ownership in projects.
At noon on Day One, Professor Ken Coates with the University of Saskatchewan will provide his perspectives on the ‘Public Policy Steps Required to Support Indigenous Economic Development’.
The opening conference panel will deal with indigenous ownership of electricity infrastructure and feature participation by Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of indigenous-led Wataynikaneyap Power. Other panel speakers during the event will tackle topics such as; indigenous project finance – Breaking Down the Barriers to Equity Participation; The Right Ingredients – Domestic and International Examples of Project Success, and UNDRIP and Major Project Development Within Traditional Territories.
“Delegates at the third annual Industry Engagement Event will also learn more about the tools the coalition has created to help support our First Nations members when they are considering participation in a major project in their territories,” said executive director Niilo Edwards. “We have new tools to help members assess the effects of projects on the social and economic cornerstones of communities, assessment of projects on indigenous culture, how to ensure meaningful integration of indigenous knowledge into major project assessments, assessments on impacts to indigenous health, and assessment of projects on indigenous land use. The value to industry, government and community participants is to better understand the importance these priorities to indigenous communities and how they can in turn, work with our members to achieve success.”
Registration is now open for the third annual Industry Engagement Event Mar 2-3. More event information and a link to register can be found at www.fnmpc.ca.