This Indigenous Sustainable Investment Conference will focus on delivering programming related to the advancement of an Indigenous worldview of Environmental, Social, and Governance Standards (collectively called ESG Standards) and their impact on the social and economic interests held by Indigenous people in the context of major project and energy development.
Day 1: March 18th, 2021 (All times in Pacific Time Zone)
INTRODUCTIONS, OPENING PROTOCOLS, AND CULTURAL GROUNDING
8:00am – Opening protocols
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Prayer
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Cultural performance
8:15am – Welcome remarks from conference co-hosts
JP Gladu, President, A2A Rail and Mark Podlasly, FNMPC Director of Economic Policy and Initiatives
8:20am – Conference opening remarks
Presenters: Chief Sharleen Gale, Chair of FNMPC and Joe Mancinelli, International Vice President of LiUNA!
8:30am – Indigenous worldview on ESG standards
This tone setting presentation will summarize research undertaken by the First Nations Major Projects Coalition concerning Indigenous perspectives on ESG standards and the impact investment decisions have on Indigenous interests
Presenter: Mark Podlasly, FNMPC Director of Economic Policy and Initiatives
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENTS OF “E” – ENVIRONMENTAL
8:50am – Panel # 1 – Indigenous leadership toward a low carbon economy
The panel will discuss Indigenous approaches to, and considerations of the “E” of ESG, including by exploring
the following issues: Indigenous-led net zero carbon policy framework for the development of major projects, financing mechanisms for Indigenous infrastructure programs that seek to reduce GHGs or sequester carbon,
the role of renewable energy generation projects in Indigenous economic development, and the Canadian net
zero carbon policy context for major project development.
Panelists: Chief Sharleen Gale, Chair, First Nations Major Projects Coalition, Councillor Joey Wesley, Lax kw’ alaams Band and First Nations Climate Initiative representative, Hillary Thatcher, Senior Director Indigenous Infrastructure, Canada Infrastructure Bank, Fazil Mihlar, Deputy Minister, Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation and Shawn Tupper, Associate Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada
Moderator – Scott Smith, Gowling WLG
10:00am – DAY 1 KEYNOTE SPEAKER | MARK CARNEY (CONFIRMED)
Introduction by: Harold Calla, Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board
» Remarks followed by an “armchair” Q&A session
Moderator – Mark Podlasly, FNMPC Director of Economic Policy and Initiatives
10:30am – 10 minute break
10:40am – Panel #2 – Seizing the Moment: After decades of division, common ground has opened up around the economy, environment and Indigenous rights
Real progress requires everyone operating from a position of strength. Canada is approaching an historic balance of power in the energy field among governments, industry, Indigenous peoples and environmentalists. Net zero, predictable carbon pricing, support for innovation, a post-pandemic need for growth, UNDRIP’s affirmation of Indigenous rights, the ESG movement – they all point to a different energy future filled yet one filled with newpromise. Next up: getting the pieces in the right array
Panelists: Dave Nikolejsin, McCarthy Tetrault, Edward Greenspon, Public Policy Forum, Rhona DelFrari, Chief Sustainability Officer, Cenovus, and Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation
Moderator: Dr. Dara Kelly, Assistant Professor, Business and Society, Simon Fraser University
11:30am – Panel #3 – Environmental sustainability in the natural resources sector
This panel will bring together representatives from across the natural resource sectors in forestry, mining, and energy for a discussion focused on the advancement of environmental sustainability initiatives involving Indigenous communities as partners
Panelists: Neil Rayner, Indigenous Relations, Teck Resources Ltd, Jon Turner, Vice President, Cedar LNG,
Jenna Strachan, Indigenous Relations, Mercer International and Chief Willie Sellars, Williams Lake First Nation
Moderator: Etienne Belanger, Director, Forest Products Association of Canada
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENTS OF “S” – SOCIAL
12:30pm – Setting the stage for the 100 billion dollar Indigenous economy
Presentation by – Carol Anne Hilton, CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute
1:00pm – End of Day 1
Day 2: March 19th, 2021 (All times in Pacific Time Zone)
8:00am – Opening protocols
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Prayer
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Cultural performance
8:15am – ESG considerations for major project developers
Presenter: Radha Curpen, Vancouver Managing Partner, Bennett Jones
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENTS OF “S” SOCIAL (CONTINUED)
8:30am – Panel #4 – Overcoming barriers in the capital markets: toward mainstream capital access for Indigenous equity participation
The panelists will discuss innovative ways in which these challenges can be addressed and what steps can be taken to broaden Indigenous capital access.
Panelists: Stephen Lidington, Managing Director, Colliers Project Leaders, Beata Swist, Managing Director, National Bank Financial, Ernie Daniels, President and CEO, First Nations Finance Authority and Bill Jenkins, Partner, Dentons
Moderator: Sahir Khan, Executive Vice President, Institute on Fiscal Studies and Democracy
9:30am – DAY 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER | TERRY PAUL (CONFIRMED)
Terry Paul, Chief and CEO, Membertou First Nation
Introduction by: Louis Vachon, President and CEO, National Bank Financial
» Keynote address followed by an “armchair” Q&A session
Moderator: JP Gladu, President, A2A Rail
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENTS OF “G” – GOVERNANCE
10:00am – Panel #5 – Corporate governance spotlight: Indigenous representation
in the boardroom
Examining the “G” in ESG, this panel will address the value of having diversity of opinion, direction, and thought in corporate decision making. This panel will feature a discussion among the Indigenous directors who serve on the boards of some of Canada’s leading corporations.
Panelists: Keith Martell, board member, Nutrien, Donald Deranger, board member, Cameco and Cherie Brant, board member, Hydro One
Moderator: JP Gladu, Director, Suncor Energy
10:50am – 10 minute break
11:00am – Panel #6 – Structuring the deal for success: achieving Indigenous equity ownership
Highlighting examples of project success stories and lessons learned, this panel will discuss the steps Indigenous communities and proponents need to consider when structuring deals to ensure Indigenous communities participate as full equity partners in development of major projects.
Panelists: Brian Baarda, CEO, Peak Renewables, Trent Fequet, CEO, Steel River Group, Paul Seaman, Partner, GowlingWLG, Terry Burgis, Senior Vice President, Kiewit and Paul Poscente, Axxcelus Capital Advisory Partners
Moderator: Jason Calla, Temixw Planning
12:00pm – Panel #7 – Cross sectoral discussion on UNDRIP
Canada is poised to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This panel will discuss how acting upon the principles of the Declaration will improve certainty for the business climate in Canada by including Indigenous peoples as active business partners.
Panelists: Catherine Deluz, Moody’s Investors Service, Mark Sevestre, Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative, Tabatha Bull, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Justin Himmelright, Vice President, Skeena Resources
Moderator: Valerie Helbronner, Partner, Torys LLP
1:00pm – What is possible when Indigenous people Inform the Investment Process
Presenter: Jeff Cyr, Managing Partner, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners
1:30pm – Conference closing remarks
Presenters: Mark Podlasly and JP Gladu, conference co-hosts