Fostering a Meaningful Dialogue and Collaboration among Indigenous Communities, Government, and Industry

With so much at stake — from Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship to economic growth and regulatory hurdles — it’s crucial to stay informed and engaged. Whether your priority is ensuring Indigenous communities have a seat at the table in Canada’s economic future, navigating regulatory approval challenges, or identifying opportunities for sustainable partnerships, we’ve got the insights you need.

CI’s Eastern Indigenous Consultation & Engagement Conference addresses the most pressing challenges affecting consultation in Eastern Canada. With a focus on Indigenous rights and sustainable growth, this two-day conference provides a unique opportunity for all participating parties to share insights, gain the most current best practices and legal updates, and build relationships that will guide their community and organization for the future.

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR
Speaker

Sara Jane Souliere

Director of Indigenous Relations and Engagement
Cambium Indigenous Professional Services

Featured Speakers
Speaker

Nadir André

Partner
BLG

Speaker

Jennifer Deleskie

Vice President, Business Development & Public Affairs
Membertou Development Corporation

Speaker

Margaret Kenequanash

Chief Executive Officer
Wataynikaneyap Power

Speaker

John Dunlop

Director of Environment, Lands, and Economic Development
Manager Indigenous Relations, Heritage and Museums
City of Mississauga

Speaker

Gary Smith

Executive Vice President, Operations & Technology
Fortis Inc.

Speaker

Stuart Randell

Director, Major Projects & External Financial Advisory
MNP

Featuring Key Topics

Reconciliation in Action: Innovative initiatives driving reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Governance and Economic Development: Building capacity and ensuring community-led growth.

Engagement and Accommodation: moving beyond consultation to create meaningful engagement and building trust in Indigenous communities

Environmental Stewardship: creating opportunities for ethical resource development while managing climate change and preserving cultural traditions

Cross-Jurisdictional Issues: Addressing interprovincial and intergovernmental collaboration on consultation processes.

WHO YOU WILL MEET

Chiefs and Councilors, Senior Executives, Directors and Managers of:

  • Indigenous Relations
  • Internal and External Affairs
  • Stakeholder Relations
  • Community Relations
  • Project Development
  • Environmental Planning
  • Government and Corporate Affairs
  • Policy Analysts
  • In-House Counsel and Partners
FROM

Indigenous Communities

Provincial and Federal Government

Oil and Gas

Mining and Exploration

Power Generation and Transmission

Agriculture and Forestry

Engineering and Environmental Services

Law Firms

CPD ACCREDITATION

This 2-day conference program can be applied towards 8 hours of substantive hours of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as required by the Law Society of Ontario. Members will also receive an additional 3 substantive hours at each pre-conference workshop.

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Pre-Conference Workshops

Add more value to your conference experience by signing up for these hands-on and practical workshops and consider sending your team.

Workshops are offered In-Person only

WORKSHOP A

Financing Fundamentals for Indigenous Projects

May 27, 2025
9:00 am – 12:30 pm

Benefits to Attending

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GAIN region-specific insights on the challenges specific to Eastern Canada

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HEAR from a diverse faculty of consultation and engagement experts

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EXAMINE the most influential legal cases governing Indigenous consultation in Canada

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ADVANCE your strategy with real-life case studies and lessons learned

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BUILD new partnerships with Indigenous communities, government, and industry

Testimonials
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Focused discussions on relevant subject matter. Timing and Pace were excellent; kept me engaged on the subject matter. Host, Elders and First Nations representatives were able to speak to unique subject matter typically found on First Nations only.

Economic Development Manager, Fort William First Nation
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Mix of people from different backgrounds to offer advice and their lived experience in this field. It was nice to hear from the communities about their progress with consultation and moving forward in new relationships with the gov[ernment] where we have a say in what happens in our home lands. It was inspiring for future works with my community.

Land Consultation Coordinator, Sheguiandah First Nation
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It was a great experience! A very diverse group, community, industry, corporate, and province were all represented, it gave for a fruitful discussion…

Manager, Indigenous Client Services, Deloitte
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Very relevant to current issues in engagement with First Nations and Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Advisor, MinoKamik Collective
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Awesome speakers!!

Policy Analyst, Anishinabek Nation
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Indigenous Affairs Series
Sponsorship Opportunities

This series offers a unique opportunity to connect with Indigenous communities, key government officials, and industry executives in a neutral, collaborative space to address challenges, exchange ideas, and build impactful partnerships where all voices are heard and respected.

Become a driving force in this crucial national conversation and take the next step toward supporting Indigenous rights, sustainable project development, and community engagement.

Learn More
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