Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business in Calgary

The Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business [CCAB] was in Calgary last week for their annual gala dinner. It has been twenty-five years since the organization was founded. Earlier this year, an anniversary party was held in Toronto, where John Ralston Saul was the keynote speakerand Rick Mercer delivered a pre-taped welcome address.

In Calgary, the celebration focused on economic development and the success of private-public partnerships. “Alberta is a dynamic place to be, and to learn about sustainable partnerships,” says Clint Davis, president of the CCAB. “This province is an economic driver for the country, and you’re also talking about a strong First Nations community, politically.”

Held at The Westin Hotel, guests mingled around hors d’œuvres and an open bar before sitting down for a full four course meal. Salad and soup were served before a turkey and lobster duo, which was finished with a seared berry desert. The food was paired with excellent selections of wine from Nk’Mip Cellars, Canada’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. It is found deep in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

While networking was high on the agenda, the gala was also the launch pad for the CCAB mentorship program. The initiative partnersAboriginal entrepreneurs with experienced leaders in Canadianbusiness. Applications will be accepted as of January for partnerships in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“It’s a fascinating time in Canada as it pertains to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business relationship in this country,” says Davis.

He points to the increasing number of young, urban, educated Aboriginals in Canada as a timely remedy to labour shortages. Davis adds that other factors in the growth of Aboriginal influence include a “groundswell of support for corporate social responsibility” which further connects Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business communities, roughly five million dollars in investment capital from settlement claims, a panache for entrepreneurial activity, and the legal ‘duty to consult’ before developing on traditional Native land.

While yet another First Nations community in British Columbia - the Gitxsan of Hazeltown - considers giving up their rights under The Indian Act, Davis says change continues to come quickly. “There’s no doubt that The Indian Act in and of itself is a barrier to economic development,” he says, “[Relinquishing it] certainly has an impact on how government and business works together. But I think it’s a very good thing. It builds capacity within the community, and it opens up more opportunity to attract investors."

Those who attended the Calgary gala included: Treaty 8 Grand Chief Arthur Noskey of Loon River First Nation, Woodland Cree Chief Joseph Whitehead, director of education for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Dr. Noella Steinhauer, Jess McConnell of
ConocoPhillips, Maria MacAulay of Enbridge, Vicki Reid of EnCana, and Bonnie Veness of Suncor.

Published in National Post on December 5 2009

CAPP welcomed at CCAB gala

Unusual were the subjects of conversation (and congratulations) at this gala. Party chatter explored First Nations as economic and political players, the isolating reality of Northern life, and inspiring young talent on reserves. Unusual, perhaps, but not surprising for the annual Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business [CCAB] gala dinner, held in the Calgary Hyatt recently.

As at any posh business-formal affair, a cocktail reception preceded the three-course dinner. Hors d'oeuvres were laid out across the room, including a duck-confit rillette drizzled with truffle oil. (Yum!) The dinner menu consisted of organic baby green salad; a duo of beef tenderloin and garlic scented jumbo prawn; and chocolate truffle cake with berry compote. Tickets were $500 per plate.

Mixing and mingling were: David Collyer, president of Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), Honourable Pearl Calahasen, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, Chief Jim Boucher, chairman of Fort McKay Group, Harry Wilmot, president of ATCO, Marc Theriault, vice-president of production for Syncrude, John Young, manager of Aboriginal affairs for Petro-Canada, Jessica Saunders, program and planning advisor for Aboriginal affairs at Nexen, Kris Johnsen, business development coordinator for Suncor, Torger Rod, a vice-president with StatOil, Beth Diamond, president of National Public Relations, Nick Javor, senior vice-president at Tim Hortons, Chief Morris Monias of Heart Lake First Nation, Chief Reg Crowshoe of Piikani Nation, Harold P. Milavsky, chairman of Quantico Capital Corporation, and Ontario-based legal strategist Bill Gallagher.

Fourteen-year old vocalist Akina Shirt provided a moving introduction to the evening by singing our national anthem in Cree. Adrian Goulet of Ghost River Rediscovery followed with a striking welcome drum song. Several speeches were made, along with the presentation of $157,000 from BMO Capital Markets to a scholarship fund for Aboriginal youth.

It was clear that business, not government, was the key to success for many guests. The formal speeches did not touch on what a 2006 Economist article called the “spectacular failure of overall aboriginal policy” in Canada, nor the recent UN directive for Canada to investigate the disappearances of more than 500 Aboriginal women. Instead, the affair focused on economic potential, and achievements.

“Industry recognizes its responsibility to raise the bar on environmental performance and contribute to the well-being of the communities where we operate,” said Collyer in his keynote address. He also mentioned the value of unconventional oil supplies, and suggested refining the consultation process between industry, government, and First Nations.

During the event, Chief Keyna Norwegian chatted with Peter J. Young of Sodexo, who is working with her Northern community to build a truck stop near the MacKenzie pipeline project. She reviewed several companies before settling on the current partners, chosen for their record on Aboriginal affairs. The project will ensure food prices go down and employment goes up, she says. Executives from Norterra Inc. were also smiling. The company is wholly owned by the Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic and the Inuit of Nunavut, who together created five corporate holdings including a lucrative air cargo company. Much like those companies, the gala was an inspired and unqualified success.

Published in National Post, December 13, 2008

FYI: This article was published one week after Chipewyan First Nation in Northern Alberta requested a judicial review from the province, on the grounds that industry did not consult nor provide adequate impact assessments before developing oil sands project on Aboriginal land. Also that week, StatOil shelved an oil sands project worth aprox. 4 billion dollars and ATCO laid off 400 employees in Calgary. Both companies were prominently represented at the gala. The author was unaware of these events until after submitting the article.