How To Engage With And Build An Indigenous Peoples Workplace - Webinar

Paul Paterson
CEO, Gitga’at Development Corporation

Paul has worked for over 20 years with Indigenous groups across Canada, primarily in the world of Aboriginal Rights and Title. Paul’s career in the complex world of Aboriginal rights and title began in 1993, working for the Council of the Haida Nation on contract to manage their sports fish management program. Since that time his career has included four years as a Provincial Treaty Negotiator, 12 years as a Federal Treaty Negotiator and several years consulting with First Nations in the areas of capacity building, negotiating resource development arrangements, treaty, governance, and community development. He’s worked independently on behalf of First Nation clients throughout BC since leaving the federal government in early 2014, including serving as lead treaty negotiator for Gitga’at and, since February of 2017, taking on the role of CEO of the Gitga’at Development Corporation.

Billie Fortier
Associate, MLT Aikins

Billie Fortier is a member of the Fort McKay Métis and practices law in Calgary, Alberta with the law firm, MLT Aikins LLP. Billie represents First Nations and Métis communities in negotiations with resource companies to establish joint ventures and other business relationships. She has advised the leadership of several First Nations on a variety of matters, including corporate structuring of Nation-owned businesses, financial administration and governance. She also advises clients across a number of industries on general commercial matters and in connection with M&A and corporate reorganizations.
Billie has appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Provincial Court of Alberta, and has experience with regulatory proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Alberta Energy Regulator.

Cameron Hill
Councillor, Gitga’at Nations

Cameron Hill is one of the Elected Leaders of the Gitga’at Nation and is also a hereditary spokesperson for Killer Whale Chief.

Rebecca Kragnes
Indigenous Business Relations Manager, Bird Construction

Rebecca is a Cree-Metis woman with a passion for Indigenous Relations and changing the socio-economic profile of Indigenous people in Canada. She is a Red Seal Journeyperson Electrician, with more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Her work experience includes fieldwork, government administration and in her current role, she provides executive-level support as well as companywide education, engagement, and advocacy to support Indigenous equity within construction projects at Bird.

Rebecca is on the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) Board of Directors, a CAF SWIT (Strategy for Women in the Trades) task force member and was recently appointed to the Women Building Futures (WBF) Board of Directors. She is passionate about improving the representation of marginalized people in skilled trades across Canada. Channelling her firsthand knowledge of the barriers women, Indigenous people, and other underrepresented groups face in the industry, she works with communities and organizations to promote opportunities to those groups to pursue careers in the skilled trades.

Evie Nance
Employment and Training Manager, Gitxaala Nation

First introduced in March 2020, the Gitxaała/Bird Introduction to Carpentry Program was created in collaboration with Gitxaała Nation, Bird Construction, and the British Columbia Regional Council of Carpenters (BCRCC). The intent of the training program is to develop a local workforce and provide new career paths for Indigenous people in the region. Upon completion of the program, participants have the skills and direct employment opportunity to begin an apprenticeship.

The program was built on meaningful collaboration amongst industry, government, training providers and Indigenous communities to remove barriers, provide skills training and promote greater workforce participation.