Author: Gerry Chidiac

Indigenous communities across Canada are learning how to prosper in a new era of cooperation in oil and gas development. Setting aside old grievances, industry, government and First Nations communities are working together to ensure that, as equal partners, Canada’s Indigenous peoples enjoy employment and sustainable growth trickle down to them. It’s part of the economic reconciliation called for the government’s Truth and Reconciliation report. Three expert commentators look at the issues at play:

Kerry Jothen, CEO and Principal, Human Capital Strategies, has worked on approximately 50 First Nations and Indigenous projects, many involving resource sectors including oil and gas.

Beverley O’Neil, CEO and Principal, O’Neil Marketing & Consulting, and Numa Communications Ltd. Beverley is a citizen of the Ktunaxa Nation, writer, journalist, researcher, and media relations adviser. She’s contributed discussion papers on Indigenous cultural tourism and long-term firm electricity export for BC First Nations. O’Neil was a board member of the BC Energy Council from 1993 to 1995.

Karen Ogen-Toews, CEO of the BC First Nations LNG Alliance. Karen was a founding member of the Alliance, and served as elected chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation for six years. She now sits on the nation’s elected council, holding the Natural Resource/Energy and Economic Development portfolios.

Your readers will appreciated their unique insights in successive columns that appear Mondays, from Sept. 21 to Oct. 3, in the Troy Media series Road To Reconciliation.