Draft Preliminary Conference Program
Nanaimo, BC | Vancouver Island Conference Centre
Draft Updated May 5, 2025
*Program subject to change
| Wednesday June 18 | |
| 4:00 - 6:00pm | Registration Open |
| 6:00 - 8:00pm |
Opening Reception Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council Performance - Qwam Qwum Stuwixulh School |
| Thursday June 19 | |
| 8:00am | Registration Opens |
| 8:00 - 8:30am | Morning Nutrition Break & Networking |
| 8:30 - 8:50am |
Conference Opening Opening Prayer & Conference Blessing - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation Leonard Krog, Mayor, City of Nanaimo Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 8:50 - 9:00am |
Keynote Address Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 9:00 - 9:10am |
Keynote Address Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate, Government of B.C. |
| 9:10 - 10:00am |
Panel 1 – Call for Power – Indigenous Participation in Wind Panelists: Chief Robert Michelle, Stellat'en First Nation Chris O'Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate, Government of B.C. Moderator: Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of BC |
| 10:00 - 10:20am | Morning Nutrition Break & Networking | |
| 10:20 - 11:10am |
Panel 2 – Domtar – Forestry Reconciliation Across Canada Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| Partnership Showcase | |
| 11:10 - 11:25am |
Partnership Showcase 1 - Quatsino Solar Project Panelists: Kara Wilson, Quatsino First Nation Yuho Okada, Barkley Project Group |
| 11:25 - 11:40am |
Partnership Showcase 2 – Cedar Brush Site Services & Janitorial Panelists: Corey Janvier, Founder, Cedar Brush Site Services & Janitorial |
| 11:40 - 11:55pm |
Partnership Showcase 3 – Shas Ti Environmental LP Panelists: Kevin Wilson, Director, Shas Ti Environmental LP Dwayne Martin, Binche Whuten Member & Director, Shas Ti Environmental LP |
| 11:55 - 12:10pm |
Partnership Showcase 4 Panelists: Steven Stark, President & CEO, TSI - Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc. |
| 12:10 - 12:25pm |
Partnership Showcase 5 Panelists: Robert Manuel, Business Development Strategic Advisor, First Nations Forestry Council |
| 12:25 - 12:45pm | Tradeshow Networking Break |
| 12:45 - 2:00pm |
Keynote Luncheon Lunch Prayer - Elder Sandra, Snuneymuxw First Nation Hon. David Eby, K.C., Premier, Government of B.C. Moderator: Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council |
| 2:00 - 2:30pm | Tradeshow Networking Break |
| 2:30 - 2:55pm |
Fireside Chat: Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in EA: Lessons from CNA and Teck Kama Sills, Senior Coordinator, Indigenous Engagement, Teck Highland Valley Natalie Ross, Senior Technical Coordinator, Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly Moderator: Emily Milne, Director, Advisory Services, C3 Alliance |
| 2:55 - 3:05pm |
Keynote Address Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, Government of B.C. |
| 3:05 - 3:45pm |
Panel 3 - Food Security Panelists: Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, Government of B.C. Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 3:45 - 4:05pm |
Keynote Address Chief Chris Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation Moderator: Sarah Weber, President and CEO, C3 Alliance |
| 4:05 - 4:30pm |
Mineral Tenure Act Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 4:30 - 4:50pm |
Fireside Chat Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 5:00 - 6:00pm | Reception |
| 6:00 - 8:00pm |
Keynote Dinner (Ticketed) Dinner Prayer & Cultural Performance - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation David Walkem, Sr. Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Invasive Species Council of BC Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| Friday June 20 | |
| 8:00am | Registration Opens |
| 8:00 - 8:30am | Morning Nutrition Break & Networking |
| 8:30 - 8:35am |
Conference Opening Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council |
| 8:35 - 9:25am |
Panel 4 – Indigenous Leadership in Carbon Offsetting Panelists: Merv Child, Chief Executive Officer, Nanwakolas Offsets Corporation Danielle Warren, Sr. Sales and Operations Manager, Great Bear Carbon Limited Partnership Adria Fradley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Clean Growth, Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions Michael Berends, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Clear Blue Markets Moderator: Paul Kariya, Acting General Manager, Great Bear Carbon Credit Co LP |
| 9:25 - 10:15am |
Panel 5 – Reflections on the last five years of the B.C. Environmental Assessment Process Panelists: Nathan Braun, Partner, ERM Environmental Resources Management Scott Bailey, Owner, Beacon Regulatory Solutions Tamlyn Botel, Regulatory Engagement Manager, Skeena Gold + Silver Jennifer Campbell, CEO, Two Worlds Consulting Moderator: Sharon Singh, Partner, Co-Head, Environment and Indigenous, McMillan LLP |
| 10:15 - 10:45am | Morning Nutrition Break & Networking |
| 10:45 - 10:55am |
Keynote Address Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C. |
| 10:55 - 11:45am |
Panel 6 – Stronger Forestry Partnerships Panelists: Honourable. Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C. Kim Haakstad, President and CEO, COFI Chief Councillor John Jack, Huu-ay-aht First Nations Moderator: Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council |
| 11:45 - 12:05pm |
FN Bank Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 12:05 - 12:25pm |
Keynote Address Michelle Carr, CEO and Commissioner, BC Energy Regulator |
| 12:25 - 12:45pm |
Attachie Project Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 12:45 - 2:15pm |
Luncheon Lunch Prayer - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon! |
| 2:15pm | Conference Closing Remarks |