Sponsored by Osoyoos First Nation / N'kmip Winery

Chief Stewart Phillip is serving a third consecutive four-year-term as Chief of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB), in addition to ten-years as an elected Band Councilor.  Over the last 32 years, he has worked within the Penticton Indian Band Administration and held a variety of positions such as, Band Administrator, Director of Land Management, Education Counselor, Economic Development Officer and Band Planner.  Philip is also serving his third term as President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.  He has taken an active role in the defense of Aboriginal Title and Rights by readily offering support to Native communities in need.  He is a firm believer in leading by example.

Stephen Cornell is Director of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and Professor of Sociology and of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Arizona. He also is Co-director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, a research program headquartered at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University that he co-founded in the late 1980s with Professor Joseph P. Kalt. A specialist in political economy and cultural sociology, Cornell holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Chicago and taught at Harvard University for nine years before moving to the University of California, San Diego, in 1989 and then to the University of Arizona in 1998. He has written widely on Indian affairs, economic development, collective identity, and ethnic and race relations. Among his publications are The Return of the Native: American Indian Political Resurgence, What Can Tribes Do? Strategies and Institutions in American Indian Economic Development (co-edited with Joseph P. Kalt), and Ethnicity and Race: Making Identities in a Changing World (co-authored with Douglas Hartmann).  Cornell has spent much of the last 15 years working closely with Indian nations in the United States and Canada on self-governance, economic development, and tribal policy issues.

Chief Clarence Louie is chief and CEO of the Osoyoos First Nation in B.C.’s south Okanagan, and CEO of the Band’s business developments.  Known as a “tell-it-like-it-is” fella, Louie speaks on the value of community economic development to building First Nations economies and addressing the social issues within.  In 2000, the Band set a goal of becoming self-sufficient in five years… they made it.  This 432 member Band not only employs (and fires) its Band members, but there are so many jobs it employs members from about 13 other tribal communities.  Osoyoos First Nation contributes $40-million a year to the area economy.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell - information to be added

INAC Representative - to be announced

Workshop Facilitators

(all are First Nations people)

Mike Bonshor, Visions Financial Planning

Chris Corrigan, Consultant/Facilitation

Robert Duncan, Naut' Sa'Mawt Development Corporation

Chief Leanne Joe, Squamish Nation Business Development Centre

Racelle Kooy, Consulting

Matt Vickers, MPA

Duncan McCue is a national reporter for CBC-TV News in Vancouver.  His currrent affairs documentaries are featured on the CBC's flagship news show, The National, and the 6 o'clock news Canada Now.  Duncan's television career began as a videographer for CBC's "Road Movies" and continued with "YTV News".  His work was recently nominated for Gemini and Webster awards, and he has received an RTNDA Award for investigative reporting, and multiple honors from Native American Journalists Association for investigative, news and feature reporting.  Duncan is also a lawyer.  He graduated from law school at UBC in 1996, and was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1998.  Born in 1971, Duncan is Anishinaube (Ojibwa), and a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations in southern Ontario.  He currrently lives with his wife and two children on the Musqueam Indian Reserve in Vancouver.

Skeena Reece offers a flipped look on First Nations business, politics and how the west was one.  This young Aboriginal woman was a comedian on the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards and the Greater Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Awards 2005.  Hold onto your stomach - she'll have you laughing after dinner!

Bitterly Divine’s roots trace back to a garage on the shores of North Vancouver. A newly formed First Nation band has come together to express their musical passion for Rock-n-Roll and Blues. The Band engages its audiences by covering many memorable Rock/Blues tunes. Their sound has been electrifying crowds with blazing guitar riffs, soulful harp solos, and rhythmic harmonies. Bitterly Devine has grown to nine members; seven from the Squamish Nation, one Cree and one adopted brother.

Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers, is the elected Chief of the Hupacasath First Nation, located in Port Alberni, BC. Judith has been the Chief Councilor in her community for over 11 years and chief negotiator for over 12. As the senior elected official of her First Nation, she has been focusing on capacity building, sustainable development and restoring and rehabilitating Hupacasath territory.  Judith’s educational background includes a business degree, a law degree from the University of British Columbia, and a honourary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University.  Judith has an extensive background of practicing law for 18 years in both Alberta and British Columbia, working in international forums, lobbying governments and other agencies for the promotion and protection of First Nations rights and title.

Chief Sophie Pierre is elected leader of the St. Mary's Indian Band near Cranbrook, B.C. and the spokesperson for the Ktunaxa Nation Council.  Pierre has received the Order of British Columbia and was the first woman co-chair of the First Nations Summit.  She is also the President of the St. Eugene Mission Resort Development Corporation.  The Resort is owned and operated by SEM Resort Limited Partnership which is comprised of the Ktunaxa Nation, the Samson Cree First Nation and the Mnjikaning First Nation.

Chief Joe Hall - of the Tzeachten First Nation of Sto:lo is a respected leader of his community.  Their partnership with Gulf Pacific Group has created revenue for the Band that contributes to the communities long-term plans.

Bruce Russell is President Gulf Pacific Group, a company with over 50 years experience as a professional property manager, developer and real estate syndicate.  Gulf has worked with First Nations since the 1960s.

Chief Liz Logan of Fort Nelson First Nation will share their experience in setting up their business ventures, lessons learned, challenges created through time (i.e. liability, corporate structures, and governance models).

Chief Steve Wilson is negotiating on behalf of his Band, Haisla First Nations, several multi-million dollar business partnerships that promises to create employment and business opportunities for everyone in his region, and bring wealth to the Nation so it will be to determine its own future.

B.C. Assembly of First Nations

First Nations Summit

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

1 Vancouver Island – Chief Judith Sayers

2 Mainland/Southwest – Jeff Mercer

3 Thompson-Okanagan – Chief Clarence Louie

4 Kootenay – Helder Ponte

5 Cariboo – vacant

6 North Coast – vacant

7 Nechako – Chief Jerry Asp

8 Northeast – Mike McGee

   Member at large – Jodee Dick

   Member at large – Cameron Beck

   INAC – Tim Low

   INAC – Tracy Dunsford