1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,000 Welcome to 2025. Today we look back on some of the great conversations we had with Indigenous leaders across Canada in 2024. 2 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:18,000 I'm Mark McNacca and alongside my co-host Robert Brent, we're reflecting on some of the standout moments that shaped the journey of drum beats in the past year. 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:24,000 From impactful insights to inspiring stories, here's a look at some of the highlights that define this exciting year. 4 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:31,000 Drum beats kicked off in 2024. The opening beat, our first episode, set the tone for the rest of the podcast. 5 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:38,000 We explore the origins of the Canadian Indigenous Investment Summit, highlighting its role in fostering partnerships. 6 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:47,000 And drum beats is no different. So I remember last year, June 23, I was over at Canada House and there were two Indigenous leaders up on stage. 7 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:53,000 One of them said he was off to Buckingham Palace and for most people probably thought he was on a tour, but I'm sure he was to meet. 8 00:00:53,000 --> 00:01:01,000 The Queen or the King at that time. And the other was yourself, Robin. I remember seeing that and I saw your name up there and I thought, no way. 9 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:09,000 So I got an introduction to you and said, you know, my name is Mark McNacca and are you a descendant of the famous Chief Joseph Brent? 10 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:19,000 And you of course said, yes you are. And I said, wow, my direct descendant fought with Chief Joseph Brent in the American Revolutionary War as one of Brent's lollies. 11 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:27,000 And so for me, that was very special to think after all this time and here we are in London of all places. We never met each other. 12 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:38,000 And we were now connected. I remember you looking at me, you know, saying very clearly you were. So why don't you tell your response to that and we can, you know, work through that story. 13 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:49,000 Yeah, I couldn't believe we hadn't met before, Mark, because we've both been in London for many decades, but it was an event focused around Indigenous investments that brought us together. 14 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:57,000 We discussed its importance in advancing Indigenous rights and shaping policies that drive positive and economic social change. 15 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:11,000 With changes in Canadian law adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that will give Indigenous nations a reveto over projects in their territories. 16 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:23,000 And our courts in Canada have been citing on the rights of Indigenous peoples and advancing those rights gradually through case law. 17 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:30,000 And so it all adds up to a really interesting time in Canada and some great opportunities. 18 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Some really unique projects where Indigenous peoples are taking a real say in equity stake, a meaningful equity stake. 19 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:44,000 They want to seat at the board table. It's not enough to promise jobs or a royalty. 20 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:50,000 They want a real say in how these projects get developed and managed and operated. 21 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:59,000 In Indigenous investment in Canada exploring key opportunities and developments, we celebrate inspiring leaders such as Chief Crystal Smith, a champion of Indigenous-led projects. 22 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,000 She spoke about the strength of community-driven progress. 23 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:14,000 It was great to have a chance to talk to Chief Crystal Smith a few weeks ago as we did and talk about her project and Indigenous-led projects. We're seeing more and more of those. 24 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:24,000 Tapitha Bull's leadership within the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business demonstrate how Indigenous business leaders can thrive through strategic support and advocacy. 25 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Tapitha Bull who leads what is now the CCIV, it was called the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, but they've renamed themselves. 26 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:46,000 She leads that and she talks passionately about that. When you think about it, it's absolutely incredible with all the history that there's no rules. 27 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:52,000 It's been too easy to gain the system, I think, up until now. 28 00:03:52,000 --> 00:04:09,000 If a government is only interested in ticking a box and being able to say that a certain percentage of government contracts are going to Indigenous businesses, then nobody's spent a lot of time focusing on what is an Indigenous business and what really counts. 29 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:23,000 So I think now we're with groups like CCIV getting to the substance of these policies and what are they really trying to benefit? What are they trying to achieve? Who are they trying to benefit? 30 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:30,000 And so hopefully as more companies get certified, there'll be more confidence in these programs. 31 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:41,000 JP Gladdu shared insights from the Indigenous economy and the engine of reconciliation, growth and progress underlining the critical role of Indigenous economies and Canada's ongoing economic development. 32 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:46,000 JP Gladdu, I guess he was also Indigenous, he wrote this article in Summary and he's the one who talked. 33 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,000 JP's fantastic, yep. 34 00:04:48,000 --> 00:05:01,000 So he's the one who said this isn't just a moral imperative anymore, there's an economic opportunity which of course opens up a lot of people's eyes. So that was really important. 35 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:07,000 He touched on a number of things that we talked about, Meadowlake and Indigenous business are growing. 36 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:22,000 He mentioned about Bouchier Group, 1300 employees, 40% Indigenous staff, you know, that's huge in those projects that are coming through. So he gave a great summary of what's happening. 37 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:33,000 In our episode with Ernie Daniels, Bank of Canada Director and First Nations Financial Authority CEO, Ernie explained how the FNFA supports First Nations in accessing financial resources. 38 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:40,000 One of the other institutions that operates under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act is called the First Nations Financial Management Board. 39 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:49,000 And their mandate initially in 2011 when we were working with them was their mandate developed standards for financial management, 40 00:05:49,000 --> 00:06:09,000 they were based on the COSO Committee for Responsing Organizations back in probably around just before 2010, they were working on that so they developed standards for a certain level of financial management. 41 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:23,000 So all First Nations have to adopt that. Then they went through an assessment of looking at their financial history and rating them with certain financial ratios recommended at the time from the capital markets. 42 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:42,000 So based on that, if the First Nations developed what they call a financial administration law that has these standards and passed the financial ratios that are awarded the financial performance certificate from the FNB, that was the ticket to get to FNFA. 43 00:06:42,000 --> 00:07:02,000 So First Nations, all First Nations have to meet the standards of the one group, we have a boring group that's all the same standards. So once the First Nations has a performance, they come to us, we do our due diligence and assess their ability to finance that going into the future. 44 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:17,000 So we're more future looking, past is really done by the FNB which we rely on, but at the same time, we are looking for the nations, looking at what revenues they have that can support loans. 45 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,000 And so that's how members become a member with us. 46 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:36,000 We have about 170 members now, I believe it is. Steve Burnham, he may correct me on that because it changes pretty regularly. And of that is almost 100 that are borrowing of that group. 47 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:57,000 And one of the first steps, I got to go even further back, one of the first steps that a nation has to do, it's supposed to be a formality step, but it's the longest step in the process. It's requesting to the minister of CERNA, Crown Indigenous Relations Minister, that you want to work under the act. 48 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:12,000 So the whole purpose of that is to signify that First Nations are voluntarily working under their act and not being forced to work under the act. And so with anything with government, it's an easy process, I guess, that can take months. 49 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:23,000 So once they have that, then we work with them and we get financing to them pretty quickly if they need it. But we've set up our own due diligence. 50 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:29,000 The Loan Guarantee Program unlocks economic opportunities and has been a key area of focus. 51 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:36,000 We usually have to partner with a non-indigenous organization that can do that. And so it helps them out. 52 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:55,000 So again, the positive impact of a First Nations company getting up to this 5% and having this bonding, again, it's another economic driver. You're creating jobs. And it's not only, we can do the provincial governments. 53 00:08:55,000 --> 00:09:06,000 So we're working on, again, another kind of concept with kind of the pooling together contractors that come together and setting up a backstop. 54 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:16,000 Much like the First Nations market housing was set up with a $300 million backstop to try to create a housing market across our nations, which is a very difficult task. 55 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:26,000 So we thought, well, if we had a $100 million backstop, we don't have to get the $100 million right away and come over two or three years. 56 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:37,000 We can use that to create this insurance pool where members are monitoring and policing each other and they have access to bonding. 57 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:47,000 If you could crack that, that would be really, really impactful. 58 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:56,000 So there are some of the things we're working on. Things get thrown at us every year. Like our organization is growing and evolving. 59 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:08,000 Like at the speed that I've never envisioned when I first started here, it's almost a different organization from year to year. We get this long guarantee thing thrown at us last year. 60 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,000 So I don't know what's coming next year, but we're trying to be ready for that. 61 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:24,000 We're making sure that we have staff in place that can do the due diligence, do the research, do all this groundwork that we need done, and to try to move ourself forward. 62 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:30,000 It's kind of, again, it goes back to creating a better quality of life for our communities. 63 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:36,000 So this is one way of doing it that I feel really, really good and really happy to be a proud of. 64 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:42,000 And also, if I can talk about being on the Bank of Canada for a second, being the first member. 65 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:47,000 Yeah, you're the first nation member to be appointed to the board. That's a real honour. 66 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:55,000 Yeah, so it is a real honour and I'm learning a lot from there. Really learning how important the role of the Bank of Canada is. 67 00:10:55,000 --> 00:11:02,000 They're not seen as one of these organizations that really have an important role, but they really do. 68 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:09,000 But for me, it's not for me personally to go on the board. It's for the future. 69 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:15,000 It's to set that opportunity for other people to come on and go on the Bank's board. 70 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:19,000 I want to advocate for female Indigenous persons to get on the board. 71 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:31,000 We have a lot of talented young, not young, but my age, young females that can actually be on the board. 72 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:37,000 So that's what I think. And so that's what I want to kind of leave behind. I know the Bank is embarked. 73 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:47,000 The First Nations Financial Authorities COO Steve Berna talked about how FNFA supports projects like Clearwater Seafoods and other funding initiatives. 74 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:52,000 We were knocked on the door by seven MiCMAW communities in the Atlantic Canada. 75 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:58,000 They wanted to be 50% owners of Clearwater Seafoods. Never happened before. 76 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:04,000 Two things. We've never had a group of First Nations wanting to work together on an economic venture. 77 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:14,000 And we'd never lent $250 million a large size for us at that time in 2021 to take a risk that wasn't infrastructure, but it was business related. 78 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:21,000 And that led into hiring outside legal councils, doing due diligence on the financial, economic side, 79 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:26,000 taking a look at the capital markets reports on whether Clearwater Seafoods was a well-run company. 80 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:34,000 It was the capacity for the market to absorb the certain amount of seafood or harvest that the company had. 81 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:42,000 Sometimes we would do videos. And by doing that, when we sat down with investors in Canada, US, Europe, Asia, 82 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:47,000 all of a sudden it wasn't so much the dollar size that mattered anymore. 83 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,000 $250 million, that's fine. Now we're doing $500 million. 84 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:56,000 This year we're going to do $1.2 billion in 2024. It became the story. 85 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:02,000 We discussed the Centre for Indigenous Corporate Partnerships initiative that started in Australia and has been transplanted in Canada, 86 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:10,000 which Boston Consulting Groups and other firms have tried to establish in Canada highlighting how corporate engagement can support sustainable Indigenous business growth. 87 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:21,000 ECG, to their credit, has started an initiative in Canada based on something they have rolled out in Australia over the last 20 years. 88 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:29,000 And that is initiative that involves corporate, the non-Indigenous corporate world, in this case corporate Canada, 89 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:43,000 getting together and supporting by providing pro bono services to Indigenous communities across Canada to help with economic and social initiatives. 90 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:53,000 And so BCG and a couple of others, Jay Wright from Arterra Wines, now retired or rewired as he says, 91 00:13:53,000 --> 00:14:02,000 Chief Clients Louie of the Soyuz Band in British Columbia, and Brad Baker at BCG, 92 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:08,000 founded something they're calling the Centre for Indigenous Corporate Partnerships. 93 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:14,000 And like I say, it's modeled on something that BCG have done in Australia for over 20 years. 94 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:27,000 And over that time helped more than well it's into the hundreds of Indigenous communities in Australia and garners some support in corporate Canada to establish this centre. 95 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:37,000 And it was a really interesting gathering. They had maybe 40 people together, bankers, Indigenous leaders, 96 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:49,000 and others interested in professional service, advisor, review, folks, and some big names involved from the banks, First Nations. 97 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:56,000 And so I was a part of that because I am interested in myself and we'll see if McCarthy-Tatral will get involved. 98 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:03,000 Yes. And so just coming back, I think it's called the Centre for Indigenous Corporate Partnerships, CICP. 99 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,000 That's right. 100 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,000 And in terms of the make-up, it's interesting, you were describing it was there. 101 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:16,000 And like yourself, an Indigenous person representing the corporate world, or coming from that world, 102 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:27,000 is that what you found for most of the corporate partners that more and more the representatives who are working with the Indigenous communities are of Indigenous background themselves? 103 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:37,000 No, we're still a minority, but organisations in corporate Canada, they're all finding that this issue is rising in importance. 104 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:43,000 They're dealing more and more with Indigenous communities across Canada. They're looking to hire. 105 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:52,000 A lot of this is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action, especially for corporate Canada. 106 00:15:52,000 --> 00:16:01,000 And sadly, in the last week, we lost Senator Murray Jinker, who was the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 107 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:08,000 Yes, a great loss for all of Canada and really took Canada on that journey of, you know, 108 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:15,000 leading through the Truth and Reconciliation process, which was initially modeled on South Africa's approach to apartheid. 109 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:23,000 And his famous throughout Canada was very well respected and was a very difficult time and process, but he was able to bring us everyone together, 110 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,000 united through that process. 111 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:31,000 We had the pleasure of speaking with the Vice Chair of CIBC Capital, the Honourable Lisa Wright, on Strengthening Indigenous Investment. 112 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:37,000 Lisa shared insights on long guarantees in the role in strengthening Indigenous investments across the country. 113 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:45,000 I think that's a big win and it's a big recognition of all the projects, but of course, I think it's $5 billion of long guarantees. 114 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:50,000 That can go like that. So we'll see whose projects are going to win first. 115 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:58,000 But I do know that any Canadian government now or in the future is going to be carrying both critical minerals. 116 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:05,000 And that is where the relationship with First Nations and Indigenous communities is the most important. 117 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:13,000 Because, like you said about energy transition, we're talking national security as well, making sure that supply chains, friend-shoring. 118 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:20,000 The BC Hydro Call for Power episode showcased how Indigenous communities are driving renewable energy projects, 119 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:28,000 illustrating the value of trust and collaboration in the energy development and the critical role governments have in continuing support Indigenous communities. 120 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:41,000 The focus was on the recent BC Hydro Call for Power talk to clients about what that meant and also some lessons learned 121 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:48,000 because they're with all of these proposals for power. There's an Indigenous equity component that's required. 122 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:56,000 And BC, of course, being British Columbia, north of California for some of our listeners who haven't been there before. 123 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:03,000 That's right. It was BC Hydro who put out the Call to Power in April of this year. 124 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:08,000 And BC Hydro is the only power company in BC? 125 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,000 Yeah, yes, they are. 126 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,000 Pervince them? 127 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Absolutely. And they put out a call. This is their first call for new power in 15 years in British Columbia. 128 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:28,000 And they have requested approximately 3,000 gigawatt hours per year of new clean electricity was the call. 129 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:37,000 And is it, sorry, just with that, is that because they're running up to their limits or it's for what they see as the expansion plans? 130 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Because 15 years with no new capacity coming online. 131 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:51,000 Yeah, no, there's a bit of urgency to this call. The BC government revised their forecast for their needs for power into the future. 132 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:59,000 And so they had been forecasting a surplus of about 500 gigawatts in 2030. 133 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:06,000 And they revised that figure to be a deficit of 3,500 gigawatts by 2030. 134 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:19,000 And so the Call to Power went earlier this year and they are looking for projects that would come on stream with commercial operation dates by 2028, 2031. 135 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 Wow, that's pretty quick for power projects, isn't it? 136 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,000 Yeah, it is. 137 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,000 Wow, points to the need. 138 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:33,000 And if they all come on stream, that'll add about 5% to British Columbia's current power supply. 139 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:41,000 And BC hydro estimates that this call will lead to total public and private capital investments of approximately $40 billion. 140 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,000 So their focus is on big projects. 141 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Yes. 142 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,000 And we talked about the urgency of the request. 143 00:19:48,000 --> 00:20:00,000 But the other unique aspect of the Call for Power was the requirement that all proposals include indigenous ownership in the proponent making the proposal. 144 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,000 Is that the first time that's happened in a... 145 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,000 It is, yes. 146 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:13,000 In 2008, which was the last time British Columbia called for power, there was only a passing reference to indigenous consultations. 147 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:28,000 But this time the Call to Power was quite explicit and it was requiring that indigenous communities that are affected by any of the proposals have at least 25% of the equity in the project. 148 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,000 That's a minimum 25%. 149 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:38,000 And I guess that should make the process of bringing the power on stream quicker, right? 150 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:48,000 Because the indigenous parties are stakeholders from the get-go, not at the end of it, oh, now we've got to get their approval and they're not bought in and just slows it down. 151 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,000 So actually this should help it come online as quick as they want. 152 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,000 Yeah, absolutely. 153 00:20:52,000 --> 00:21:01,000 British Columbia is one of the provinces in Canada who have adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, meaning effectively there's a... 154 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:17,000 not just a consultation requirement, but a consent requirement when it comes to projects that affect indigenous peoples in what better and clearer way to show consent than to have an ownership stake in the project. 155 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:28,000 And so we mentioned 25% as a minimum, proponents will get additional credit in the process if there's a bigger stake than 25% ownership. 156 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,000 And so I know there are some proposals that will have a majority of indigenous... 157 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,000 And a bigger credit, what do you mean? 158 00:21:36,000 --> 00:22:00,000 Well, when they're assessing these proposals and they did receive 21 proposals for a combined 9,000 gigawatt hours of those 21 proposals from independent power producers throughout BC, about 70% were for wind, new wind projects, 20% for solar, and 10% included biomass. 159 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:08,000 And so many proposals being assessed, contracts are going to be awarded next week, so this is happening right now. 160 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:22,000 And the review process in assessing the different 21 proposals, picking the winners, similar criteria they will look at are how big a percentage of equity ownership is there from local indigenous communities. 161 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:36,000 And I guess a couple factors, so BC, if you will correct me if I'm wrong, I think it's one of the provinces who has the most non-treaty territory that's never been resolved. 162 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,000 Yeah, actually all unceded territory. 163 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,000 The province of British Columbia. 164 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,000 One of the last in the confederation, right? 165 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:51,000 So there's a good way to start solving those issues is, okay, we know we have to solve this, so you're going to get a stake in it. 166 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,000 And that will help hopefully come along with that. 167 00:22:54,000 --> 00:23:02,000 I guess the other interesting thing is the amount of wind power, the hydro opportunities in BC, I guess most of the dams have been built. 168 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,000 I think everybody thinks that there won't be any more dams built. 169 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:12,000 There is one site C, which has been under construction for many years and proposed for many years in the northeast. 170 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:18,000 British Columbia, that is actually completed and expected to come on line next year. 171 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:28,000 I think the dam is complete, the reservoir is filled, the moment, and power starting next year, I believe. 172 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:35,000 And once it's up and running, there's about 4,500 gigawatt hours of power from that one dam. 173 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:41,000 It'll be the fourth largest, I think, producer of hydro power in British Columbia. 174 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,000 But I think that most people figure that is probably the last one. 175 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,000 Okay. 176 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:52,000 And so when you're talking about clean energy projects, there's lots of scope for more wind. 177 00:23:52,000 --> 00:24:00,000 I guess for that site C dam, if I remember correctly, it's down from another dam, the WAC Bennett Dam. 178 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:06,000 And he's a former Premier of British Columbia, but since most people think Canadians are very conservative, 179 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,000 his nickname was actually Wacky Bill Bennett. 180 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:14,000 And it's the Social Credit Party of British Columbia. 181 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:23,000 Western Canada has always had these populace come through, which is different where Canada was formed in Upper and Lower Canada, 182 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,000 between New France and Ontario and Quebec. 183 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:31,000 And it's like in Alberta, there's some of this as well. 184 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,000 So Canadians are not as conservative as one thinks. 185 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,000 If you have a Premier named Wacky Bill Bennett. 186 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,000 Yeah, no. 187 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,000 And politics in British Columbia is interesting, left and right. 188 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:41,000 Yes. 189 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,000 So there was also election in BC. 190 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:44,000 That's right. 191 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,000 Just in the last few weeks and the ruling New Democratic Party Socialist Party just hung on. 192 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,000 They had a large majority going into the election. 193 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:57,000 They want a very, very slim majority by one or two seats. 194 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:06,000 And so Indigenous peoples were watching that election closely because the opposition party conservatives were proposing to rescind 195 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:11,000 the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Indigenous Peoples, 196 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,000 promising to replace that with something even better. 197 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,000 Something better. 198 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:16,000 You can't. 199 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:26,000 I mean, it's crazy what comes up in politics because, you know, I think Canada is well on its road to resolving this issue by, you know, 200 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,000 including Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the rights of the Indigenous peoples, 201 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:35,000 the recognition of their treaty rights, and also when the federal government signed up for UNDRIV, 202 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,000 it set a standard across the country. 203 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:46,000 And so, yeah, we would have been back to court cases and delays to projects and fights. 204 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:56,000 But government continues in place in British Columbia and people expect as regards Indigenous communities and energy policy that it's business as usual. 205 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:01,000 I always thought the NDP was like a European Social Democratic Party, 206 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,000 but obviously you're very North American and they're socialists. 207 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,000 Right? 208 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,000 Is that it? 209 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,000 I guess that's perspective from here. 210 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:19,000 Everything in North America is right up here, but everything in Canada is actually left of what's in America. 211 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:20,000 Right? 212 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,000 So, you know, when they say somebody's left of center network, 213 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:28,000 use the term socialists, they usually think of Canada and America. 214 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,000 But it's not. 215 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,000 But there's a lot of people who are right of center too. 216 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:37,000 You know, if you look, what goes on the Prairie Provinces or Alberta, you know, in particular. 217 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Okay. 218 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:44,000 So through the election, BC Hydro, and we're talking about the amount of clean energy in the wind power projects. 219 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:49,000 Why are the wind power projects going in BC along the coast? 220 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,000 Is that, do you know? 221 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,000 I don't know, to be honest, the valleys. 222 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,000 Yeah, of course, right with the Rockies. 223 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,000 Yeah, yeah. 224 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,000 But I don't know specifically where. 225 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:06,000 I know of the 21 proposals that it is, they are spread quite broadly across the province. 226 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Okay. 227 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,000 And solar energy in BC? 228 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,000 BC always reminds me a bit of England. 229 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:12,000 Right? 230 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,000 Where does the sun shine all the time in BC? 231 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,000 Somebody's figured it out. 232 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,000 Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'd be surprised in some places in British Columbia. 233 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:26,000 In the interior, for example, Eritre and quite sunny conditions. 234 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:27,000 Great. 235 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,000 And the future, you know, retirement destinations. 236 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:31,000 Absolutely. 237 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Right? 238 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,000 And you'll have power, clean power too. 239 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:39,000 What a better place to end up than a place like that in BC interior. 240 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:44,000 Sunny, close to the coast, close to the Rockies, can't ask for a better life. 241 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,000 That's why everyone goes to BC, right? 242 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,000 That's right. 243 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:48,000 Very nice lifestyle. 244 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,000 And natural resources. 245 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Okay. 246 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,000 Super. 247 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,000 And any other issues coming out from your trip to BC? 248 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:03,160 Well, no, I guess just to highlight again as part of these equity packages in the hydro 249 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:10,000 call, there is a standard financing package offered by Canada's infrastructure bank, 250 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:19,000 government owned bank that has a pretty standard package now of loan guarantees to help finance 251 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:24,920 that equity stake that Indigenous communities will be required to have in those projects. 252 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:32,240 So government loans at the federal level, Canada infrastructure banks federal institution 253 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:38,200 and provinces have similar loan guarantee packages. 254 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,360 There are some grants, private sector is doing some interesting things, helping to finance 255 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:51,680 these equity stakes, not just for power, but in other situations too, talking to one of 256 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:57,600 the Canadian mining companies who are in London this week for the resourcing tomorrow conference. 257 00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:59,400 That's actually tomorrow, I think. 258 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,200 It's on now this week. 259 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:05,600 So it's not, it's resourcing tomorrow, but it's yesterday as well as tomorrow. 260 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,440 Okay, and today, right? 261 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:14,120 It's the old mines and money conference which has been going in London for many years and 262 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,880 attracts mining companies from around the world. 263 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,640 Why did they give up on such a good name like mines and money? 264 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,680 They kind of put it all together today and tomorrow. 265 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:24,480 No way, mines and money. 266 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,280 I think it's part of an image rebrand. 267 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:28,280 Yes. 268 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:29,280 It's not just digging. 269 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,280 Digging up, digging up the ground, right? 270 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:33,560 But that's what it is. 271 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:40,080 I mean, and a lot of people don't appreciate, you know, if you actually fly over where resources 272 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,560 are being extracted, it isn't a pretty sight. 273 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:48,280 But you know, this has been man on planet Earth since the beginning. 274 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:49,280 It's all necessary. 275 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:50,280 Yes. 276 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:56,960 I mean, these green projects all require minerals and they have to come out of the ground. 277 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:02,840 Somehow mining companies are getting much better at using clean power to get those minerals 278 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:08,560 out of the ground, but you have to get them out and use them to generate the clean power 279 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,520 and other products that we all use. 280 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,120 And what about, so a couple of issues on that. 281 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:19,120 Is that financing capacity that you've just alluded to? 282 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:24,160 Is it sufficient or is there concern that the indigenous peoples are kind of coming 283 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:30,280 up to barriers in terms of what they can get to invest in opportunities that they have? 284 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:36,120 They're there, but do they have enough financial resources yet to be able to do that? 285 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,160 And who's going to fill that gap? 286 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:39,160 Not at the moment. 287 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:45,320 There is a concern that the needs are great and there's only so much capacity for funding 288 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:49,960 in Canada, whether it's government or private sector. 289 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:56,880 And when you look at the projects that are in the pipeline and all requiring indigenous 290 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:01,880 equity, then these are pretty daunting numbers. 291 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:06,440 And so that's why some are looking outside of Canada for that investment. 292 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:07,440 Yes. 293 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:09,800 That's one of the reasons for the summit here in London. 294 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:10,800 Absolutely. 295 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:15,240 And there are different novel ways that people are coming up to find those funds, to finance 296 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:16,240 the equity. 297 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:23,040 Again, talking to one of these Canadian miners, there's a structure in Canada that's used 298 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:26,440 called Flow Through Shares. 299 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:34,480 And Flow Through Shares effectively allow the investor to use the deductions that the 300 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,040 company would otherwise be able to use. 301 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:43,440 So a typical example is an exploration company spending a lot of money to explore but years 302 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:47,720 away from actually generating revenue and income. 303 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:54,280 And so in those early years, being able to deduct expenses doesn't really help the company. 304 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:55,280 Correct. 305 00:31:55,280 --> 00:32:02,080 Canadian system allows certain companies to issue what are called these Flow Through 306 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,080 Shares. 307 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:09,120 And so if I invest in my Flow Through Shares from your company, I can use the deductions 308 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:14,360 against my tax bill that that company would otherwise be able to use. 309 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:20,960 And so you have Flow Through Shares, very popular for many years in Canada. 310 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:26,960 I think they were attached with MIRBs, multiple urban residential developments. 311 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,160 Probably they can use them in many... 312 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,800 Yes, it's very popular in Canada actually. 313 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:37,720 And then one twist on the Flow Through Shares structure is something called charitable Flow 314 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:39,280 Through Structures. 315 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:47,960 And that's where investors who want to donate their shares to a charity are able to buy 316 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:55,160 the Flow Through Shares from the company, use the deductions for tax purposes, and then 317 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:59,600 sell those shares on or donate them to a charity. 318 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,680 And so the charity can hold the shares. 319 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,400 It doesn't get to use the deductions. 320 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,000 They can only be used once, but it's a charity. 321 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,720 It doesn't need the deductions. 322 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:15,640 And so a common structure is the investor buys from the company, the Flow Through Shares 323 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:18,840 donates those shares to a charity. 324 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:27,480 The charity then has a buyer, usually an institutional buyer, who again doesn't get to use the deductions, 325 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,560 but is able to pay cash to that charity. 326 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:32,960 And it wants the shares. 327 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:38,920 The charity gets its cash, the original investor has put money into the company, it uses the 328 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:46,280 tax deductions, and there's a multiplier effect on what we've been able to do with 329 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:48,520 a similar amount of money and donate. 330 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:49,520 Wow. 331 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,440 It becomes quite attractive. 332 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:53,960 Everybody wins with that one. 333 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:54,960 Who doesn't win? 334 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:55,960 Everybody does. 335 00:33:55,960 --> 00:34:01,440 I guess the Canadian taxpayer picks up the bill for that one, I guess that's one of the 336 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:02,440 reasons why. 337 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:07,240 They're trying to encourage exploration and allowing somebody to use those deductions 338 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:10,600 that other businesses would otherwise be allowed to use. 339 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,280 So it's an incentive to get investment in. 340 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:15,280 It's an innovation. 341 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:16,280 Encourage exploration. 342 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:17,280 Absolutely. 343 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:21,520 And when you look at all the parties who get to benefit from that, you've got a lot 344 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:23,960 of important stakeholders. 345 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:28,800 And so in some cases you could have that charity be the indigenous community, local indigenous 346 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:34,880 community, and you could have an investor invest in the company, then donate those shares 347 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:40,640 to the indigenous community who could either hold the shares because they want their equity 348 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:46,440 or they could sell them to an institution and just take the cash at that point. 349 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:47,440 Wow. 350 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:50,800 I'm sure that's going to be used quite a bit with a lot of these projects. 351 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:54,880 It's another way for the indigenous communities to get access. 352 00:34:54,880 --> 00:35:01,400 So again, another example of some pretty innovative ideas and all indigenous communities to get 353 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,440 their equity stakes. 354 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:04,440 Great. 355 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:08,000 And you also, so when you finish up, I think you were in Alberta as well. 356 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,000 Went to Calgary. 357 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,000 Yep. 358 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,000 Cold, cold, snowy Calgary. 359 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,000 Yes. 360 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,000 About like middle of February. 361 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:21,040 Well, when you're in the prairies, you know, it comes in October and leaves in April or 362 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:22,360 May, right? 363 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:23,360 Kind of consistent. 364 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:24,360 What's it like today? 365 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:25,360 What's it like? 366 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:26,360 It's cold. 367 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,960 And yet you've always had a plug in your car on the prairies. 368 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:32,880 And it's not because they're all electric, but if you don't plug in your engine block, 369 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:35,280 you know, the oil will freeze in the other cracked engine block. 370 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:39,120 So people have been plugging in their vehicles for years on the prairies. 371 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:40,120 It's nothing new. 372 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:41,280 So these guys from California come in. 373 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:42,880 Oh, you get to plug in your car. 374 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,520 So, and was there any indigenous issues? 375 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:52,120 Well, I was catching up with some contacts and then just on my own time, took a drive 376 00:35:52,120 --> 00:36:02,960 out to Susina, the First Nation that borders Calgary on the southwestern edge of Calgary. 377 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:10,920 And they've just opened a new ring road highway around Calgary that goes through Tutina territory. 378 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:15,640 So they were compensated for that, allowing that road to be built. 379 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:17,840 And they're doing some really interesting things with that. 380 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,840 So then the lawyers show up. 381 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:24,960 Well, they're trying to develop their land in there so well situated right on the edge 382 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:25,960 of Calgary. 383 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:34,080 There's a massive property development going on there with shopping, residential planning. 384 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,920 Who's behind that development? 385 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:36,920 Number of partners. 386 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:37,920 It's Tutina Nation. 387 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:38,920 Yes, Tutina Nation. 388 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:39,920 First Nations. 389 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:40,920 Okay. 390 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:45,880 And of course, for those of our listeners and viewers who don't know, actually the largest 391 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:50,240 stampede in the world is held every year in Calgary. 392 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:54,960 President Ava Clayton shared the success of the Nisga Nations modern day treaty. 393 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:58,640 She talked about the modern day tree blending tradition and modern governance to create a 394 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:03,320 model for indigenous self-determination, not in British Columbia, but across the country. 395 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:08,080 The Nisga Nation is the first modern day treaty, 2000. 396 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:13,080 After many years of negotiating, our leadership has since gone past on. 397 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:16,960 But in 2000, we left the Indian Act. 398 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:24,400 So we thought that we are delved into Nisga government coming from a bank council structure. 399 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:25,400 What a challenge. 400 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:30,880 And it still is a challenge today, but we are overcoming it. 401 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:37,600 We have a lawmaking authority, meaning that we can make legislation on Nisga lands. 402 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:45,360 But whatever is in place for Canada and BC, who are treaty partners, their laws like the 403 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:48,040 criminal code of Canada still applies. 404 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:49,200 We don't have that. 405 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:53,680 We have the authority to make laws on Nisga lands. 406 00:37:53,680 --> 00:38:01,520 And we can introduce at some point in time the policing for our people on Nisga lands. 407 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:08,600 But for the Nisga Nation, we have maybe 9,000 Nisga citizens registered. 408 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:14,440 And we are made up of four communities, four village government. 409 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:19,840 They are known as Concolas under the Indian Act, Lackle's Act, formerly known under the 410 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:27,280 Indian Act as Greenville, and once formerly known as Canyon City under the Indian Act. 411 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:33,040 And New Orleans is the larger of the four communities. 412 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:39,160 Then we're made up of three urban locals who are established under the Societies Act of 413 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:40,640 BC. 414 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:47,760 But we have, they participate in the treaty in the government so that we continue to take 415 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:50,640 care of our Nisga citizens in the urban areas. 416 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:58,680 So there's three established urban centers for Nisga, that's Vancouver, being the bigger 417 00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:03,520 metrop, then Prince Ruford Fort Edward, and Tess. 418 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:09,240 The Nisga people have been at the forefront of a lot of indigenous initiatives in Canada 419 00:39:09,240 --> 00:39:10,240 over the years. 420 00:39:10,240 --> 00:39:17,520 In British Columbia, most of the province is unceded territory and the Canadian Supreme 421 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:26,960 Court recognized back in 1973 a famous Canadian case initiated by the Nisga in 1973, the Calder 422 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:27,960 case. 423 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:29,600 Yes, Dr. Frank Calder. 424 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:35,360 For years our people, in 1910 they created the Nisga Land Committee. 425 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:36,360 In 1910. 426 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:39,720 Not before, yeah, long before that. 427 00:39:39,720 --> 00:39:44,840 But for my memory, in 1910, what we called the Nisga Land Committee. 428 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:49,560 And they took things to a level nobody even thought of, you know. 429 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:56,640 When the head Neri's coming to our lands, the Queen sending her missionaries, or you 430 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:03,520 can't tell us what to do on our land, these are some of our chiefs talking. 431 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:06,960 And you can't tell us at what land we own. 432 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:07,960 We own this land. 433 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,520 We've been here since time before memory. 434 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:18,120 And from then it really took off and carried on by our leaders over the decade. 435 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:24,720 And to the point where we are now today, we have Nisga Statement. 436 00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:29,480 That we really need to look at creating that story for our nation. 437 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:33,720 And I think that will be a story indeed for our students. 438 00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:40,440 I continue to push that within our education that we have to have our history told. 439 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,800 The Nisga Nation has been silent for too long. 440 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:49,320 One of the chief counselors this past term made a statement that was so profound in my 441 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:54,760 mind, you know, why is the Nisga so secretive? 442 00:40:54,760 --> 00:41:01,440 The world doesn't even know too much about the Nisga Nation today as we exist under the 443 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:03,880 modern day treaty process. 444 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:11,440 So the very first modern day treaty in 2000, and we have the treaty partners, Kan Dan 445 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,280 BC, that we work together with. 446 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:18,280 And we are still finding challenges along the way. 447 00:41:18,280 --> 00:41:24,640 Because for Kan Dan BC nobody told him how to treat modern day treaties. 448 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,800 And modern day treaty groups, why are we still answering today? 449 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:40,040 To become grandfather in Ottawa, BC, but we are working towards a true self-government. 450 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:43,960 We want to be sustainable financially. 451 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:49,640 This is why Nisga government has been very forward thinking. 452 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:55,520 We have been visionaries in what we want to do for our nation. 453 00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:01,760 This night at the resourcing conference, resourcing tomorrow, I believe it was, mining 454 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:08,640 and money, the Nisga Nation received an award for innovative forward thinking. 455 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,400 The ESG initiative of the year and the industry. 456 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:12,400 Congratulations. 457 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:13,400 Congratulations. 458 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:15,400 Because that's a global conference. 459 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:19,120 Yeah, but this year, Nisga Nation took that. 460 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:20,120 Fantastic. 461 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:22,400 We're very happy with that. 462 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:28,200 The work that we're doing is paying off, but also, and I was explaining to Rob last night 463 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:36,680 during dinner that the Nisga Nation has been faced with rebuilding our economy. 464 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:38,640 We stood by the wayside. 465 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:43,680 DrumbBeats is the must listen to podcast for investors interested in indigenous investment 466 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:44,800 in Canada. 467 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:48,680 Be sure to subscribe on our YouTube channel at DrumbBeats podcast. 468 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:53,320 You can also follow us on Spotify, Apple podcasts and other platforms listed in the description. 469 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:57,480 Don't forget to mark your calendars for the 2025 summit on the 10th of April. 470 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:21,960 Thanks for tuning in to DrumbBeats and we'll see you next time.