WEBVTT 00:00:00.170 --> 00:00:03.049 Welcome to Drumbeats, the must -listen -to podcast 00:00:03.049 --> 00:00:05.710 which explains why Indigenous partnerships are 00:00:05.710 --> 00:00:08.689 the key to securing successful outcomes in natural 00:00:08.689 --> 00:00:11.050 resource and infrastructure investment in Canada. 00:00:12.750 --> 00:00:15.449 I'm Mark McNack and my co -host Robert Brant 00:00:15.449 --> 00:00:18.609 and I are joined today by Barbara McKenzie, CEO 00:00:18.609 --> 00:00:20.570 of the Métis Settlements Development Corporation, 00:00:20.969 --> 00:00:25.460 also known as MSDC. Barbara brings over 30 years 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:27.760 of leadership in entrepreneurship, corporate 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.420 growth, and strategic disruption. She shares 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:34.420 how MSDC is targeting off -settlement investments 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:36.979 in growth -stage, revenue -generating businesses, 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:41.119 both non -Indigenous and Indigenous -owned. These 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:44.359 are companies that are already revenue -generating 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:48.840 and cash flow positive. As the CEO of MSDC, she's 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:50.880 guiding one of Canada's most forward -looking 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.729 Indigenous investment firms. an organization 00:00:53.729 --> 00:00:56.590 dedicated to creating economic sustainability 00:00:56.590 --> 00:01:00.130 and independence for all eight Métis settlements. 00:01:02.070 --> 00:01:05.650 Welcome, Barbara McKenzie, CEO of Métis Settlement 00:01:05.650 --> 00:01:08.329 Development Corporation. Great to have you back 00:01:08.329 --> 00:01:11.129 with us. Great to be here again. Yeah, welcome, 00:01:11.269 --> 00:01:13.750 Barbara. Nice to see you again. We're kind of 00:01:13.750 --> 00:01:17.769 all regrouping after you came over to the Square 00:01:17.769 --> 00:01:20.730 Mile to join us at the summit, which was great. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:25.519 We had a wonderful conversation. And as you know, 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:27.519 and the feedback we've had is the summit was 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:31.680 very successful for all the individuals who came 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:33.900 to it. And our speakers and sponsors have been 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:36.319 very happy. But we now get a chance to go back 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:40.400 and talk in further detail with you for a wider 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:44.319 audience. So why don't you, maybe for those who 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:46.540 didn't attend the summit, will be the majority 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:48.620 of our listeners and viewers. Why don't you tell 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:51.040 us a little bit about your background, Barbara? 00:01:51.579 --> 00:01:55.879 Yeah, absolutely. So I'm actually located in 00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:59.400 Amasquatchiquan, which is Edmonton, Alberta, 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:04.060 Canada. I'm on Treaty 6 territory, which is home 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:07.700 of many of our First Nations and Métis communities 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:11.939 here in the Edmonton, Alberta region. I'm actually 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:14.120 a first generation Canadian, so I am the child 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.860 of German immigrants. I was privileged enough 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:18.960 to grow up in the Edmonton area, in a suburb 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.819 just outside of Edmonton. Did my education at 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:26.139 the University of Alberta. So I'm a Western Canadian, 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:29.659 Albertan, tried and true. I spent my entire career 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:35.099 here and recently completed in 2020 an executive 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:39.530 MBA. Lots of, you know, deep experience in the 00:02:39.530 --> 00:02:42.530 Alberta region and lots of experience with Indigenous 00:02:42.530 --> 00:02:45.129 communities over the last few years. Started 00:02:45.129 --> 00:02:47.490 out my career, I've been an entrepreneur most 00:02:47.490 --> 00:02:50.469 of my life. I've run five of my own companies, 00:02:50.550 --> 00:02:53.389 still do so with my partner off the side of my 00:02:53.389 --> 00:02:57.110 desk, helping him with his business. And I've 00:02:57.110 --> 00:02:59.210 done four corporate startups, Métis Settlements 00:02:59.210 --> 00:03:02.789 Development Corporation being the fourth. I also 00:03:02.789 --> 00:03:05.129 spent a lot of time in corporate over 20 years. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:09.680 I was working in a variety of different areas, 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:14.520 such as pensions, banking, law, social enterprise, 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:18.379 tech innovation and economic development. And 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:22.240 I spent the last 10 years in CEO roles, building 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:24.680 those organizations, building different organizations. 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:29.560 And Barbara, you're also on the board of the 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:33.360 Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. I am. 00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:38.620 And, but as you said, you're not Indigenous yourself, 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:42.979 but right in the thick leading one organization 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:47.060 on the board of another. Where does your interest 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:51.060 or passion come from to be so involved at a senior 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:56.120 level in the Indigenous economy? Yeah, so about 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:00.039 eight years ago, I joined an organization called 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:01.800 Business Links, which supports entrepreneurs 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:05.780 across Alberta. That organization had an Indigenous 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:10.159 program. That program was led by an incredible 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:14.240 Indigenous leader. And all of our staff in that 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.459 program were Indigenous. And they just taught 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:22.019 me so much. And I felt so... aware and suddenly 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:25.680 so educated about the wrongs that had been done 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.939 through colonialism, all the things that we were 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:31.319 never taught in school. And I think my light 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:34.339 bulb moment was when the leader said, you know, 00:04:34.379 --> 00:04:38.000 the last residential school closed in 1995. I 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.800 was 25 years old. And the fact that I didn't 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.899 know that that was existing during my lifetime 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:45.959 really made me feel like I needed to do something 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:49.529 and I needed to contribute something. And so, 00:04:49.649 --> 00:04:51.930 you know, leading that and then building some 00:04:51.930 --> 00:04:54.370 programming for another organization I was with, 00:04:54.370 --> 00:04:58.089 with Indigenous people for Indigenous innovators. 00:04:58.230 --> 00:05:01.449 When this role came about, I was like. This is 00:05:01.449 --> 00:05:04.310 absolutely what I want to do. It blends my need 00:05:04.310 --> 00:05:07.649 to do something that's directly going to impact 00:05:07.649 --> 00:05:12.370 community with my passion for business. I'm a 00:05:12.370 --> 00:05:15.629 bit of a capitalist at heart. So I did that and 00:05:15.629 --> 00:05:18.350 I went all in. So I joined the CCIB board. I've 00:05:18.350 --> 00:05:20.610 been on a number of other boards in the past. 00:05:20.689 --> 00:05:23.129 I really believe in volunteering and making sure 00:05:23.129 --> 00:05:25.879 I'm engaged in community. But there's no other 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.680 better way to learn than to sit around the table 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:30.860 with people who are deeply immersed and listen 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:33.620 to what they're saying. Yeah, that's fantastic. 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:37.259 You've got so much experience to draw upon. It's 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:42.420 great to have you in senior leadership in two 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:46.279 great organizations. Maybe talk a little bit 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:48.740 about Métis Settlements Development Corps. What 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:53.990 is it and where did it come from? Yeah, so I 00:05:53.990 --> 00:05:57.730 joined in the fall of 2022. The organization 00:05:57.730 --> 00:06:02.110 was actually stood up in November of 2020 by 00:06:02.110 --> 00:06:04.129 the Métis Settlements General Council, of which 00:06:04.129 --> 00:06:06.750 all eight Métis settlements are participants. 00:06:07.389 --> 00:06:10.730 And it was really concepted as a way to look 00:06:10.730 --> 00:06:13.329 at investment opportunities that benefit all 00:06:13.329 --> 00:06:16.189 eight settlements that are outside of settlement 00:06:16.189 --> 00:06:21.180 territory. A lot of it was kind of... instigated 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.319 by the development of the Alberta Indigenous 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:27.779 Opportunities Corporation. And the opportunity 00:06:27.779 --> 00:06:30.120 that those loan guarantees started to provide 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:33.800 for Indigenous communities in Alberta. And then, 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:36.139 you know, we've just kind of evolved. We have 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:39.120 an incredible board, seven member board, five 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.620 of which are Indigenous, four of whom are Métis. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:45.420 So the leadership there is deeply entrenched 00:06:45.420 --> 00:06:48.759 in community. And it really guides us, our Métis 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.600 settlements, you know. Stereo Code, our mandate, 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:54.899 they help us decide what our strategy is going 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:57.639 to be. We're just currently working through a 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:00.319 new strategy process now that we've been around 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.620 for four years. And we're really starting to 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.800 work through what that's going to look like. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:09.139 So it's been a really exciting time. Our mandate 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:11.360 has really evolved. So we look at opportunities 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.259 and major projects. But we also look at lots 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:17.459 of different business partnerships and business 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:20.920 opportunities. And one of the things that we 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:23.660 identified early on was a real need to access 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:27.319 more institutional and private capital. And the 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:29.120 fact that there was a lack of private equity 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.420 funds that were Indigenous and Indigenous community 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:36.120 owned in the space. And so for better or worse, 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:39.500 we decided to start our own fund. And that has 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:42.480 been quite a journey. But it's been great because 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:44.480 we've been able to educate a lot of people along 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.600 the way. Can we just ask you this? When we talk 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:52.060 about Métis settlements, are we talking about 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:56.360 the settlement of claims? Are we talking about 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:59.660 communities that refer to as settlements? Or 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:03.899 what are Métis settlements in Alberta? And just 00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:06.379 maybe, sorry, Barbara, just maybe before, can 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:10.230 you go back and explain to our listeners? what 00:08:10.230 --> 00:08:13.850 a Métis person is. Yeah, absolutely. This is 00:08:13.850 --> 00:08:17.129 an important piece too. So the Métis are one 00:08:17.129 --> 00:08:19.889 of the three constitutionally recognized Indigenous 00:08:19.889 --> 00:08:24.829 groups in Canada. Métis history actually goes 00:08:24.829 --> 00:08:27.509 back to colonialism in the early days of the 00:08:27.509 --> 00:08:31.959 fur trade and colonialism. So Métis people are 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:35.159 historically, can trace their genealogy back 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:39.200 to Indigenous groups in Canada, as well as early 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:43.970 settlers and early colonizers in Canada. So the 00:08:43.970 --> 00:08:46.370 Métis homeland is actually quite broad and vast. 00:08:46.509 --> 00:08:49.610 It ranges from northern Quebec and Ontario all 00:08:49.610 --> 00:08:51.570 the way through northern British Columbia across 00:08:51.570 --> 00:08:55.190 most of the prairies. The Métis settlements are 00:08:55.190 --> 00:08:59.210 the only land -based, self -governing Métis in 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:02.590 all of Canada. Very unique through the Métis 00:09:02.590 --> 00:09:05.570 Settlements Act here in Alberta. They have 1 00:09:05.570 --> 00:09:09.529 .25 million acres of land across eight communities, 00:09:09.850 --> 00:09:15.200 6 ,500 members. who need to trace their genealogy 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:19.100 back to the settlements and live in the settlements 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:21.779 in order to kind of be settlement members or 00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:26.860 have deep roots in those settlements. It is very 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:29.860 unique in that it's the only Métis communities 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:33.080 in Canada that have this land that's been allocated 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:36.200 by a provincial or federal government. I think 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:38.120 it's also very key. A lot of people know about 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.830 the Indian Act. The Métis settlements and Métis 00:09:40.830 --> 00:09:43.049 people are actually not governed by the Indian 00:09:43.049 --> 00:09:47.250 Act, but were subjected to residential school 00:09:47.250 --> 00:09:49.889 systems and many of the colonial oppressions 00:09:49.889 --> 00:09:52.289 that all First Nations and Inuit people were 00:09:52.289 --> 00:09:55.789 subjected to. So when you refer to the Métis 00:09:55.789 --> 00:09:59.330 settlements, so in Manitoba, you're not referring, 00:09:59.470 --> 00:10:02.269 when you talked earlier about the eight settlements, 00:10:02.570 --> 00:10:05.580 you're talking those in Alberta. It's only those 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:08.600 in Alberta. So there's the Manitoba Métis Federation. 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.340 They don't have designated land like we do in 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:15.000 Alberta, but they're a very, very strong Métis 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:19.019 community. But we only refer to the eight Métis 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:22.620 settlements in Alberta. I see. Great. Very interesting 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:28.340 background. What is the mandate of the Métis 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:31.230 Settlements Development Corps? Yeah, so we're 00:10:31.230 --> 00:10:33.990 very much focused on finding investments off 00:10:33.990 --> 00:10:36.450 settlement that add to the economic sustainability 00:10:36.450 --> 00:10:39.389 and independence for all eight Métis settlements. 00:10:40.490 --> 00:10:43.610 Currently, the Métis settlements are negotiating 00:10:43.610 --> 00:10:47.250 their agreement with the province and they have 00:10:47.250 --> 00:10:49.429 a protocol agreement, which includes an economic 00:10:49.429 --> 00:10:53.440 sustainability initiative. And, you know, we 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:55.980 feel that MSDC will play a long -term integral 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:59.559 role in that economic sustainability by looking 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:04.200 at opportunities that are off settlements. Like 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:07.080 most, you know, Indigenous communities, the settlements 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.580 are more rural and more remote, and that makes 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:11.899 economic development obviously more challenging. 00:11:13.470 --> 00:11:16.870 Also, you know, Métis people are agrarian. A 00:11:16.870 --> 00:11:19.490 lot of them are farmers, but a lot are also involved 00:11:19.490 --> 00:11:21.870 in the forestry industry and the oil and gas 00:11:21.870 --> 00:11:24.289 industry here in Alberta and the resource economy. 00:11:24.409 --> 00:11:26.889 And there's critical minerals opportunities and 00:11:26.889 --> 00:11:30.629 a number of, you know, great opportunities with 00:11:30.629 --> 00:11:33.549 the natural resources they have. But they also 00:11:33.549 --> 00:11:36.309 need to be able to diversify and be involved 00:11:36.309 --> 00:11:39.659 in other parts of the economy as well. You know, 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:42.460 we really look at business participation opportunities 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:46.659 across multiple different verticals. We can invest 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:48.759 in real estate. We're looking at technology. 00:11:49.889 --> 00:11:52.429 You know, we look at health care and agriculture 00:11:52.429 --> 00:11:56.629 and energy transition and clean tech. So we have 00:11:56.629 --> 00:11:59.149 a pretty broad mandate as far as where we can 00:11:59.149 --> 00:12:01.710 invest. But the key is that we really look at 00:12:01.710 --> 00:12:04.629 those diversification opportunities that are 00:12:04.629 --> 00:12:07.429 off settlement. But they can also create employment 00:12:07.429 --> 00:12:10.029 opportunities for settlement members as they 00:12:10.029 --> 00:12:13.250 want to like expand potentially what they're 00:12:13.250 --> 00:12:16.750 doing as well. And as they're leaving the settlement 00:12:16.750 --> 00:12:20.470 or even on settlement. One of our staff is one 00:12:20.470 --> 00:12:22.529 of our settlement members and she wants to stay 00:12:22.529 --> 00:12:25.049 in community and we're a remote company so she 00:12:25.049 --> 00:12:27.509 can work for us and she stays on settlement with 00:12:27.509 --> 00:12:31.610 her family. Great. And your geographic focus, 00:12:31.710 --> 00:12:33.649 you talked about the sectors. Is it just Alberta 00:12:33.649 --> 00:12:36.649 or will you go across the country? Yeah, I mean, 00:12:36.669 --> 00:12:38.570 initially, we've been really focused in Western 00:12:38.570 --> 00:12:40.950 Canada. So we've seen opportunities in Alberta, 00:12:41.009 --> 00:12:44.570 B .C. and Saskatchewan. But, you know, we aren't 00:12:44.570 --> 00:12:46.850 geographically constrained. We can be across 00:12:46.850 --> 00:12:50.529 Canada. We could be global in nature as we grow. 00:12:50.889 --> 00:12:52.809 Who knows what those opportunities are going 00:12:52.809 --> 00:12:55.409 to look like? I think there's an incredible amount 00:12:55.409 --> 00:13:00.110 of. ability for Indigenous communities to invest 00:13:00.110 --> 00:13:03.570 globally as, you know, we grow in wealth changes 00:13:03.570 --> 00:13:07.269 and intergenerational wealth builds. You know, 00:13:07.289 --> 00:13:09.289 we're going to see more and more entrepreneurs 00:13:09.289 --> 00:13:11.730 coming about from Indigenous communities and 00:13:11.730 --> 00:13:13.889 growing Indigenous businesses, which means that 00:13:13.889 --> 00:13:15.710 they're going to look to global markets. And 00:13:15.710 --> 00:13:17.950 so we're going to look to global markets as well. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:21.799 Currently, we have a great deal flow pattern. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:24.759 People really in Canada understand and respect 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.899 Indigenous economic reconciliation. We hope for 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:32.080 the most part. And so we have a lot of people 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.700 who want to engage with us. And that's been really 00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:42.500 positive. How will MSDC be funded? Yeah, so our 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:44.700 initial funding is through the settlements and 00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:48.559 through some government support. But ultimately, 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:52.220 long term, we'll be self -sustaining. So we'll 00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:54.379 continue on operating funding through management 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:58.259 fees and through a carve out of dividends from 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.519 the companies that we invest in. But the majority 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:02.879 of the returns go back to our Métis settlements 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:07.019 as our limited partners. And will you be combining 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:10.580 private investment with some of your public investment 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:16.340 and funds from the settlements in one large? 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.940 Is that your idea? Yeah, so we're running kind 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:23.360 of two LPs right now. So we have the Métis Settlements 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.879 Limited Partnership, which is funded through, 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.340 again, some government funding as well as the 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:31.320 settlements. That is primarily focused on kind 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:34.860 of private company investments and working on 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:36.779 kind of major projects and equity participation 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:38.879 through the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.700 Corporation, other loan guarantee programs. And 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:43.860 we also have the Métis Settlements Impact Fund. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:47.799 That fund is private and institutional capital 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:52.580 alongside the Métis settlement. So we're looking 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:55.559 to raise initial tranche of $50 million with 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:58.759 a potential top up of another $50 million. But 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:01.980 that really allows those corporations, institutions, 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.100 family offices, foundations and private investors 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:07.080 that are looking to invest in the Indigenous 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:11.139 economy to do that and help catalyze that capital 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:14.279 off of the sidelines and start helping to grow 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:17.879 that $100 billion Indigenous economy. So you're 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:23.100 not limited to Métis enterprises or Métis initiatives. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:29.569 The focus is on the broader Indigenous. investing 00:15:29.569 --> 00:15:34.330 only in Indigenous companies or projects, or 00:15:34.330 --> 00:15:38.149 is it a little bit more flexible? We're very 00:15:38.149 --> 00:15:41.129 flexible. You know, we kind of look at it in 00:15:41.129 --> 00:15:44.690 two segments. We invest in Indigenous companies, 00:15:44.970 --> 00:15:48.889 Métis, First Nations, Inuit. We have a mandate 00:15:48.889 --> 00:15:51.690 to invest in more growth stage companies, companies 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:54.409 that are already cash flow positive, that are 00:15:54.409 --> 00:15:58.389 earning revenues. So we see a lot of, you know, 00:15:58.389 --> 00:16:00.830 those companies that Raven Capital has invested 00:16:00.830 --> 00:16:03.970 in as they want to exit, we see potential opportunity 00:16:03.970 --> 00:16:06.370 there to keep those companies Indigenous, 100 00:16:06.370 --> 00:16:09.929 % Indigenous, which is what they want. And capital 00:16:09.929 --> 00:16:12.070 is really hard to come by in the growth stage. 00:16:12.409 --> 00:16:16.409 So especially as you, you know, are minority 00:16:16.409 --> 00:16:19.250 owned or Indigenous owned, it becomes even more 00:16:19.250 --> 00:16:22.009 challenging. So we really see ourselves having 00:16:22.009 --> 00:16:25.840 a place in that. But we also invest very broadly 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.279 and partner with non -Indigenous companies. We 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.480 have a number of ventures currently that are 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.179 non -Indigenous companies that we've come in, 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.299 we've built ventures with where we're the majority 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:39.600 Indigenous partner. We catalyze and use the technologies 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.399 they develop to build an Indigenous company and 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:45.580 benefit Indigenous communities. And ultimately, 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.360 we're values aligned because they want to make 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.460 that impact both financially to support our Métis 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:55.019 settlers, but holistically to benefit Indigenous 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:57.759 communities. So that's kind of the other piece 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.200 that we look at is non -Indigenous companies 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.200 that have a commitment to economic reconciliation. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:06.200 The two funds are relatively new. Have you deployed 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.079 capital yet or what's the timeline for first 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.779 investments? So we currently have three partnerships 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:15.180 already under the Métis Settlements Limited partnership. 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:21.019 So one in environment and clean tech, another 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:24.250 one in climate. And then another one in human 00:17:24.250 --> 00:17:26.789 resources. And we're currently now actually just 00:17:26.789 --> 00:17:30.769 finalizing one in the healthcare space and have 00:17:30.769 --> 00:17:32.829 several other that we're looking at this year. 00:17:33.809 --> 00:17:36.450 A number of really interesting investments that 00:17:36.450 --> 00:17:38.390 we're contemplating in a couple of large projects. 00:17:39.210 --> 00:17:41.829 And then in the Métis Settlements Impact Fund, 00:17:42.130 --> 00:17:44.890 we were actually just notified this week that 00:17:44.890 --> 00:17:47.170 we have our first investor. So we're very excited 00:17:47.170 --> 00:17:49.609 about that. We can't say who it is. We can't 00:17:49.609 --> 00:17:53.609 make any public announcements yet. But that is 00:17:53.609 --> 00:17:56.529 our first close. And so that's really exciting 00:17:56.529 --> 00:18:00.150 for us. That is just going to catalyze all of 00:18:00.150 --> 00:18:03.150 the capital and the other investors that we've 00:18:03.150 --> 00:18:07.369 been working with. So we anticipate that by Q3, 00:18:07.410 --> 00:18:09.859 Q4 this year, we'll be making some really significant 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.920 announcements of companies that we've invested 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:15.599 in. And the first three or four of those, two 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.779 of which are Indigenous and two are non -Indigenous. 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.980 So we're really excited about deploying that 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:22.680 capital. Congratulations. Congratulations. It's 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.220 not easy for a new fund in a new space to get 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:32.119 that first capital in. So well done. Thank you. 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:34.440 And we'll look forward to more announcements. 00:18:35.289 --> 00:18:38.009 Yeah, we're very excited. It's been a long process. 00:18:38.069 --> 00:18:42.549 So hopefully we can really start moving this 00:18:42.549 --> 00:18:46.089 forward. And, you know, it'll be an exciting 00:18:46.089 --> 00:18:48.390 time. There's not that many of us in the Indigenous 00:18:48.390 --> 00:18:51.089 space in private equity. There's a handful of 00:18:51.089 --> 00:18:54.710 us in Canada. And if we can prove that there's 00:18:54.710 --> 00:18:58.170 good returns and there's ability to do this, 00:18:58.210 --> 00:19:01.289 we'll hope to see more funds being stood up and 00:19:01.289 --> 00:19:03.869 more investors coming to the table. I already 00:19:03.869 --> 00:19:05.650 know what fund two, three and four is going to 00:19:05.650 --> 00:19:11.150 be for MSDC. So we're super excited. That's great. 00:19:11.230 --> 00:19:13.569 And that sounds very positive. And so coming 00:19:13.569 --> 00:19:16.589 back a bit to the summit and coming over here 00:19:16.589 --> 00:19:20.430 to the square mile, can you tell us a bit about 00:19:20.430 --> 00:19:22.109 your experience and some of the people that you 00:19:22.109 --> 00:19:24.769 were talking to and had the opportunity to meet? 00:19:24.769 --> 00:19:28.569 And, you know, what is your feedback that you'd 00:19:28.569 --> 00:19:31.279 like to share? Yeah, I mean, it was amazing to 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:33.359 see so many incredible Indigenous leaders from 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.539 Canada there. I think, you know, it really spoke 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:39.220 to the quality of the event and, you know, the 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.339 incredible leaders you were able to bring in 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.119 and have this discussion about the Indigenous 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.740 economy and Indigenous capital deployment and 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:48.259 some of the incredible things that... a lot of 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:51.500 the leaders in First Nations and Métis communities 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:55.279 are already doing to create that economic sustainability 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:58.359 within their communities and participate holistically 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:02.299 in the economy as equity partners. So it's a 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:05.579 fantastic opportunity. Some of the stories and 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:08.240 projects I already knew about and others were 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:12.579 even new to me. So that was great. I think what 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:15.140 was amazing was to see how many people were interested 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:18.819 that are based in London in what is happening 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:23.019 in Canada. And maybe it's the current economic 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:26.440 environment and what's happening here globally. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:30.059 I think Canada is an incredibly attractive destination 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:33.740 for investment and only going to be more so strong, 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:37.039 stable government, great banking system and incredibly 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:40.700 committed nationalistic people right now. And 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:43.500 the Indigenous economy is just a massive growing 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:46.019 part of that, probably the fastest growing part 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:49.559 of it. So for me, it was incredible to see investors 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:54.460 and officials and just so many people from the 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:57.059 greater London area interested in. in what's 00:20:57.059 --> 00:21:00.819 happening here in Canada. Great. Thank you. We're 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:04.039 obviously very pleased that you've left with 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:06.380 such a good impression of the square mile and 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:08.500 that a lot of conversations have started because 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:12.200 over time, we, of course, hope to hear from you 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.039 and others to say, you know, the conversation 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:16.160 started there. Obviously, there's a lot of work 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.240 to take conversations into actual capital, etc. 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:21.859 But what did you find were some of the key... 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:25.579 When you're thinking now about marketing to perhaps 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:29.140 some of these investors, you reinforced Canada 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:31.099 being very attractive in the Indigenous economy, 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.720 this emerging market economy within a very stable 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:39.500 overall Canadian economy, relatively all things 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:42.279 being considered with what's going on south of 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:45.220 the border. But what are some of the key talking 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:48.740 points that you think resonated with the individuals 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:52.309 and corporates that you met over here? I think 00:21:52.309 --> 00:21:54.490 a lot of it is obviously the impact that we're 00:21:54.490 --> 00:21:57.970 making for Indigenous communities, right? I mean, 00:21:57.990 --> 00:21:59.769 I think sometimes there's a misunderstanding 00:21:59.769 --> 00:22:03.630 around this idea that Indigenous communities 00:22:03.630 --> 00:22:06.470 get a lot of government funding and money and 00:22:06.470 --> 00:22:08.750 that if they're resource -based, especially here 00:22:08.750 --> 00:22:11.509 in Alberta, that they have the wherewithal to 00:22:11.509 --> 00:22:14.029 invest that money any way they want. There's 00:22:14.029 --> 00:22:18.700 a lot of constraints around how. resource royalties 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:21.420 and trust monies and all of these things are 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:24.640 actually spent in community, which actually leads 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:27.859 to a lot of challenges and issues in that most 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:30.140 Indigenous communities can't self -direct those 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:34.089 dollars. And, you know, then they cannot impact 00:22:34.089 --> 00:22:36.089 their communities in ways that are really beneficial. 00:22:36.450 --> 00:22:38.930 So what we're hearing, you know, and what they 00:22:38.930 --> 00:22:41.730 need is this economic independence, right, to 00:22:41.730 --> 00:22:43.890 be outside of that particular constraints in 00:22:43.890 --> 00:22:46.789 those systems. So getting people to understand 00:22:46.789 --> 00:22:49.069 this need for capital is really, really important. 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:52.559 I think it's, you know, also really important 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:55.059 to understand the colonial impacts, right? And 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:59.960 this duty that I believe that we have as colonizers 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:02.839 and settlers and, you know, the history of that 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:05.839 to actually move our capital. to places where 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.720 it can do a lot of change and a lot of benefit 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:13.619 while still earning a return. We are not concessionary. 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:16.059 And I think that's a huge message, right? We're 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:19.160 investing in businesses that will grow and have 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:23.660 massive potential. And that if we catalyze that 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:26.019 potential, Indigenous and non -Indigenous, you 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:31.579 will see a really, really excellent return. We've 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:34.039 kind of said our returns will be in 15 percent. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.359 We believe they will be higher. We've been a 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:40.779 little bit, you know, conservative in our first 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:44.200 projections. But we know that these companies 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:46.640 are and some of them are already seeing catalytic 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:49.920 growth. A lot of it because of what's happening 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:54.019 below the border, which is really good. And so 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:56.180 investments in those companies will be really, 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:58.660 really phenomenal. And then ultimately, you know, 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:02.720 the ripple benefit of all of that. So it's a 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:06.319 big circular economy in a lot of ways in what 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.720 we're trying to construct in the way it'll create 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.119 benefit for everyone. Barbara, I'm interested 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:15.339 in how you're structured or governed. You've 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:17.559 got a board, you've got another, you've got an 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:21.519 investment committee. Is there a Métis philosophy 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:28.299 or? perspective that permeates throughout? How 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:33.740 do you maintain that connection to communities 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:36.480 and what you're doing? Yeah, our communities 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:42.059 are very connected to what we do. So our shareholder 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:44.900 is MSDC, is the Settlement Senior Corporation, 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:49.720 of which all eight members, all eight chairs 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:51.740 of the settlements are the board of directors. 00:24:52.710 --> 00:24:55.549 All of the settlements are our limited partners. 00:24:55.789 --> 00:24:58.390 We're the general partner of that Métis Settlements 00:24:58.390 --> 00:25:01.930 Limited Partnership. Our board has representatives 00:25:01.930 --> 00:25:05.049 from East and West settlements, which are non 00:25:05.049 --> 00:25:07.369 -political. They are business people from the 00:25:07.369 --> 00:25:09.529 community and community representatives. So that 00:25:09.529 --> 00:25:13.329 keeps us grounded. We have then five independent 00:25:13.329 --> 00:25:16.589 board members, two of which are Métis, one who 00:25:16.589 --> 00:25:19.910 is First Nations and two who are non. So again, 00:25:20.029 --> 00:25:23.990 very much keeps us grounded. Our whole mission, 00:25:24.150 --> 00:25:27.390 vision, values is all grounded in Métis culture, 00:25:27.549 --> 00:25:32.109 Métis roots. Three of our staff are Métis. So 00:25:32.109 --> 00:25:36.720 that keeps us on point and on key as well. So 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:39.680 it's very, very important to us, our investment 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.960 committee for the Métis Settlements Impact Fund. 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:45.779 I always say it has the three token white guys 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:50.460 and then three incredible Métis women in finance 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:55.099 that are just phenomenal leaders in their own 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:58.640 right and incredible Métis women that are very 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:02.079 grounded in culture that also keep us really, 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:06.059 really focused on those key values. Every investment 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:08.160 we make, we look at from a values perspective 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.000 first and how it aligns to Indigenous values, 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:18.579 Métis values, how important it is that people 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:22.960 truly believe in reconciliation. And if those 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:27.220 things don't align, we don't partner, we don't 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:30.819 invest. That is the first thing. Then secondly, 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:34.539 obviously, the finances have to be right. But 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.480 we need to have that alignment and that commitment 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:41.019 first. And what's your sweet spot for writing 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:44.579 a check if you have one? I know you've got a 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:48.259 fair bit of flexibility, but. We do. I mean, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:50.920 right now we're being very conservative, probably, 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:54.700 you know, 1 million to 1 .5 million is kind of 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:58.160 the sweet spot. Most of these companies are smaller. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.720 That gives us usually 20, 30 percent equity, 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:05.269 which is key for us. We want to be equity partners 00:27:05.269 --> 00:27:08.789 in that. We want to bring Indigenous equity to 00:27:08.789 --> 00:27:12.029 the table. And that's that long -term viewpoint, 00:27:12.349 --> 00:27:14.950 that generational viewpoint. We're not just here 00:27:14.950 --> 00:27:17.750 for a quick return. We're long -term investors 00:27:17.750 --> 00:27:20.849 into these companies. We're patient capital. 00:27:21.170 --> 00:27:24.609 We want to be partners. So that's kind of the 00:27:24.609 --> 00:27:28.849 sweet spot for us. So just coming back to what 00:27:28.849 --> 00:27:30.490 you're talking about in your conversations here 00:27:30.490 --> 00:27:34.069 in the city. And it's slightly different over 00:27:34.069 --> 00:27:40.230 here because the UN SDG goals and ESG is really 00:27:40.230 --> 00:27:42.309 key in at the heart of the city because it's 00:27:42.309 --> 00:27:45.210 helping to finance and set the framework for 00:27:45.210 --> 00:27:47.990 that transition to that better future for all. 00:27:48.309 --> 00:27:51.430 So the feedback I got was there was a lot of 00:27:51.430 --> 00:27:56.299 relevance. Wow, they're providing. what meets 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.299 our ESG, but even more, they're providing, as 00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:00.259 you said, you don't have to sacrifice any of 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:03.279 the returns. So I know that was perceived as 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:07.799 really well. And it's kind of different because 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:11.339 this conversation is now going across the pond 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:14.579 between Europe and Canada about how do we grow 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:17.240 things in the way that we want the world to be. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:21.180 And America is kind of going in a different direction. 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:24.980 So I think that story becomes... really important 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:29.180 in terms of working through. So I'm sure that's 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:31.619 something that you felt here too, building on 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:34.460 what you said earlier. Yeah, and we've specifically 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:38.119 built in an ESGI perspective. So not only just 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:40.900 ESGI, but then, you know, taking that a step 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:44.720 further and bringing in an Indigenous perspective 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:48.859 in our goals as well. So every company that we 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:52.680 invest in, we work through an ESGI metric with 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.660 them. And there are metrics that they have to 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:57.779 hit as we move forward with that partnership 00:28:57.779 --> 00:29:01.430 and that investment. And so the framework is 00:29:01.430 --> 00:29:03.589 quite broad in how we've built that out, but 00:29:03.589 --> 00:29:06.049 how they impact Indigenous communities is really, 00:29:06.130 --> 00:29:09.369 really important. And then, you know, environmental, 00:29:09.609 --> 00:29:11.730 social and governance issues that we need to 00:29:11.730 --> 00:29:14.529 ensure that they're also maintaining, because 00:29:14.529 --> 00:29:16.450 those are really important to our communities 00:29:16.450 --> 00:29:20.450 too, right? And we want to have that piece of 00:29:20.450 --> 00:29:24.509 it. UNSDGs, you know, we actually worked through 00:29:24.509 --> 00:29:26.630 a process where we looked at where we align to 00:29:26.630 --> 00:29:31.690 UNSDGs. So many pieces of UN SDGs where we are 00:29:31.690 --> 00:29:36.130 able to like align what we're doing around climate, 00:29:36.190 --> 00:29:38.869 around food, around reconciliation, around economic 00:29:38.869 --> 00:29:43.490 prosperity. So we really feel that as an organization 00:29:43.490 --> 00:29:49.009 and as a fund, we're able to make, we will be 00:29:49.009 --> 00:29:51.069 able to make a really significant difference 00:29:51.069 --> 00:29:55.930 across multiple. Really important things that 00:29:55.930 --> 00:29:58.910 we need to achieve, no matter what happens south 00:29:58.910 --> 00:30:01.809 of our border here in Canada. Canadians still 00:30:01.809 --> 00:30:05.849 believe in reconciliation and in equity and diversity. 00:30:06.869 --> 00:30:09.650 We still believe that, you know, we need to do 00:30:09.650 --> 00:30:11.910 better for the climate. And I say that as an 00:30:11.910 --> 00:30:17.190 Albertan. We can do these things side by side. 00:30:17.230 --> 00:30:20.670 Nothing has to be exclusive of the other. Nobody 00:30:20.670 --> 00:30:24.480 has to be left out of the economy. I mean, Indigenous 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:26.400 people have been left out of the economy for 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:29.619 300 years. Nobody needs to be left out of this. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:33.539 Nobody needs to be left out of employment. All 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:36.119 of these things can coexist, and that's what 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:39.099 we want to promote. Yes, that was certainly, 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:42.680 you know, you and the other speakers and moderators 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:45.299 and panelists who came over from Canada, yourself 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:47.180 included. These are some of the best business 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:50.799 leaders you can find in Canada today. And very 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:53.759 hungry. and very competitive in a positive sense 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:56.460 to make things better and succeed. And I think 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:58.440 that energy and dynamism really comes through. 00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:01.640 And that's what the city is all about in terms 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:03.259 of the convening power of the city is because 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.480 people with great ideas and opportunities come 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:07.900 here to make connections with others, to take 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:12.460 things to a higher level. Canada and all the 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:17.119 territories have always prospered because foreign 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.920 capitals come in, because there's not enough 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:24.710 resources, capital. within Canada to develop 00:31:24.710 --> 00:31:27.329 all the opportunities that lie in front of Canadians, 00:31:27.529 --> 00:31:30.769 non -Indigenous and Indigenous. So it was absolutely 00:31:30.769 --> 00:31:34.269 great to have you over as part of that discussion 00:31:34.269 --> 00:31:38.769 and creating awareness of the opportunities that 00:31:38.769 --> 00:31:42.410 exist. Yeah, I mean, we're a small but mighty 00:31:42.410 --> 00:31:45.390 country. But yes, you're right. I mean, we need 00:31:45.390 --> 00:31:48.609 foreign capital to fuel all of the incredible 00:31:48.609 --> 00:31:53.619 opportunities here. Barbara, the pushback, you've 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:58.039 alluded to it, in the US at the moment against 00:31:58.039 --> 00:32:04.099 DEI and in particular DEI investing. Have you 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:10.220 noticed any of that in Canada? Has there been 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:13.059 any impact on your marketing efforts? Do you 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:15.099 have to change the way you talk about things? 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:20.130 I mean, I think, you know, The people that we're 00:32:20.130 --> 00:32:24.329 talking to are interested in impact. You know, 00:32:24.349 --> 00:32:27.029 whether that's in the U .S. or Canada or globally, 00:32:27.210 --> 00:32:30.670 they're definitely looking at what impact they 00:32:30.670 --> 00:32:34.430 can make. So they're firmly still rooted in those 00:32:34.430 --> 00:32:38.470 values of EDI and ESG and, you know, sustainability. 00:32:39.690 --> 00:32:44.890 I think in Canada, you know, yes, this is a very 00:32:44.890 --> 00:32:48.150 interesting and difficult time. I mean, Our inherent 00:32:48.150 --> 00:32:52.309 sovereignty is being attacked, right? And, you 00:32:52.309 --> 00:32:54.630 know, we still say, hey, we're still a Commonwealth 00:32:54.630 --> 00:32:56.910 nation. We're not American. We don't want to 00:32:56.910 --> 00:32:59.490 be American. Canadian nationalism is at an all 00:32:59.490 --> 00:33:02.230 -time high. We're, of course, in the middle of 00:33:02.230 --> 00:33:04.829 a federal election that will determine a lot 00:33:04.829 --> 00:33:08.670 of what we do. But I think, you know, sustainability, 00:33:09.150 --> 00:33:13.609 DEI, is really still at the top of a list of 00:33:13.609 --> 00:33:16.759 a lot of people. We're maybe seeing a step back 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:19.299 when we're having those conversations with American 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:24.440 companies. But I don't think fundamentally the 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:27.759 core of what we are as Canada will change because 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:32.519 I feel it's been more embedded here. You know, 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:36.039 I mean, even with many of the things that we've 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:38.980 done in the past, I still think we have a better 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:44.150 attitude towards DEI and ESG than... you know, 00:33:44.150 --> 00:33:49.490 the Americans have ever had. Great. Well, Barbara 00:33:49.490 --> 00:33:51.950 McKenzie, CEO of Métis Settlement Development 00:33:51.950 --> 00:33:54.029 Corporation, it has been absolutely great to 00:33:54.029 --> 00:33:58.009 have you on our podcast. After the summit, this 00:33:58.009 --> 00:33:59.690 engagement we've had, and we look forward to 00:33:59.690 --> 00:34:01.829 be able to talking to you in the future after 00:34:01.829 --> 00:34:04.109 you've closed your deals, after you can announce 00:34:04.109 --> 00:34:06.250 who your partner is and you've closed some deals, 00:34:06.329 --> 00:34:08.730 it sounds like there's a great future ahead, 00:34:08.889 --> 00:34:11.980 which is... what we're all interested in helping 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:14.440 and supporting and giving you a platform to speak 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:18.219 to those in the Square Mile and beyond about 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:21.099 the opportunities in existing Canada. I want 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:23.780 to thank you guys very much. I mean, it was incredible 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:26.480 to be there. It's our kind of first foray into 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:29.059 the UK market and the European market. So it 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:31.619 was great to be able to kind of hear what people 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:34.320 had to say and their interest in what we're doing. 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:36.159 It's certainly the interest in what's happening 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:38.760 in the Indigenous space in Canada is fantastic. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:42.199 Rob and Mark, thank you so much for advocating 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:45.420 for this and moving it forward. And, you know, 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:49.780 we need more people like you doing this work 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:53.199 globally. And, you know, Rob, I know you're back 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:56.780 in Canada, so I know your leadership will continue 00:34:56.780 --> 00:35:00.340 here as well. Well, thank you, Barbara, and I 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:02.920 appreciate those comments and thanks for your 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:05.139 time today. But thank you more importantly for 00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:08.670 all the work you do. trying to grow the Indigenous 00:35:08.670 --> 00:35:13.630 economy in the island. Absolutely. Thank you. 00:35:13.650 --> 00:35:18.250 Best job I've ever had. Great. Cheers. Cheers. 00:35:19.989 --> 00:35:22.349 Thank you to Barbara McKenzie for sharing your 00:35:22.349 --> 00:35:24.849 insights with us. And thank you for viewing and 00:35:24.849 --> 00:35:27.710 listening. Be sure to share, subscribe, and leave 00:35:27.710 --> 00:35:30.730 a review on your favorite podcast channel. Thanks 00:35:30.730 --> 00:35:33.050 for listening to Drumbeats. Until next time.