2024 First Nations Energy Symposium

This year marks the 8th annual IESO First Nations Energy Symposium that brings communities and leaders from across the province for two days of cultural celebration, discussion and collaboration.

We look forward to welcoming you in November!

Thank you to this year’s sponsors:

Lunch Sponsor: CIBC
Gold Sponsors: Bruce Power, First Nations Energy Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Alectra Utilities, Hydro One, Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Power Generation
Bronze Sponsors: Bullfrog Power, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Enbridge, Ontario Waterpower Association

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Time	Agenda Item
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Registration and Breakfast
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.	Welcome Remarks and Opening Ceremonies Welcome Song – All Stars Junior Drum Group Prairie Style Dance Performance Presenters: Elder Garry Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.	Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker Presenter: Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO, IESO
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Keynote Speaker Presenter: Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anishinabek Nation
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.	Break
11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Increasing Indigenous Participation in Procurement and Supply Chain Opportunities Moderator: Chuck Farmer, Vice-President, Planning, Conservation, Resource Adequacy and Power System Adequacy, IESO Panelists: Natalie Adam, Director - Supply Chain, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business Alison Fernandes, Senior Manager – Indigenous Programs Procurement and EDI procurement Supply Chain, Ontario Power Generation Katarina Savic, Director – Advisory Services, Mokwateh
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Keynote Speaker Presenter: Kendal Netmaker, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Author, and Indigenous Speaker
2:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Trends in Indigenous Project Financing and the Role of the Financial Sector in Ontario Moderator: Shariq Alvi, Managing Director – Energy, Infrastructure and Transition Team, Global Investment Banking, CIBC Panelists: Stephanie Aldersley, Director – Investments Indigenous Infrastructure, Canada Infrastructure Bank Penny Favel, Vice-President – Indigenous Relations, Hydro One Dazawray Landrie-Parker, Director – Strategy and Governance, Mokwateh
2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Empowering Community Energy Partnerships – Building Sustainable Futures Together Moderator: Beverly Nollert, Director – Transmission Integration, IESO Panelists: Patrick Boileau, Implementation Officer, North Vista Advisors Nishin Meawasige, Project Manager, Waasmooving Energy
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.	Closing Remarks Contemporary Dance Preseter: Denise Jamal, Senior Director – Sector and Community Engagement, IESO
5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m.	Evening Social David Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle Live Band

Time

Agenda Item

8:00 a.m. –

9:15 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

9:15 a.m. –

10:00 a.m.

Welcome Remarks and Opening Ceremonies

Welcome Song – All Stars Junior Drum Group

Prairie Style Dance Performance

Presenters:

Elder Garry Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Presenter: Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO, IESO

10:15 a.m. –

11:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Presenter: Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anishinabek Nation

11:00 a.m. –

11:20 a.m.

Break

11:20 a.m. –

12:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Increasing Indigenous Participation in Procurement and Supply Chain Opportunities

Moderator: Chuck Farmer, Vice-President, Planning, Conservation, Resource Adequacy and Power System Adequacy, IESO

Panelists:

Natalie Adam, Director - Supply Chain, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business

Alison Fernandes, Senior Manager – Indigenous Programs Procurement and EDI procurement Supply Chain, Ontario Power Generation

Katarina Savic, Director – Advisory Services, Mokwateh

12:00 p.m. –

1:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00 p.m. –

2:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker

Presenter: Kendal Netmaker, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Author, and Indigenous Speaker

2:00 p.m. –

2:40 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Trends in Indigenous Project Financing and the Role of the Financial Sector in Ontario

Moderator: Shariq Alvi, Managing Director – Energy, Infrastructure and Transition Team, Global Investment Banking, CIBC

Panelists:

Stephanie Aldersley, Director – Investments Indigenous Infrastructure, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Penny Favel, Vice-President – Indigenous Relations, Hydro One

Dazawray Landrie-Parker, Director – Strategy and Governance, Mokwateh

2:40 p.m. –

3:00 p.m.

Break

3:00 p.m. –

4:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Empowering Community Energy Partnerships – Building Sustainable Futures Together

Moderator: Beverly Nollert, Director – Transmission Integration, IESO

Panelists:

Patrick Boileau, Implementation Officer, North Vista Advisors

Nishin Meawasige, Project Manager, Waasmooving Energy

4:00 p.m. –

4:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Contemporary Dance

Preseter: Denise Jamal, Senior Director – Sector and Community Engagement, IESO

5:00 p.m –

7:00 p.m.

Evening Social

David Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle Live Band

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Time

Agenda

8:00 a.m. –

9:15 a.m.

Breakfast

9:15 a.m. –

9:30 a.m.

Morning Blessing

Presenters:

Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley

Elder Garry Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

9:30 a.m. –

10:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Presenter: Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict

Introduction: Carla Y. Nell, Vice President - Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy, IESO

10:00 a.m. –

10:50 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Partnerships and Collaboration

Moderator: Marko Cirovic, Senior Manager – Resource Development and Procurement, IESO

Panelists:

James Jenkins, Executive Director, Indigenous Clean Energy

Peter Collins, CEO, Chi Mino Ozhitoowin

Gary F. Kissack, Partner, Fogler and Rubinoff LLP

Katarina Savic, Director – Advisory Services, Mokwateh

10:50 a.m. –

11:10 a.m.

Break

11:10 a.m. –

11:55 p.m.

Case Study: Empowering Energy Projects – Success Through Indigenous Leadership and Transformational Partnerships

Presenters:

Charles Lewthwaite, Hedgehog Technologies

Brian Walmark, Hedgehog Technologies

Owen Miles, Community Energy Champion, Fort Severn First Nation

12:00 p.m. –

1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 p.m. –

2:15 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Women in Energy – Leading Beyond the Boardroom

Moderator: Carla Y. Nell, Vice President - Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy, IESO

Panelists:

Tracey Primeau, Board Member, Ontario Power Generation

Fiona Blondin, Board Member, IESO

Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anishinabek Nation

2:15 p.m. –

2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m. –

3:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Meet the Community Energy Champions

Moderator: Denise Jamal, Senior Director - Sector and Community Engagement, IESO

Panelists:

Evan Belleau, Community Energy Champion, Garden River First Nation

Sioux Manitowabi, Community Energy Champion, Wikwemikong First Nation

Dawn Lambe, Community Energy Champion, Anishinabek Nation

3:30 p.m. –

4:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks and Ceremonial Closing

Travelling Song - All Stars Junior Drum Group

Grand Finale Traditional Dance

Presenters:

Elder Garry Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Sonia Fazari, Senior Manager – Indigenous Relations, IESO

Indigenous Communities