Speakers
Learn from leaders in Indigenous-industry partnerships, economic development, and reconciliation.
2026 Speakers
Each year, the Economic Partnership Summit brings together respected voices from across Canada to share insight, experience, and leadership in building meaningful partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Morning Keynote
Ian Gladue
Ian Gladue is the founder of Mitsoh, a nationally recognized Indigenous-owned food company bringing traditional foods like pemmican and dry meat to retailers across Canada. A proud member of Wabasca First Nation on Treaty 8 Territory, Ian’s journey began with adversity, navigating life on his own from the age of 13. After becoming a father, Ian chose a new path—one rooted in sobriety, cultural reconnection, and purpose. Through learning from Elders and rediscovering traditional nutrition, he built Mitsoh into the largest Indigenous traditional meat snack company in Canada. Today, Ian speaks on identity, resilience, and economic reconciliation, inspiring audiences to embrace who they are and build from it.
afternoon Keynote
Chief Robert Louie
Chief Robert Louie has spent more than 50 years advancing Indigenous self-governance and economic empowerment. As Chief of the Westbank First Nation (WFN) for more than 28 years, he led the negotiation of the landmark Westbank Self-Government Agreement, setting a national precedent. Under his leadership, WFN achieved economic self-sufficiency and sustainable growth. Beyond his community, Chief Louie has served on over 30 corporate boards and is the Chairman/Director of Peace Hills Trust, Canada’s largest Indigenous financial institution. As Chair of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board, he has championed land governance and economic development for First Nations across Canada. He has also represented Canada at the World Indigenous Business Forum and advised institutions like UBC and the BC Achievement Foundation. Honoured as an officer of the Order of Canada, his lifetime of service has inspired a national movement toward Indigenous equity and reconciliation. Chief Louie has demonstrated bold leadership and created lasting, transformative change.
How to Work Together: Indigenous Partnership as Professional Practice
Jacquelyn Cardinal
Jacquelyn Cardinal is a sakāwithiniwak (Woodland Cree) entrepreneur and Indigenous technologist from the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in northern Alberta. As Founder & CEO of Naheyawin - a storytelling and education social enterprise based in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) - Jacquelyn builds bridges between Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary innovation. Her work spans technology, business, and the arts: she's received an Esquao Award for Achievement in Business, a SHEInnovates Award from the UN Women's Global Innovation Coalition for Change, and the 2019 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play for Lake of the Strangers, co-written with her brother Hunter Cardinal. Through all these mediums, Jacquelyn is guided by a singular vision - to realize the promise of our treaties by creating spaces where diverse ways of knowing can be woven together to build the future our ancestors dreamed for us.
Building Better Business Panel
Sharing best practices for strengthening HR and people system, creating profitable growth while honouring cultural values, and building trusted partnership and customers in Treaty 6 and beyond.
Jennifer Bodnarchuk
Jennifer Bodnarchuk is the Owner/Operator of JLBodnarchuk HR Consulting Services, a Saskatchewan-based remote HR consulting company dedicated to helping small- to medium-sized businesses grow and succeed. With over 10 years of practical in-house Human Resources experience, Jennifer is passionate about supporting organizations through strategic HR practices that strengthen their people, processes, and overall performance. She takes a practical, people-focused approach to her work, partnering with businesses to develop tailored solutions that reflect their unique goals and operational needs. By strengthening HR frameworks, improving employee experiences, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures, Jennifer helps organizations build strong foundations where people and performance can flourish. At JLBodnarchuk HR Consulting Services, the focus is on delivering thoughtful, results-driven support that equips businesses with the structure, insights, and confidence needed to navigate HR challenges, attract and retain top talent, and achieve long-term success.
Nathan Arias
Nathan Arias is the founder of IOPPS.CA — Empowering Indigenous Success, an Indigenous opportunities platform built to help connect people, businesses, communities, and organizations with jobs, events, training, partnerships, and community updates. Nathan is passionate about using technology, media, and practical business tools to create stronger connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Through IOPPS.CA, Nathan works to support visibility, opportunity-sharing, livestreaming, and digital growth for communities, entrepreneurs, employers, and local organizations. His work is focused on making opportunities easier to find, helping communities share their stories, and building practical pathways for Indigenous success
Nyden Iron-Nighttraveler
Nyden IronNighttraveller, member of the Canoe Lake Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan’s Treaty 10 Territory and owner of Amarok Scaffolding is the recipient of the CCIB Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award. With over a decade of experience as a Journeyman Scaffolder in the oil and gas industry, he founded Amarok Scaffolding in 2021. Under his leadership, the company is rapidly growing into one of Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned scaffolding businesses. In addition to receiving this award, Nyden completed his MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership from SFU in June 2024. Nyden is driven to create lasting change for Indigenous communities through business and philanthropic efforts that focus on Indigenous well-being. As a father of four, Nyden’s family and culture remain at the heart of his ongoing path to success
Past Speakers
Over the years, the EP Summit has welcomed influential leaders, business professionals, and advocates for reconciliation and economic partnership.
voices that have shaped the conversation
Mallory Yawnghwe
Founder & CEO of Indigenous Box
Trista & Ken Badger
Owners of Beautylife & The Beast Barber
Cadmus Delorme
Partner, One Hoop Consulting
Matthew Foss
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
Ashley Callingbull
Actress, Model, Host & First Nation's Activist
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Former Member of Parliament | Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Thomas Benjoe
President & CEO of FHQ
Chief Cadmus Delorme
Cowessess First Nation
Kendal Netmaker
CEO & Founder of Neechie Gear
Carol Anne Hilton
CEO & Founder of Indigenomics Institute
Michael Linklater
World Top 3x3 Basketball Player
Jim Boucher
Canadian Energy Person of the Year
Kelly J. Lendsay
President & CEO of Indigenous Works
Ken Coates
Canada Research Chair
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson
Lac La Ronge Indian Board
Clint Davis
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, VP of Aboriginal Banking TD Group
Terry Bird
Lead Advisor of First Nation & Metis Initiatives, K&S Potash
Chief Clarence Louie
Osoyoos First Nation
Chief Wilton Littlechild
Truth & Reconciliation Commissioner
Chief Robert Louie
Westbank First Nation
Patrice Mercredi
ACDEN
Bill McKnight
Former Minister of National Defence of Canada
Chief Darcy Bear
Whitecap Dakota First Nations
