b'Mass_NRG_WhiteLine_Bleed_OuterMask_CMYKCOVER STORYThe question went out to shareholders, Was now the time to do this deal? A staggering 99.89 per cent believed it was indeed. These shareholders were not just Indigenous share-holders, but non-Indigenous Canadians as well. At a point when relations were at their lowest, a deal was announced that made the country take pause. Those involved under-stood that a deal that honours the Indigenous is one that honours Canadians. The share-holders made that loud and clear, but if you were too busy looking at the media coverage of the conflict on the ground you would have missed it.Mikmaq fishermen in Nova Scotia prepare their fishing gear to leave the harbour on a trawler with the Mikmaq flag. Photo courtesy of Reuters/John MorrisWhile the Mikmaq and non-Indigenous fishermen continued to fight openly without solution, Risley and Chief Paul Honouring thebrokered a deal to last seven generations. When others went low, they went high. past, buildingWhile lobster traps burned, and a country excused a history of systemic racism, the the future two visionaries worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure a future for not just Read the latest editionthe industry, but for Canadian Indigenous of A Chosen Journey. relations for years to come.In Clearwater Foods and Premium Brands, Chief Paul found a common vision and like-minded people to walk beside him, not in front of or behind him. Premium Brands was able to look beyond the clamour of a region embroiled in dispute and embrace a strong and equal partnership with the Mikmaq people. The collabora-tion marked a true partnership and journey of reconciliation at a time when reconcil-iation seemed all but a distant hope on the East Coast. The Clearwater deal also forged a path for a sustainable Indigenous economy for other Indigenous communi-ties across Canada. Access to capital was made possible through Chief Pauls journey of economic prosperity and his proper management of resources, despite the many odds stacked against him. When the time came to make a move on Clearwater, the Mikmaq coali-tion acquired $250 million for the deal from the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA), a Vancouver-based Indigenous organization that provides First Nations governments with investment access to long-term loans. rbc.com/achosenjourney What the Clearwater deal has done is created a path for Indigenous communi- /Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. ties to [acquire] major equity interests in different industries, [with a] national focus, 22A CCAB PUBLICATION2021'