b'INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTMAJOR PROJECTS OFFICE Its members are: Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi, Beaver Kluane Adamek, Kluane First Nation,First Nation (Treaty 8), AlbertaIn August, Prime Minister Mark CarneyYukon Chief Terry Paul, Membertou First launched the new Major Projects OfficeChief Darcy Bear, Whitecap DakotaNation, Nova Scotia(MPO) to serve as a single point of contactFirst Nation, Saskatchewan Lorne Pelletier, Manitoba Mtis that gets major, transformative projects built faster. It will be headquartered in Calgary.Vanessa Doig, Makivvik, Nunavik,Federation, ManitobaNorthern Qubec Christy Sinclair, Nunavut Tunngavik This MPO will be shaped by the leadershipJP Gladu, Bingwi NeyaashiInc., Nunavutand guidance of the Indigenous AdvisoryAnishinaabek, Ontario Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation, British Council (IAC)11 representatives from FirstVictoria LaBillois, Listuguj MigmaqColumbiaNations, Inuit, Mtis, and Modern Treaty andFirst Nation, Qubec Matt Vermette, Mtis Nation, Self-Governing communities.SaskatchewanThe government consistently affirms its commitment to consultation, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP), and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). But what happens in practice may be a different story. "Concerns remain, says Koostachin, especially around how these commitments are being implemented in practice. True balancemeansembeddingconsul-tation, the UN Declaration and FPIC into the design and decision-making process from the start, not treating them as afterthoughts.""The clearest path forward is collaboration, early dialogue, and shared planning," Koostachin stresses. "This moment offers more than just an opportunity to accel-erate development; it\'s a chance to build and strengthen lasting partnerships. It requires rolling up our sleeves, showing up with humility, and working respectfully alongside Indigenous communities as true partners."This summer, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with First Nations, Inuit and Mtis rights holders in an effort to demon-strate that Indigenous participation is a priority. As Cuguen notes, The prime minister has emphasized that national interest projects can only be done in full consultation with Indigenous Peoples in order to strengthen Indigenous owner-ship and partnerships and support generational economic opportunities in their communities. The Building Canada Act aims to enshrine this intent by ensuring that Indigenous Peoples, whose rights, including treaty rights, may be affected, are consulted throughout a project\'s approval stages. Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT37'