b"RESOURCE PARTNERSHIPSaccess to financial programs that deal in millions in available funds to Indigenous communities aresupport Indigenous equity invest-ment allow Nations to draw closer to no longer being approachedresource projects that impact their traditional territories.simply for consultation. They To help address gaps across the are being invited to the tablecountry, Balisky says there needs to be stable, long-term, good governance as equity partners. by Indigenous participants, an effec-tive, long-term management team on Chana Martineau, AIOC behalf of the Indigenous participant, a willing and creative industry approach to engaging Indigenous participants, and timely federal financial support. He says one of the biggest challenges to promoting more Indigenous partic-Indigenous-led development acrossForest Products and Domtars Meadowipation in the natural resources sector all regions. Lake Mechanical Pulp, which providesis an overall lack of creative engage-forestmanagementservicesandment and willingness to meaning-Martineau also stresses that Indigenousdelivery of 1.3 million cubic metresfully share economic outcomes with partnerships are no longer just aboutoflogstoforestproductsfacili- Indigenous partners by industry. building pipelines and energy infra- ties; and Sakaw Askiy ManagementRasmussen stresses that Indigenous structure.OthersectorsarealsoInc., a forest management servicescommunities need a government increasingly coming into play. AIOCsprovider in the Prince Albert forestfocused on capacity building and newly expanded mandate, which nowmanagement area that is under aan incentivized industry to support includes tourism, healthcare and tech- shared ownership between MLTCII'sIndigenous participation in resource nology, reflects the evolving prioritiesNorSask Forest Products, additionaldevelopment. Government has the of Indigenous communities. Thats aFirst Nations, and other forest sectorability to require industry to impact-powerful signal that Indigenous pros- manufacturing facilities. fully involve First Nation people and perity is not confined to traditionalneed to back that up with financial resource sectors and is foundationalMLTC also recently announced that thesupports that the Nation can use to to Canada's broader economic andcouncil has signed a memorandum oftruly invest, she says. Government social fabric, Martineau says. understanding with Tolko Industries tohas not incentivised Indigenous partic-establish a Lumber for Nations Programipation. Requiring proof of Indigenous STRONG EXAMPLE designed to support building projectsinvolvementandownershipby One Indigenous group that has hadin the Indigenous communities repre- impacted Nations in large resource tremendous success building strongsented by MLTC.projects would mean industry would partnershipswithresource-basedfind a way to make it happen.companiesistheMeadowLakeAlBalisky,presidentandCEOof TribalCouncil(MLTC)innorthernMLTCII, says several federal agenciesRasmussen says the government has Saskatchewan, comprised of nine Firstare important to the company, andfailed on resource sharing agreements Nations (five Cree First Nations and fourthat government programs are 100that could be used to provide capacity Dene First Nations). In 2012, it createdper cent essential in order to maxi- building opportunities and the use of MLTC Industrial Investments LP (MLTCII),mize Indigenous business participa- these funds by Indigenous commu-which now has an impressive port- tion. (See sidebar on opposite page.) nities for resource investment and folio of more than a dozen companies,participation. Government programs including four that are active in the forestNations have little to no own sourceare often narrow and ill-thought-out. products sector.revenues,addsTinaRasmussen,Nations have limited opportunity to chief business officer, MLTCII. [Theymake use of the programs, she says, These include NorSask Forest Products,have] no ability to draw out of theirpointing to the loan guarantee as an a 100 per cent First Nations-ownedcompanies for expansion and invest- example, which is focused on buying sawmill with annual production ofment in new opportunity. Governmentexisting equity (many new projects are 140 million board feet of certified,programs like the Indigenous Loangreenfield so they do not qualify), as high-quality stud lumber; NorthWindGuarantee and others provide oppor- well as a lack of front-end funding to Forest Products LP, a 100 per cent Firsttunity to access low interest capitalget to operational activity. Nations-owned specialty wood prod- for investment and development. The ucts and CCA wood preservation treat- funds are also large enough to investINDIGENOUS LEDment facility; Mistik Management Ltd.,in meaningful opportunity rather thanSuccessful Indigenous partnership a 50-50 partnership between NorSasksingle small business investment. Theand participation on a project can 42A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025"