b'IN MEMORIAMNiilo often credited those early years withBeyond his work, Niilo was also the shares. He was able to participate in a Senator St. Germain for instilling in him aco-star in a beautiful love story with hismedical study that will go on to benefit sense of urgency and purpose. It gave mewife, Rachael Durie, one so powerful it wasfuture solid organ transplant recipients.the ability to look at opportunities and gapsprofiled by Global News in the fall A man of service and generosity untilin systems and be able to think about howof 2023. the end.we would help First Nations fill those gapsReflecting on her husbands passing,From his remarkable origin story onward, and move forward on their own agenda,Rachael speaks to the depth of loss feltNiilo was destined to make waves, drive he once said. across communities, friends, family, and thechange, and build communities. The Niilos proudest accomplishment was beingFNMPC team, who were all like family ripple effects of both his loss and his a co-founder of the First Nations Majorto him. legacy will long endure.Projects Coalition (FNMPC). Created to fill the capacity gaps identified by its foundingMy husband died, she says. So did yourIn 2024, he was recognized in Time First Nations, the Coalition was built on aadoptive son and mentee, your friend andmagazines list of the 100 Most Influential vision of advancing fully informed decisionconfidant, colleague, mentor, nephew,Climate Leaders in Business. That same making and ensuring that First Nationscousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle. Weyear, he was named BCBusinessvalues were represented at commercialall lost him. magazines Entrepreneur of thenegotiation tables. When Niilo went into sudden kidneyYear, received EYs Ripples SocialFNMPC co-founderand Niilos best friendfailure in 2018, Rachael gave him the mostEntrepreneur Special Citation, and Mark Podlasly remembers this dedicationextraordinary gift: one of her kidneysandearned his Institute of Corporateto representation as unwavering. a second chance at life. Directors designation.To Niilo, everyone belonged and everyoneOn December 16, 2024, at age 37,He set out to make a difference, had value, says Podlasly. This unshakableNiilo passed away from post-transplantconcludes Senator St. Germain. And belief that we are all part of a collective,lymphoproliferative disorder, a lymphomahe did. He went out into life to be that we will rise and fall together, was acaused by the immunosuppressivehardworking and honest. And he was.core value to Niilo. Always aware that hemedications required to protectwas building community, a communityhis transplant. If you would like to honour Niilos legacy, that included everyone, no matter theirdonations can be made to the Organ background, economic standing, or During his last breaths, Niilo was stillDonation and Transplant Research political beliefs. focused on giving to other people, RachaelFoundation of B.C. (odtrf.org).24NATIONS FORWARDIssue 12025First Nations Major Projects Coalition25'