2009 Conference Agenda

Agenda
2009 NWT Aboriginal Business Conference
Explorer Hotel, September 22 – 24, 2009

Co-chairs: John Bekale, Senior Aboriginal Advisor, BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
Stephen Kakfwi, Kakfwi & Associates

Tuesday, September 22
2:00 p.m. Youth Workshop (Trader’s Grill)
Facilitator: Robb Campre, Director, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation
Guest Speakers: Conway Kootenay, Red Power Squad
Youth Grand Draw
6:00 p.m. to 8:00

Registration (Katimavik foyer)
7:00 p.m.

Opening Reception, William Greenland, Master of Ceremonies

  • Dene Drummers, Hand Games Demonstration
  • Red Power Squad
  • Digawolf, Recording Artist
  • Metis Fiddler, Lee Mandeville and Company

Wednesday, September 23
8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Registration
9:00 a.m.

Opening Ceremonies

  • Prayer and Drum Song, Yellowknives Dene First Nation Drummers
  • Opening Prayer, Elder Michel Paper
  • Chief Edward Sangris, Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Dettah)
  • Chief Ted Tsetta, Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Ndilo)
  • Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, City of Yellowknife
9:45 a.m.

2009 NWT Aboriginal Business Conference Overview

  • Darrell Beaulieu, President and CEO, Denendeh Investments Inc.
10:00 a.m. Health Break
10:20 a.m.

Keynote Address

  • Margaret L. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer Cook Inlet Region Inc., Anchorage Alaska
11:20 a.m.

NWT’s Place in the World: An Economic Outlook

  • Pedro Antunes, Director, National and Provincial Forecast, Conference Board of Canada
12:00 a.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: Hon. Bob McLeod, Minister of Industry Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories
1:30 p.m.

Business Development Workshops

  • Starting a Business - Raymond St. Arnaud, General Manager, Akaitcho Business Development Corporation (Cumberland Room)
  • Reading and Understanding Financial Statements – Janet Fairbairn, Chief Financial Officer, Denendeh Investments Inc (Katimavik A)
  • Corporate Administration - Shelly Anderson, In Synch Consulting Inc (Salon B)
  • Outreaching, Recruitment and Retention for Aboriginal Employment - Robert Laboucane, Ripple Effects Ltd (Janvier Room)
  • Corporate Structures - Jennifer Duncan, Associate, McDonald & Company (Salon A)
3:00 p.m. Health Break
3:20 p.m.

NWT Large Scale Infrastructure Projects

  • Barrie Robb, Vice-President, Mackenzie Aboriginal Corporation (Highways)
  • Sett Policicchio, President, ATCO Electric (Utilities)
  • Robert Reid, P. Eng., President, Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline LP (Pipeline Update)
  • Mike Vaydik, General Manager, NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines (Mining)
4:30 p.m. Dennis Bevington, Member of Parliament, Western Arctic
6:00 p.m.

NABA Business After Hours Reception (Katimavik C)
Guest Speakers:

  • President, Northern Aboriginal Business Association
  • Honourable Floyd Roland, Premier of the
    Government of the Northwest Territories
8:00 p.m. Dene Hand Games
(Elks Hall)

Thursday, September 24
9:00 a.m.

NWT Economic Stimulus Package

  • Dene National Chief/AFN Regional Vice-Chief Bill Erasmus
9:35 a.m.

Emerging Opportunities in the Aboriginal Marketplace: A National
Perspective

  • Ron Jamieson, Co-chair, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
10:10 a.m. Health Break
10:30 a.m.

Business Development Workshops

  • Starting a Business - Raymond St. Arnaud,
    General Manager, Akaitcho Business Development Corporation (Cumberland Room)
  • Reading and Understanding Financial Statements –
    Janet Fairbairn, Chief Financial Officer, Denendeh Investments Inc. (Katimavik A)
  • Corporate Administration - Shelly Anderson, In Synch Consulting Inc. (Salon B)
  • Outreaching, Recruitment and Retention for Aboriginal Employment - Robert Laboucane, President,
    Ripple Effects Ltd. (Janvier Room)
  • Corporate Structures - Jennifer Duncan, Associate, McDonald & Company (Salon A)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m Guest Speaker: Kimberly Fairman - Acting NWT Director, Northern Economic Branch, Indian Affairs and Northern Development
1:30 p.m.

Aboriginal Success Stories:

  • Dennis Nelner, Manager, Nogha Enterprises Ltd.
  • David Patrick, General Manager, NWT Metis-Dene Development Fund
  • James Ross, Founding Director, Shehtah Drilling LP
2:30 p.m .

Aboriginal Resource Initiative:

  • Stephen Rea, Vice President, Investment Banking, RCI Capital Group Inc.
3:00 p.m.

Health Break
3:20 p.m.

Town Hall: Corporations / Private Business — “Cooperation or Competition”
Moderator: George Tuccaro, GLT Communications

  • Richard Nerysoo - President, Gwich’in Tribal Council
  • Alex Nitsiza - Chairperson, Tlicho Investment Corporation
  • Merven Gruben - Vice-President, E Gruben’s Transport Ltd.
4:30 p.m. Chairman’s Wrap Up
Arrowmaker’s Fine Traditional Art Gallery Grand Draw
Closing Prayer
6:30 p.m. Dinner Hosted By Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic
10:00 p.m. Drum Dance
(Great Hall, Legislative Assembly)