9th NATION2NATION
ANNUAL FORUM
October 21-23, 2025 | Kitimat, BC
What does it look like?
Schedule Overview
Venue: Riverlodge Recreation Centre
Dates: October 21st, 22nd & 23rd, 2025
Detailed Agenda
Main Venue: Riverlodge Recreation Centre, Kitimat, BC
Dates: October 21, 22 & 23, 2025
Monday - October 20th
8:00 am start
COMMUNITY TOUR 1 | Gitga’at First Nation / Hartley Bay
Pickup at Riverlodge. Bus loading at 8:00 am.
Limited to 10-15 seats, Tour details and pricing to TBC
Tuesday - October 21st
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
COMMUNITY TOUR 2 | Haisla, LNGC, Rio Tinto
Pickup at Riverlodge at 10:00 am. Add-on to your registration.
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
WELCOME RECEPTION
Registration and Networking
Sponsored by: HHS Drilling & Blasting, TC Energy and Ambipar Response
6:00 pm
WELCOME DINNER
Dinner, Fireside Chat, Entertainment & Networking
@ Location Riverlodge Recreation Centre
Sponsored by: PNG and Enbridge
(NOW SOLD OUT - Requires All Inclusive Pass or Add On Ticket)
Add your name to the waitlist here.
9:30 pm - 12:00 am
NIGHT CAP
@Two Peaks Brewing
Wednesday - October 22nd
7:00 am
Continental Breakfast, Registration and Networking
Sponsored by: Indigenous Resource Network and ATCO Frontec
Opening Remarks and Prayer
Haisla Dance Group: Kitlop Dancers
Haisla Nation Council: Deputy Chief Councillor Kimberly Robinson, Haisla Nation
Welcome to the District of Kitimat: District Councilor Michelle Martinswith
Skeena MLA: Claire Rattee
IRSSS: Tara William, Manager, Settlement Claims Support with IRSSS
Title Sponsor: Rio Tinto
MC: Lisa Mueller
8:30 am
9:00 am
Keynote | Stephen Buffalo
Topic: First Nations Uniting for a Better Future
Sponsored by: Northern Savings Credit Union and Bird
Panel Session 1
Topic: Shared Waters: Collaborative Approaches for Diverse Water Needs
Moderator: Candice Wilson, Environment Manager, Haisla Nation Council
Panelist: Steve Sharron, Senior Fisheries Scientist, Ecofish Research
Panelist: Andrew Czornohalan, Power Operations, Rio Tinto
Panelist: Andy Lecuyer, Environmental Team Lead, Rio Tinto
9:15 am
10:15 am
Coffee Break & Networking
Sponsored by: BDC and HaiSea Marine
Special Session: Energy for A Secure Future
Topic: Indigenous Peoples and the Global Energy Conversation
10:45 am
11:00 am
Panel Session 2
Topic: The Power of Partnership, the Power of Yes
Moderator: Shannon Joseph, Chair, Energy for Secure Future
Panelist: Stephen Buffalo, President, Indian Resource Council of Canada
Panelist: Justin Bourque, President, Asokan, Generation Developments
Panelist: Former Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation
LUNCH & NETWORKING
Sponsored by: Farm Credit Canada and Aecon
12:00 pm
Guest Speaker | Ellis Ross
Topic: Nations Building C5
Special Guest Speaker
Announcement Coming Soon
11:45 am
WORKSHOP 1
Topic: Building Economic Corridors in Canada: A dialogue on past and future Indigenous success
Led by Energy for a Secure Future (ESF)
@ Activity Room in Riverlodge
1:00 - 2:30 pm
1:00 pm
FNNGA Overview
Led by Karen Ogen, Chief Executive Officer First Nations Natural Gas Alliance
1:10 pm
Fireside Chat 1
Topic: Trades & Training
Panelist: Andrew George, Director of Truth and reconciliation for SkilledTrades BC
Panelist: Drew Sankey, TRICORP Employment, Skills & Training Services (TESTS) Program Officer
Panelist: Karin Hunt, Executive Director PGNAETA
1:40 pm
Panel Session 3
Topic: The Indigenous Natural Gas Opportunity upstream and midstream
Moderator: Chief Clifford White, Gitxaala Nation
Panelist: Chief Valerie Askoty, Prophet River First Nation
Panelist: Charles Morven, Secretary-Treasurer Nisga’a Lisims Government
2:30 pm
Coffee Break & Networking
Sponsored by: BDC and HaiSea Marine
3:00 pm
Panel Session 4
Topic: Developing LNG facilities on the Coast
Moderator: Former Chief Crystal Smith, Haisla Nation
Panelist: Selena Basi, VP Corporate Relations, Woodfibre LNG
Panelist: Andrew Robinson, CEO Nisga’a Lisims Government
Panelist: Hope Regimbald, Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations Lead, LNG Canada
Panelist: Doug Arnell, CEO of Cedar LNG
3:45 pm
N2N Business Pitches (MOVED TO THURSDAY MORNING)
Biz Pitch 1 - tbd
Biz Pitch 2 - tbd
Biz Pitch 3 - tbd
4:30 pm - on
DISCOVER DOWNTOWN KITIMAT
Self-guided tour with discounted rates at participating retailers.
7:00 pm - 12:00 am
VIP SOCIAL & ENTERTAINMENT
@ Royal Canadian Legion
Sponsored By: Hy-Tech Drilling, ICBA, Fluor and MABC
Thursday - October 23rd
7:00 am
Continental Breakfast, Registration and Networking
Sponsored by: Indigenous Resource Network and ATCO Frontec
8:30 am
Recap of Previous Day
8:45 am
Special Guest Speaker
Premier David Eby
9:00 am
Guest Speaker | Lynda Gray
Topic: Homegrown Hope: Creating Opportunities through Connection
Panel Session 5
Topic: Economic Perspectives in BC and beyond
Panelist: Claire Rattee, MLA Skeena
Panelist: Bruce Cullen, Gitga'at Development Corporation
Panelist: Phil Germuth, Mayor of Kitimat
Panelist: John Desjarlais, ED Indigenous Resource Network
9:30 am
10:15 am
Coffee Break & Networking
Sponsored by: Convergint & Outbound Logistics Kitimat
Guest Speaker | Ken Coates
Topic: Reawakening Canada to the Economic Contributions
10:45 am
11:15 am
Panel Session 6
Topic: Joint Venture – Acquisition of the Port of Stewart Bulk Terminal
Panelist: Charles Morven, Secretary-Treasurer Nisga’a Lisims Government
Panelist: Darrell Remple, Regional Manager, Arrow Transportation
Panelist: Todd den Engelsen, CEO Tahltan Nation Development Corporation
N2N Business Pitches
12:00 pm
12:30 pm
LUNCH & NETWORKING
Book signing by Lynda Gray
Sponsored by: FNFMB and CN
WORKSHOP 2 (Roundtable)
Topic: Creating Opportunities through Connection
Led by Lynda Gray and Ken Coates
@ Activity Room in Riverlodge
1:15 - 2:30 pm
1:15 pm
Panel Session 7
Topic: Mining, Cultural & Community
Moderator: Ryan Bruce, Government Relations Director, CLAC
Panelist: Keivan Hirji, External Relations & Communications for Canada, Newmont
Panelist: Ashley Jay, Project Engineer, Eskay Creek Skeena Gold & Silver
Panelist: Calvin Carlick, Vice President of Partnerships at the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC)
Fireside Chat 2
Topic: Lessons Learned
Moderator: Walsham Tenshak, Director of Economic Development, District of Kitimat
Panelist: Owen Torgerson, Mayor of Valemount
Panelist: Trevor Bruintjes, Fractional Chief AI Officer, Peaks and Valleys AI Strategies
Panelist: Stewart Muir, President & CEO, Resource Works
2:00 pm
2:45 pm
Coffee Break & Networking
Sponsored by: Convergint & Outbound Logistics Kitimat
Panel Session 8
Topic: Looking ahead - How are we going to get it done in 2026
Moderator: Stewart Muir, President & CEO, Resource Works
Panelist: Barry Penner, Chair of the Energy Futures Institute
Panelist: Chris Sankey, Owner & President, Blackfish Enterprises
3:00 pm
3:45 pm
Closing Remarks
BOAT TOUR (CANCELLED)
Pickup at Riverlodge
PLEASE NOTE THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
4:00 - 6:30 pm
4:00 pm
DISCOVER DOWNTOWN KITIMAT
Self-guided tour with discounted rates at participating retailers.
4:00 - 6:00 pm
HAPPY HOUR
Networking and Farewells
@Two Peaks Brewing
Sponsored by: Global Philanthropic, Resource Works, GeoTech Drilling, Allteck and Paladin Security
30+ progressive, informed and relevant speakers
Sit in on major project updates, hear from community leaders, listen to stories from First Nation members and experience open and honest conversations in a neutral space.
See reconciliation happen and learn how we can continue to grow forward together.
