Indigenous Reconciliation and Sustainability

Location details: This event will be hosted in the Open Learning Lab. The Lab is located in Suite 400, Tower 2, Bow Valley Square (205 5th Ave SW). Tower 2 is located on the corner of 5th Ave and 1 St SW. We recommend using the 1st SW entrance.

Following September 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Connecting Environmental Professionals (CEP) Calgary is excited to host a conversation about Indigenous Reconciliation. 

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action includes one specific to corporations in Canada. Call to Action 92 "calls upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous Peoples and their lands and resources." There are so many facets to Reconciliation and in this panel discussion we will explore key questions like:

• What does Reconciliation mean to the private sector?
• What does Reconciliation look like in action within corporations?
• How does Reconciliation interact with and integrate with principles of sustainability and ESG?
• What best practices and frameworks exist to link Reconciliation with sustainability and ESG?
• How is progress towards Reconciliation measured? Are there best practices?

We are excited to announce our panelists:

Suzanne Life-Yeomans, MBA, BCJ

Suzanne Life-Yeomans is a member of the Liidlii Kue First Nation but was raised in Cowichan Tribes

Traditional Territory on Vancouver Island (Duncan BC), and currently lives in Maskwacis Traditional

Territory (Ponoka AB). She holds a Master’s degree in business, a Bachelor’s degree in law, and an many

Diplomas and Certificates.

Suzanne has over 25 years’ experience working with First Nation communities focusing on Indigenous

Engagement, Reconcil-ACTION, Consultation, Lands, Policies, Economic Development and

Communication. She has worked for the British Columbia Government, Alberta Government, Six

Nations, Cowichan Tribes, Khowutzun Development Corporation, Enoch Cree Nation, Montana First

Nation, Beaver Lake Cree Nation and currently with Matrix Solutions Inc. as their Director of Indigenous

Relations.

Suzanne is currently a member of the First Nations Women’s Council on Economic Security (Chair) and

sits on the Circle for Aboriginal Relations (CFAR) as member of the Board of Directors and their

Treasurer. She has sat on the Alberta Joint Working Group for Murdered and Missing Indigenous

Women and Girls (MMIWG) as a member, Alberta Lands and Economic Development Advisory

Committee (LEDAC) as Chair, Treaty and Aboriginal Land Stewards Association of Alberta (TALSAA) as a

member, Ponoka Youth Centre as a member, and Town of Ponoka Economic Development Board as

Chair.

Suzanne is a proud advocate for MMIWG2S+ issues and has organized Sisters in Spirit Day with others in Wetaskiwin over the last 3 years. This year and last year she also worked with the Alberta government,

many sponsors, and the 4 Nations in Maskwacis to have the 1 st ever Tipi Village at the Ponoka Stampede.

Peter D. McPherson

Peter D. McPherson boasts nearly two decades of experience in the energy sector, with a versatile background as a project coordinator, GIS specialist, and team lead. He is particularly adept at addressing the cultural complexities surrounding energy infrastructure projects and proactively removing obstacles in engagements with indigenous communities. An active member of the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, Peter dedicates his time to community involvement.

His expertise spans project management, coalition building, training and development, and process optimization. Notable projects in his portfolio include managing orphaned well closures, facilitating indigenous regulatory involvement, and providing environmental inspector training.

As the CEO/President of Apeiron Environment Ltd. and Chief Relationship Officer at Apeiron Resources Ltd., Peter continues to drive progress and empower people in the energy sector. His leadership is marked by a commitment to sustainability and fostering meaningful partnerships. Peter's contributions extend to conducting traditional knowledge studies in collaboration with the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, to ensure informed community engagement and decision-making.