A National Business Opportunities Forum
Aboriginal Joint Venturing - How to Do It Right!
Facilitating Successful Ventures between Aboriginal Communities and Industry
November 3 and 4, 2009
Optional Workshops: November 5, 2009
NEW VENUE: Pacific Palisades Hotel
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Day One Program Agenda
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
8:00 - 9:00 |
9:00 - 9:10
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
Matt Vickers, President, Vickers and Associates
9:10 - 9:30
Keynote Address
Perspective from Government: INAC and Aboriginal Business
Michael Mills, Director of Access to Capital, Aboriginal Business Development Branch, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
- Concerns of communities when they are approached for joint ventures or when taking the first step to seek partners
- Importance of assessing a company's stand on a variety of key issues relevant to Aboriginal communities
- PAR program: Progressive Aboriginal Relations
9:30 - 10:30
Panel Discussion
Finance Vehicles for Aboriginal Business: What Makes a Successful Project
MODERATOR: Matt Vickers, President, Vickers and Associates
Peter Forton, Managing Director, CAPE Fund
Richard Rémillard, Executive Director, Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association
Tony Shirt, VP, Business Development, Peace Hills Trust
- Background overview of each organization
- Where we invest and lend, and why
- Funding criteria
- Open discussion and Q&A session
| 10:30 - 10:50 |
Networking Break |
10:30 - 10:50 |
10:50 - 11:35
Case Study One
Joint Venturing: Making a Successful Foray into the Unknown
Judith Sayers, Former Chief of Hupacasath First Nations
- How do you find the right joint venture?
- An unlikely alliance: The Island Corridor Foundation - five regional districts and six First Nations
- Hupacasath and The Run of the River Project
- Involving First Nations as owners
11:35 - 12:20
Case Study Two
Lessons Learned in Successful and Unsuccessful Joint Venturing
Joe Gaboury, CEO, Five Nations Energy; Former CEO of Attawpiskat Resources Inc.
- Overview of lessons learned
- Understanding how investing time is mandatory
- The simpler the agreement, the easier to administer: get the success you want
- How communication among all stakeholders is key
| 12:20 - 1:30 |
Luncheon Break |
12:20 - 1:30 |
1:30 - 2:30
Finding the Right Fit: Evaluating On-Reserve and Off-Reserve Business Opportunities
Neil Leonard, Business Development Manager, Tk'emlups (Kamloops) Indian Band
Tk'emlups Indian Band won last year's prestigious CANDU Economic Developer of the Year award and is well positioned for an even brighter economic future. The challenge for the Band's decision-makers has long been to pick the next winner from the multitude of business opportunities presented.
- Community needs and wants
- Existing and proposed business ventures
- Overview of the internal business opportunity analysis process
- Joint venture/partnership due diligence checklist
2:30 - 3:15
Case Study Three
One Earth Farms Corporation and Sprott Resources
Blaine Favel, President and CEO, One Earth Farms Resources; Former Saskatchewan Grand Chief; Company Director
- Overview of the idea: Bay street investors and a group of chiefs from Saskatchewan
- Opportunity in partnering with Aboriginal communities
- How it works
- Benefits of the project
- Future outlook
3:15 - 4:00
Panel Discussion
Aboriginal Funding Organizations for Aboriginal Business
MODERATOR: Matt Vickers, President, Vickers and Associates
Ian Cramer, CEO, First Peoples Economic Growth Fund
Frank Parnell, CEO, Tricorp
Ian Gill, President, Ecotrust Canada
- Background overview of each organization
- What do we fund, and why
- Criteria for successful funding
- Open discussion and Q&A session
4:00 - 5:00
Networking Power Hour
An opportunity to meet privately with other delegates and speakers and get feedback on your situation. Follow up on issues raised during the day's sessions, or raise new ones! This is your chance to ensure you get the specific answers you are looking for.
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