Economic Reconciliation: A Model for Shared Prosperity

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m.

A new economic future is taking shape in Canada – one rooted in Indigenous leadership, ownership, and partnership. Across the country, Indigenous nations are driving transformative change: building development corporations, investing in major infrastructure and energy projects, and asserting self-determination through economic strength.

This momentum unfolds against a backdrop of national economic uncertainty. The federal government’s proposed Building Canada Act (Bill C-5) is positioned as a solution, but many Indigenous leaders have raised serious concerns about its implications for rights, jurisdiction, and decision-making.

This live panel brings together visionary Indigenous leaders to explore what true economic Reconciliation demands, not just in principle, but in practice. What does it mean to build an economy that provides space for Indigenous prosperity and how can Manitoba, home to one of the largest populations of First Nations and Metis people, lead the way in shaping a more just and inclusive economic future?

Welcoming Remarks: Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor

Moderator: Dr. Angie Bruce [MBA/09], Vice-President (Indigenous) is a proud Red River Métis woman from St. Laurent and a nationally respected leader in Indigenous policy and partnership-building. Holding a master’s degree in business administration from UM’s Asper School of Business and a PhD from Nipissing University, she previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada’s Nókwewashk sector and has led major initiatives across all levels of government.

Panelists:
Diane Roussin [BSW/96], a member of Skownan First Nation, is an Anishinaabe leader who champions Indigenous-led solutions to large scale systems change for families and communities. She is the project director of Winnipeg Boldness, Canadians longest serving Indigenous Social Innovation Lab. Diane is a TEDx speaker and a recipient of the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Indigenous Leadership, the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Manitoba Women Trailblazers Award by the Nellie McClung Foundation.

Kathleen Bluesky [BA/99, MBA/15], a Cree and Anishinabe Ikwe from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Minegoziibe Anishinabe First Nation, is an entrepreneur and visionary leader dedicated to advancing Indigenous prosperity. With more than 20 years of experience, she has championed the growth of Indigenous economies by nurturing Indigenous entrepreneurs and cultivating organizational excellence through her work as owner of Seven Feathers Consulting and in senior leadership roles. Kathleen has led transformative initiatives including the Aski Pumenikewin (Land Code) and the NCN Othasowewin (Constitution), played a pivotal role in securing Manitoba's inaugural Social Impact Bond in 2019, and continues to shape Indigenous development as CEO of the Treaty One Development Corporation.

Dr. Peter Pomart [MBA/18] [PhD/25], a member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan Manitoba), is a Lecturer at the I.H. Asper School of Business and the former Director of Indigenous Business Education Partners. He received his PhD in October 2025. His dissertation, Indigenous Voices on Self-Determination, FPIC, and Canada’s Evolving Duty to Consult and Accommodate Framework: An Empirical Study, presents an Indigenous-centered perspective on UNDRIP and its implications for resource development in Canada. 

 

Reception to follow.