AFOA Canada To Host Its 16th National Conference By Inviting 5 Former National Chiefs To Address 1,000 Aboriginal Leaders In Montréal, QC, February 16‐18, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

AFOA CANADA TO HOST ITS 16^TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE BY INVITING 5 FORMER NATIONAL CHIEFS TO ADDRESS 1,000 ABORIGINAL LEADERS IN MONTRÉAL, QC, FEBRUARY 16‐18, 2016

On February 16 ‐ 18, 2016, AFOA Canada is hosting its 16^th Annual National Conference, assembling 1,000 of Canada’s most prominent Aboriginal business and elected leaders at the Fairmont, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montréal to discuss “Leadership and Governance – Transformational Change through Education and Capacity Building.” There are number of change drivers that exist today for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. These include, but not limited to: a growing and young Aboriginal population; a higher number of Aboriginal students in Colleges and Universities across Canada than ever before; increased resource development on traditional territories; and favorable Supreme Court decisions. For Aboriginal Communities to close the gap between Aboriginal peoples and Canadians and amongst our various Nations across the country, education and capacity building can take communities to the next level in their chosen journey. This conference will focus on the importance of strong leadership and governance.

AFOA Canada will be hosting two main conference plenaries:

Wednesday Plenary –

Part A: Keynote Address: Blaine Favel, B.ED., LL.B., MBA, Executive Chairman, One Earth Oil & Gas Inc.

Part B ‐Panel Discussion: The Community and Corporate Governance Dichotomy
Strong Governance can help leadership achieve their community’s vision. Can similar governance processes be applied to a community’s government responsibilities and to its corporate responsibilities? How do these governance practices apply at a community level? The panel will discuss what governance practices are similar and those practices that are different as it relates to a community’s governance and corporate responsibilities. They will also discuss the relationship between the two and whether there are important considerations for senior finance and management officials.

Panelists:
Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, SK
Cristina S. Danforth, Chairwoman, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Blaine Favel, B.ED., LL.B., MBA, Executive Chairman, One Earth Oil & Gas Inc.
Gwen Phillips, Director of Corporate Services and Governance Transition, Ktunaxa Nation Council, BC

Event details are as follows:
Date:           Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Time:          8:30am to 10:30am
Location: Le Grand Salon / Marquette / Jolliet, Convention Level, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montréal

Thursday Plenary: ‐ Panel Discussion: Former National Chiefs’ Panel – Building on Experiences and Taking Our Capacity to the Next Level

This panel will be a historic event to hear from the perspectives of former National Chiefs and a former Prime Minister of Canada. They will discuss lessons they learned from their time in office and suggest issues to consider for the future. This is a time for significant change for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. This panel is historic and not to be missed!

Moderator: The Right Honourable Paul Martin, PC CC

Panelists:
Georges Erasmus, Former National Chief
Ovide Mercredi, Former National Chief
Phil Fontaine, Former National Chief
Matthew Coon Come, Former National Chief
Shawn A‐in‐chut Atleo, Former National Chief

Event details are as follows:
Date:           Thursday, February 18, 2016
Time:          8:30am to 10:00am
Location: Le Grand Salon / Marquette / Jolliet, Convention Level, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montréal

A media release with further details on the National Conference will be available at the event.

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For further information and interview requests, please contact:

Jody Anderson
Manager, Public Relations
AFOA Canada
Bus: (613) 722‐5543 ext. 103
Cell: (613)‐297‐5998
Email: PR@afoa.ca
Web: www.afoa.ca