Drumbeats - Canadian Indigenous Investment Podcast

In this episode, Mark Magnacca and co-host Robert Brant are joined by Bernd Christmas, KC, Principal at Bernd Christmas Law Group (BCLG). With nearly 30 years of experience as a practising Mi’kmaw lawyer, Bernd has represented First Nations in groundbreaking projects that are reshaping Canada’s economy.

He shares insights from his recent and ongoing work, including billion-dollar negotiations in Ontario and major projects such as th...

Our conversation explores Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement of five nation-building projects generating $60 billion for the Canadian economy, supported by eleven Indigenous leaders with exceptional credentials appointed to the Indigenous Advisory Council. Rob details how these transformative initiatives, from LNG Canada's Phase Two expansion doubling liquefied natural gas production in Kitimat to the Darlington New Nuclear ...

Our conversation explores specific multi-billion dollar projects, including the Grays Bay Road and Port development and the Kivalliq Hydrofibre Link, designed to open mineral corridors and transform energy infrastructure. President Obed details how these nation-building initiatives create launching pads for natural resource extraction whilst maintaining environmental standards and Indigenous rights protection.Key insights include t...

Michael Bonshor, CPA, CMA, and newly appointed board chair of the Canadian Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CILGC), discussed the organisation's role in providing enabling affordable capital for Indigenous Nations. The CILGC, initially funded at $5 billion, was expanded to $10 billion by Prime Minister Mark Carney. With one deal completed and a number of applications received, the CILGC aims to support Indigenous economic opp...

Thomas Benjoe, CEO of Flowing River Capital, discusses how Canada’s first Indigenous-led private equity fund fuels investment.

In this interview, he outlines the firm’s strategy to acquire and Indigenise strong businesses aligned with procurement commitments, unlocking billions in opportunities. Learn how Flowing River Capital combines Indigenous and non-Indigenous expertise, has already secured $35 million with a target of $100 mil...

CWEIC drives trade across Commonwealth nations, linking rich countries like Australia and the UK with global markets and Indigenous innovation.In this episode of Drumbeats podcast, co-chairs Mark Magnacca and Robert Brant speak with Samantha Cohen, CVO, OBE, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.Cohen reveals the 21% Commonwealth trade advantage and why Canada is missing out on the world's fastest-gr...

Preview the priorities, themes, and strategic direction of Summit 2026, from critical minerals to Arctic defence, energy, and infrastructure.

In this episode of the Drumbeats podcast, Co-Chair Mark Magnacca offers a preview of what’s ahead at the 2026 Summit, a platform where Indigenous leadership and institutional capital converge.

Building on our previous episode’s examination of Bill C-5, which strengthens the recognition of Indi...

Indigenous-led finance meets institutional capital: FNFA's Jody Anderson reveals how First Nations are reshaping Canada's investment landscape.

In this episode of the Canadian Indigenous Investment Summit podcast, co-chairs Mark Magnacca and Robert Brant speak with Jody Anderson, Vice President of Partnerships, Strategy & Public Affairs at the First Nations Finance Authority. A proud Anishinaabe kwe from Treaty 3 and member of C...

Mark Carney's policy influence meets Bill C-5: How regulatory shifts are reshaping Indigenous-corporate investment partnerships in Canada.

In this episode of the Canadian Indigenous Investment Summit podcast, co-chairs Mark Magnacca and Robert Brant examine Prime Minister Mark Carney's The Building Canada Act Bill C-5 and Canada's changing investment landscape. The legislation allows federal fast-tracking of major infrastructure pro...

Matt Jamieson, CEO of Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, shares how Canada’s largest First Nation is generating transformational economic returns through Indigenous-led enterprise. Since its founding in 2015, the corporation has delivered $295 million in direct community benefits and led landmark projects like the Ontario Oneida Energy Storage Project, a $700 million, 250 MW facility that advances Canada’s net-...

Join Brendan Bell, CEO of West Kitikmeot Resources Corp, as he outlines the strategic vision behind the Grays Bay Road and Port Project, a $1 billion infrastructure development in Nunavut designed to transform Canada’s Arctic frontier.

Spanning 230 km and featuring a deep-water port, the project aims to reduce the high cost of living in the North, generate employment, and stimulate economic development. It also carries geopolitical ...

The First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB) is helping Indigenous communities unlock economic opportunity through strategic capacity development and financial empowerment. In this discussion, Scott Munro reveals how FMB supports First Nations in building strong governance, accessing capital, and forming transformative partnerships, like the groundbreaking 50% acquisition of Clearwater Seafoods by Mi’kmaq First Nations in par...

Learn how Chief Sky-Deer led her community to a historic energy agreement with Hydro-Québec during a time of restructuring. From navigating regulatory hurdles with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to addressing environmental justice concerns, her leadership has built a historic path to Indigenous equity. This unprecedented deal grants her Nation a 10% equity stake, with the option to grow to 49...

Marissa Nobauer, Director of Reconciliation, Community Engagement & External Relations at TELUS, and Carol Anne Hilton, CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and a distinguished member of TELUS’ Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) explore how corporate Canada is rethinking reconciliation through action.

The IAC was established to embed reconciliation into TELUS’ corporate strategy, guided by ongoing input from Indigenous l...

Barbara McKenzie, CEO of the Métis Settlements Development Corporation (MSDC), shares how Indigenous-led investment is reshaping capital markets. With a focus on growth-stage, cash-positive ventures, MSDC is advancing long-term economic sustainability across all eight Métis settlements, while creating majority-Indigenous partnerships with non-Indigenous firms. For institutional investors seeking impact-aligned returns with commerci...

Tabatha Bull, President & CEO at Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), discusses how community involvement in projects, particularly through revenue-sharing and capacity-building, enables communities to reinvest in both local and broader initiatives while participating as business stakeholders. She highlights renewable energy projects in Ontario as a key example, where policy incentives promote Indigenous participat...

Senator PJ Prosper, a Mi’kmaw Senator representing Nova Scotia, shares insights from his first 100 days in Parliament and his national listening tour across Mi’kma’ki. Guided by his ReconciliACTION Report, Senator Prosper outlines seven clear priorities that align with Canada’s economic and housing goals while centring Indigenous voices in national policy. This was the outcome of his recent Listening Tour, where he met with over 1,...

Chief Derek Epp, Chairperson of the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) outlines how the organisation issued a $650 million debenture in January 2025 and raised over $1.3 billion within just 15 months. The FNFA model is opening new doors for Indigenous communities to access large-scale capital, take ownership of resource and renewable energy projects, and build long-term economic strength.

UK investors can take note of how FNFA r...