Cultural Capital: Indigenous Approaches to Economic Growth 

Dr. Alain Beaudry, MA, MD, is Principal at Waapihk Research, a Manitoba based Indigenous think tank. He is also the Chief Investment Officer of Cofounder Innovation Group, a private equity and business partnership firm focusing on brick-and-mortar business investment. He holds an MA in Economics from the University of Winnipeg, and a Medical Doctorate from the University of Manitoba. He is Métis, born and raised in the Red River Valley, and continues to be deeply connected with his community by several means, including chairing the University of Manitoba’s Indigenous Admissions Stream for the Department of Medicine.

Kathleen BlueSky, a Cree and Anishinabe Ikwe, is a distinguished entrepreneur and visionary leader from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Minegoziibe Anishinabe First Nation. Kathleen is the proud mother of three and the owner of Seven Feathers Consulting. As CEO of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Kathleen spearheaded initiatives such as the Aski Pumenikewin (Land Code) and the NCN Othasowewin (Constitution), driving progress and prosperity for her community. As a co-founder of Wiijii’idiwag Ikwewag (Women Helping Each Other), she played a pivotal role in securing Manitoba’s inaugural Social Impact Bond in 2019. Kathleen’s influence extends to the realm of housing and finance as vice-chair of the First Nation Market Housing Fund, a $300-million trust dedicated to fostering First Nations homeownership through capacity development and credit enhancement. Currently, she serves as the interim CEO for the Treaty One Development Corporation, where her strategic acumen continues to shape the trajectory of Indigenous development and prosperity.

Jamie Wilson is from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Treaty 5 territory and is passionate about building bridges between First Nations and business communities as a pathway to a strong and prosperous economic future for all. With a background as a deputy minister, educator, a member of the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment and as Manitoba’s Treaty Commissioner, Jamie works with innovative organizations looking to tap into Canada’s hidden potential. He is currently the vice-president of Indigenous strategy, research and business development at Red River College Polytechnic in Treaty One territory. As a teacher and director of Education for Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Jamie was involved with establishing OCN’s Land Based Education programs. Jamie was also employee #1 at the First Nations-owned Arctic Gateway Group, which operates the rail line to Churchill and the Port of Churchill. AGG’s Indigenous staffing numbers were raised during his tenure from well under 50 per cent to over 70 per cent, with 90 per cent of all new hires during his time there being Indigenous – mainly First Nations from northern Manitoba.

Steve Lafleur is a research director at the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP), leading the Building New Foundations for Economic Growth research program. He also leads the IRPP’s initiative exploring the role of industrial policy in navigating Canada’s next economic transformation. He has 15 years of experience working on issues ranging from housing policy to public finance and has authored or co-authored more than 50 research papers with four Canadian think tanks. He was most recently a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute as well as an independent columnist and researcher. His work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, TVO and other print publications, and he has appeared on radio and television networks across the country. He holds an MA in political science from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BA from Laurentian University.  

Prior to joining the IRPP, Jennifer spent two decades covering national and parliamentary affairs for The Canadian Press and for CBC Television. She is the winner of three National Newspaper Awards, the recipient of the prestigious Charles Lynch Award for outstanding coverage of national issues, and three Canadian Online Publishing silver awards for her columns. In 2015, she was named one of the 10 most influential Hispanic–Canadians. Jennifer sits on the board of the Banff Forum, an influential Canadian leadership network. She is also a fellow at Carleton University’s Political Management program, and an inductee in the Hall of Distinction at CEGEP John Abbott College.

Jennifer is the co-editor with Graham Fox of the 2016 book The Harper Factor: Assessing a Prime Minister’s Policy Legacy(McGill-Queen’s University Press). Her research on the history of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery appeared in five chapters of the 2016 book Sharp Wits & Busy Pens (HillTimes Publishing). She has a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University and Master of Journalism from Carleton.