What's the history behind this dialogue from your perspective?
Early in my career and while growing up in Fort McMurray, I noticed great leaders within the mining and construction industries who genuinely valued working with Indigenous entrepreneurs and supporting their capacity for growth. Fort McMurray is also home to the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, which was established in 1993 by a group of local Indigenous entrepreneurs, including David Tuccaro, one of Canada's most successful Indigenous entrepreneurs. There were only eleven Indigenous business members then; within twenty-five years, the association has grown from the original few to nearly one hundred. This remarkable growth reflects Indigenous communities' resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and strong alliances with the surrounding industries.