ETP Symposium Inc.

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KSL Workshops - presented by Kee Tas Kee Now Sawmills Ltd. (KSL)

The KSL Workshops bring together First Nations leaders, Indigenous-owned forest-sector businesses, lands & consultation managers, Elders and knowledge-keepers, and leading expertise in economic reconciliation and forest-sector partnerships from across our Western Boreal regions and beyond. Through plenary sessions, panel discussions and roundtable forums, KSL Workshop participants will share insight, values, practices and experiences with one another to strengthen Indigenous leadership in forest-facing economic and ecosystem sustainability through mutual understanding, support and collaboration.

Speakers' Presentations and Program Content Now Available:
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Upcoming Events of Interest to the KSL Workshops Community:

Indigenous Forestry Conference 2026 Respecting Territory. Connecting Economies. Creating the Future. September 22 - 24, 2026 Lheidli T'enneh Territory  |  Prince George, BC Presented by Indigenous Economic Partnerships
 
Indigenous Lands Symposium 2027 To get notified when tickets are live, sign up here. March 1 - 5, 2027 Ottawa, ON Presented by Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc.

INAUGURAL KSL WORKSHOPS (May 6-7 2026)

Kee Tas Kee Now Place 10451 170 St NW, Edmonton, AB

The inaugural Workshop series - with keynotes and panel sessions focusing on Indigenous-led Integrated Forest Management (IIFM) and on Wildfire Mitigation & Carbon Management - was held at the urban office facilities of Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) in Edmonton. (Amiskwaciwâskahikan, or Beaver Hill House).

Ken Coates, PhD
Distinguished Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Professor of Indigenous Governance, Yukon University (retired)
Former Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation,
      Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Trevor Cootes
(Hii-yiqh-sath)
Founder/CEO, Indigenous Economic Pathways (IEP)
Founder, Indigenous Forestry Conference (IFC)
President & CEO, Cootes Consulting
Board Member & Vice President, BC Indigenous Housing Society
President, Indigenous Visions Inc.
Member, Technical Advisory Committee,
       Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects
Project Chair, Iskum Investments
Advisor, First Nations Natural Gas Alliance (FNNGA)
2024 Indigenous Business Award of Distinction, BC Achievement Foundation
Former Chief Councillor, Huu-ay-aht First Nations
David Flood
(Zonzei Maiingun)
Executive Director, Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc.
Leadership Team, Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI)
Leadership Circle - Restore Assert and Defend (RAD) Network
Leigh Fox
Conservation Financial Catalyst, Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc.
Advisor - Indigenous-led Fish Habitat Stewardship, Restore, Assert and Defend (RAD) Network
Principal, R.W. Gray Consulting, Ltd
Co-author, BC Firestorm Provincial Review (2004 Filmon Report);
AFE-Certified Wildland Fire Ecologist
Regional Coordinator - Boreal West, Wildfire Knowledge Network,        Wildfire Resilience Consortium of Canada (WRCC)
Host and Creator, Your Forest Podcast
Co-Host, Good Fire Podcast
Keara Lightning
Indigenous Forestry Liaison, CFS Northern Forestry Centre
PhD Candidate, Wildfire Analytics Laboratory, University of Alberta
Interim Manager, Reciprocity, Ecology, and Diversity in fire (REDfire) Lab
Chief Gilbert Okemow
Chief, Peerless Trout First Nation
Board Chair, KSL Board of Directors
Grand Chief, Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC)
Peggy Smith, PhD (Miskwaanakwadook)
Professor Emerita, Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University
Member, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Indigenous Foundation Council
Senior Advisor, National Aboriginal Forestry Association
CEO, Miyo Management Corporation
Former Councillor, Swan River First Nation
Former Executive Director, Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council

Video Presentations

Premiered at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, this short film explores the resurgence of Indigenous fire stewardship across Canada. Through the voices of Elders, Guardians, and fire experts, the film shows how cultural burning restores ecosystems, reduces extreme wildfire risk, and reconnects communities to their responsibilities on the land.  This is a story about “good fire,” Indigenous leadership, and a future shaped by generations of knowledge and a deep relationship with our ecosystems.
What are Indigenous-led natural climate solutions? Wahkohtowin Development is leading an innovative example in Treaty 9 territory. Consistent with their stewardship economy strategy with Mikro-Tek, the Indigenous-owned social enterprise, Wahkohtowin, is tapping into the power of mycorrhizae – the natural partnership between soil fungi and plant roots. The approach involves inoculating tree seedlings with these beneficial fungi to reduce reliance on herbicides and boosts tree growth and survival,  generating a new revenue stream from carbon finance. 
The inaugural KSL Workshops were presented with support from FRIAA’s Forest Resource Improvement Program and other partners.
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