At Chignecto Consulting Group Inc., we have a wide range of experience in a range of areas, including Aboriginal economic development, policy development, governmental programming, business and issue negotiations, environmental matters, financing, and local land use planning and development. We bring particular insight and effectiveness to the opportunities created by the interactions between unique First Nation issues, such as government programs, financing, community roles, investor needs, and the effective marketing of products, programs and services.


THE PARTNERS

Gerald (Gerry) P. Kerr

Gerry is an executive manager with over thirty years of proven leadership, crisis management, strategic planning and negotiations expertise in a wide range of high profile public and private business scenarios.  He is an exceptional communicator with media training and international exposure and possesses professional qualifications in education.  Gerry has extensive national experience with Aboriginal peoples throughout Canada. Currently Gerry has been intimately involved in seven Impact Benefit Agreements where he has negotiated successfully on behalf of Aboriginal clients in areas of education and training, employment, and resource extraction profit sharing.

John W. Higham, MRM

John is a results orientated innovator who draws on twenty years of experience in diverse public, private, and academic settings.  Professional qualifications in the management of natural resources are complemented by expertise in community development and unique skills in achieving consensus solutions among partners with diverse agendas.  Before establishing Chignecto Consulting Group, John was a manager of funding, policy, and environment units at INAC and later the Director of Mount Allison University’s Rural and Small Town Programme.  John now works closely with several First Nations in the Atlantic region on governance, housing, social services, and financial management. Products include strategic plans, remedial action plans, housing policies, loan agreements, capital plans, and program reviews. Holding a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources Management, John has maintained a special interest in Aboriginal resource matters throughout his career, recently focusing on water matters.


STAFF ASSOCIATES

Tracey L. Wade, MCIP, RPP

Tracey is a professional planner specializing in community development and planning, evaluation and research. Tracey is an excellent communicator, and has extensive experience in conducting research and analysis. She has worked with various First Nation communities and organizations in the Atlantic Region and Ontario on a range of issues including health and healing, early childhood development, education best practices, organizational development, and capacity building. In partnership with Metepenagiag First Nation, Tracey led the development of the First Nations Fiscal Planning Calendar, a multimedia tool designed to assist First Nation decision-makers in short and long-term fiscal planning activities which focused on planning, budgeting and accountability. Tracey received her Master’s degree in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph.

Richard (Rick) M. Hendriks

Rick has eight years of experience working with Aboriginal communities to better manage the environmental and social changes that often accompany mining and energy developments. Since 2003, Rick has coordinated technical and environmental review, delivered community consultation activities, and provided strategic guidance and due diligence support to the Attawapiskat First Nation in relation to the De Beers Canada Victor Project. He also acted as the primary environmental advisor to the Attawapiskat First Nation during negotiations of the Impact and Benefit Agreement for the Project. Currently, Rick is providing technical support to Innu Nation in their preparations for an environmental assessment of the proposed Lower Churchill Project in Labrador.



EXTERNAL ASSOCIATES

Our extensive network allows us to partner with external associates on a project by project basis to ensure a quality team that specifically meets your needs.


RON CORBETT, MCIP, RPP
Ron Corbett has over 30 years of planning experience ranging from theoretical analysis to plan implementation. Ron is the principal of Virtual Planning, a firm that is primarily involved in municipal and rural plan development, economic and community development and housing-related projects. Ron has extensive experience in rural and small urban issues. His client base includes federal and provincial government departments, municipalities, planning commissions, universities, industry associations, and First Nation communities.

DR. EMILY FARIES
Emily is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation and has worked for First Nations people in the field of education for over twenty years. She has worked as a teacher, vice principal, policy and curriculum developer, researcher and education consultant/advisor. She is currently a professor at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Emily is also works at the community level as an education consultant/advisor to Native peoples. She has strong ties to her community, Moose Cree First Nation, where she has her home and is actively involved in the community. Emily holds her PhD in Education and has been honoured with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1998) for her high achievement and outstanding contribution to her people.

GARDNER AND COOMBS
Garder and Coombs is a trusted accounting firm based in Newfoundland. Eric Coombs has acted as the auditor of the Sheshatshiu and Mushuau Innu Band Councils for several years.

FRED KELLY
Fred is a member of the Ojibways of Onigaming and is a respected leader among First Nations in Canada and the United States. He brings 40 years of expertise and a unique combination of political, government and business experience to projects he undertakes. A former Grand Chief of the Anishnaabe Nation of Treaty #3, Chief of Onigaming and Ontario Regional Director for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Fred has proven his leadership skills. Living in Winnipeg since 1969, Fred has also been proprietor of a successful consultancy in planning, management and government for over 20 years.

Fred has negotiated many government agreements between First Nations and Crown Governments on the inherent right of self-government and has worked with numerous First Nations in the founding of business enterprises, political organizations including the National Indian Brotherhood (now known as the Assembly of First Nations), Tribal Councils, and various other agencies to serve the interest of indigenous peoples. He has also done extensive work with tribes in the United States.

LORRILEE MCGREGOR
Lorrilee McGregor is an Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, where she lives and works. Lorrilee earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto, focusing her studies on environment and resource management issues. Her Master of Arts degree is in Environment & Community from Antioch University in Seattle, Washington where she focused on indigenous knowledge. She has 15 years of research experience with Aboriginal communities and organizations at the local, regional and national level. Since 2001 Lorrilee has operated a research and consultation company called Community Based Research which utilizes participatory action research methods in the health, education and environment sectors.

MOUNT ALLISON UNIVERSITY
RURAL AND SMALL TOWN PROGRAMME
The Rural and Small Town Programme prepares people and organizations to adapt to change and to act on opportunities for developing sustainable rural communities and small towns. The Programme links research and action by generating and sharing new knowledge, developing self-help tools, and providing information and educational services which lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

OKT LAW
Chignecto has worked with partners John Olthuis and Nancy Kleer on a variety of projects related to the Innu of Labrador. OKT Law led the case to have the Innu recognized by the Federal government as status Indians.

DR. BLAIR STONECHILD
Blair Stonechild, of the Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan, has 29 years of experience in Aboriginal post-secondary education as a professor and administrator at the First Nations University of Canada. He has been Dean of Academics, and as Executive Director of Development, worked with Douglas Cardinal in the planning of the FNUC building. He has two books published on Aboriginal history and policy, with Loyal Till Death winning the Saskatchewan Book award and being a finalist for the Governor General’s award. He has extensive experience as a consultant including research on environmental issues. In the 1990s Blair was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization for 8 years. He is married with 3 adult children.



FIRMS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH

DELOITTE & TOUCHE
Deloitte & Touche provides integrated business solutions nationwide, including tax, audit, accounting, financial consulting, computer systems, and litigation support.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM
The Harvard University Native American Program brings together resources, faculty, and students from across the University in a shared commitment to research, teaching, and outreach, advancing the well-being of indigenous peoples through self-determination, academic achievement, and community service. Its research efforts are concentrated in the areas of governance, economic development, and education and looks forward to the expansion of research along interfaculty lines and into other areas, especially science, health and health policy, and the law.

Katenies Research & Management Services
Katenies Research & Management Services is an Aboriginal-owned research and policy development firm based on the Mohawk territory of Akwesasne. Owned and operated by Dr. Rose-Alma McDonald, the firm specializes in education system development, program and policy evaluation, and monitoring.

SGCI
SGCI is a graphics, design and marketing firm based in Sackville, New Brunswick.

SGE Acres
The SGE Group has been providing professional engineering, planning, and project management services in Atlantic Canada for 30 years. Their work has made a major contribution to important aspects of regional development -- strengthening infrastructure, bringing new efficiency to transportation, developing power resources, and playing a key role in offshore production facilities. The SGE Group merged with Acres International’s Atlantic Canada operations in June 2002.

UNIVERSALIA
Universalia is a management consultation firm based in Montreal and Ottawa. Universalia has developed extensive expertise in planning and executing performance improvements and management changes in organizations throughout Canada and in more than 90 countries worldwide.