Indigenous Projects – Attracting Investment
April 8, 2026 at 9:00AM PDT
Downtown Vancouver and Live Webinar
Indigenous Projects – Attracting Investment
April 8, 2026
Overview
Indigenous Nations have unprecedented opportunities for significant equity in historic major projects in Canada.
This conference will address any challenges that exist in attracting significant investment for financing Indigenous participation. What are the key issues and what do investors want?
Come and explore with the experts how to bridge the gap between smart investing and Indigenous opportunities - learn how your community can benefit!
Key Areas Addressed:
Upping the game - investors perspectives
Preparing your pitch to attract investors - what investors look for?
Deal structuring for success
Financing success stories
Financing options for indigenous equity
Indigenous projects and real estate development
Who Should Attend:
Indigenous government leaders and officials
Indigenous businesses, development companies, entrepreneurs and professionals
Federal, provincial and municipal government officials involved in Indigenous relations and/or resource development
Lawyers practising in the areas of Aboriginal law, Indigenous law, resource development and infrastructure
Accountants, business development professionals, financial planners, and others assisting First Nations with negotiations and business operations
Owners, managers and negotiators of resource development and infrastructure companies
Agenda
9:00 - Welcome and Introduction by PBLI
9:05 - Chair’s Welcome and Introduction
Mike McDonald, K.C., ICD.D, Founder and President, Mamaskatch Advisory
9:10 - Upping the Game - Investors Perspectives
Mike McDonald, K.C., ICD.D, Founder and President, Mamaskatch Advisory
Types of Indigenous Businesses and Projects – Who are they and what are their concerns?
Institutional Investors
Off-take Investors
Venture Capital and Private Equity
Government Backed Lenders
What are the Issues
Unique Indigenous Issues
10:00 - Questions and Discussion
10:10 - Refreshment Adjournment
10:25 - Preparing Your Pitch to Attract Investors - What Investors Look For?
Questions investors ask
Value propositions
Return on investment
Role of First Nation Finance Authority?
Role of Canadian Infrastructure Bank?
11:15 - Questions and Discussion
11:25 - Deal Structuring for Success
Unique First Nations Business Structures
Components of a fair deal
Addressing Certainty
Timelines, exits, managerial control, dilution
Equity structures and options
Financing opportunities real?
First Nations structuring their business interests?
12:15 - Questions and Discussion
12:25 - Networking Lunch
1:25 - Financing Success Stories
Story of Cedar Leaf Capital
Partners of Cedar Leaf Capital
Projects and Investments
Indigenous Owned Investment Advisory: Unique Issues
What makes sense?
Maximizing value for all participants
2:15 - Questions and Discussion
2:25 - Refreshment Adjournment
2:40 - Financing Options for Indigenous Equity
Institutional investment
Insurance companies
Pension funds
Foundations
Private equity firms
First Nations Banks and Capital
3:30 - Questions and Discussion
3:40 - Indigenous projects and Real Estate Development
Opportunities on First Nations Lands
Unique Tax Opportunities
4:40 - Questions and Discussion
4:50 - Chair’s Closing Remarks
5:00 - Program Concludes
Meet the Chair
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Founder and President, Mamaskatch Advisory
Business and Strategic Advisory with expertise and decades of experience in Regulatory, Business, Resources, Environmental and Indigenous contexts from 35 years expertise in Indigenous, Business, Mining Law, and leading, negotiating and structuring some of Canada's more significant Major Project Agreements.
Current Boards include BC Hydro, Jameson Resources (ASX), and NWP Coal.
Past Boards and appointments: SFU Board of Governors, Cheam Enterprises (Cheam First Nation), World Vision Canada, Law Society of BC Truth and Reconciliation Working Group.
Awards and Recognition: Lifetime Achievement Award for Indigenous Business (2025 from Canadian Council for Indigenous Business), Special Recognition Award (2024 from Canadian Bar Association (BC) Aboriginal Lawyer's Forum), Alumni Builders Award (2018 from UBC), and appointed Queen's Counsel (now K.C.) in 2018.
Mike is a member of the Peguis First Nation through his father Merv McDonald and his mother Verna (nee Campbell) is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation.
Faculty information to come …
Registration Form
Program:
Indigenous Projects – Attracting Investment
Date:
April 8, 2026
Location:
UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street - Classroom level), Vancouver, BC
Registration:
The registration fee is $990.00 plus GST of $49.50 totalling $1039.50 for webinar and in-person attendance. Registration fee covers your attendance at the program and electronic materials. In-person attendance includes a catered lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Early Bird Discount:
Register by March 9, 2026 and receive a $100 discount on the registration fee ($890.00 plus GST). Discounts cannot be combined.
Group Discount:
Register four persons from the same organization at the same time and you are entitled to a complimentary fifth registration. Discounts cannot be combined.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form and email it to registrations@pbli.com:
Payment:
You may pay by VISA, Mastercard or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to the Pacific Business & Law Institute and mailed to Unit 2-2246 Spruce Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2P3. Please do not send cheques via courier with signature required.
When and Where:
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:00 a.m. (PDT). UBC Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC, and our event will take place on the classroom level. Please visit https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/find-us/ for directions.
Materials:
The faculty will prepare papers and/or other materials explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically. Please contact us at registrations@pbli.com if you are unable to attend the program and wish to purchase a set of materials.
Cancellations/Transfers:
Refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the program (April 1, 2026). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.
To register by phone:
Telephone us: 604-730-2500
Your Privacy:
We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.
Course Accreditation:
Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 6.5 hours of continuing professional development credits with the Law Societies of BC and Ontario. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form (DOWNLOAD FORM) and email it to registrations@pbli.com (*This form is for registrations of 5 or more and cannot be combined with any other promotions/discount codes.)
For individual registration, please continue with form below.