ABPA backs Thunder Bay-led webinar on Indigenous mine ownership and moving beyond IBAs

The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association is urging Indigenous communities, rights holders and resource-sector companies to take part in an upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn focused on Indigenous equity ownership in mining and major projects.

The April 28 session, hosted by Waawoono Consultancy, will examine the firm’s report, “Beyond the IBA: The Evolution of Indigenous Equity Ownership and Sovereign Wealth Generation.”

The discussion matters in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario because many of Canada’s most significant mining, critical minerals and infrastructure projects are located on or near Treaty 3, Treaty 9 and Robinson-Superior territory.

From benefit agreements to ownership stakes

The Waawoono report argues that the traditional Impact Benefit Agreement model is no longer enough for many First Nations. Instead of fixed payments, jobs and procurement commitments alone, the report says Indigenous Nations are increasingly seeking equity stakes, governance rights and long-term revenue tied to the performance of resource projects.

Canadian Mining Journal recently highlighted that shift, reporting that Indigenous communities across Canada are moving away from being treated only as stakeholders and are pushing for direct ownership in mining and energy projects.

For Northern Ontario, the issue is not theoretical. Major gold, critical minerals, road, transmission and energy projects are shaping the region’s economy. The central question is whether Indigenous communities will receive limited project benefits, or whether they will share in ownership, governance and wealth creation over the life of those assets.

Webinar details

The virtual session, “Beyond the IBA: Building Sustainable Legacies,” is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. ET.

The event will be hosted by Waawoono Consultancy and presented as a virtual panel discussion. Registration is available through the Zoom webinar link provided by organizers.

Thunder Bay-based rights holders leading the discussion

The session will feature members of the Waawoono team, including Thunder Bay-based leaders with direct experience in mining and resource development.

Jason Rasevych, of Ginoogaming First Nation in Treaty 9, will serve as keynote presenter. Rasevych is president of ABPA and lead strategic architect of the “Beyond the IBA” report. The report positions equity ownership as a way for First Nations to move from fixed benefit payments to governance, revenue participation and long-term wealth generation.

Landen Jourdain, of Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3, will speak to regional and corporate accountability, including how communities can build internal consent processes and press companies to move beyond symbolic reconciliation commitments.

Ron Marano, of North Caribou Lake First Nation, will bring a rights-holder perspective connected to legacy mining agreements and the limits of revenue-sharing structures. His focus is expected to include governance, predictable investment conditions and intergenerational wealth.

Maite Fink, CPA, EMBA, will address the financial architecture of equity ownership, including due diligence, valuation and the importance of understanding whether proposed ownership stakes represent real long-term asset value.

Blake Hawkins will moderate the discussion, with a focus on ESG strategy, Indigenous rights and financial risk.

Why this matters for Northwestern Ontario

Mining remains one of the largest economic drivers in Northern Ontario, but the ownership structure of projects has historically left many First Nations with limited control over decisions affecting their lands, waters and future revenues.

The “Beyond the IBA” report says the old model often treated First Nations as recipients of compensation rather than partners in wealth creation. It argues that ownership can give Nations stronger leverage over environmental decisions, project governance and long-term community investment.

That shift is especially important as companies consolidate mining assets in Northwestern Ontario. Coeur Mining completed its acquisition of New Gold in March 2026, adding the Rainy River operation to its portfolio, while Orla Mining completed its acquisition of the Musselwhite mine in 2025.

For First Nations, those transactions reinforce a key point: mining assets can change hands, attract new capital and grow in value over decades. If communities are locked into static agreements, they may not fully share in that growth.

Ownership also brings new responsibilities

Equity ownership is not risk-free. Mining projects are affected by commodity prices, capital costs, environmental obligations, permitting delays and closure liabilities. That means First Nations considering ownership stakes need strong legal, financial, technical and governance support before entering agreements.

The Waawoono report also emphasizes the importance of human capacity, including financial administration, governance training and technical expertise, so Nations can manage complex assets and hold corporate partners accountable.

That point is central to the webinar’s message: economic reconciliation is not only about receiving a larger cheque. It is about building the internal capacity to negotiate, govern, invest and protect wealth for future generations.

ABPA says the discussion is timely

ABPA says the webinar is intended to help communities, rights holders and corporate entities better understand how equity ownership can change project negotiations in Northern Ontario.

The organization represents Indigenous business interests across Treaty 3, Treaty 5, Treaty 9 and the Robinson-Superior 1850 Treaty area. Its role in promoting the session reflects a broader push to ensure Indigenous businesses and First Nations are not left on the sidelines as major resource projects advance across the region.