For its inaugural edition in 2025, the Indigenous Connections Summit (ICS) aims to assess the current state of economic reconciliation in Canada by exploring both concrete actions and the current understanding of the concept. The focus will be on the need to better understand the wide range of interpretations of reconciliation, particularly Indigenous perspectives, which are often underrepresented. This approach seeks to raise participants' awareness of these diverse perspectives, fostering a more inclusive understanding and enriching economic reconciliation initiatives.
The Summit will also identify practical tools and approaches to measure progress in economic reconciliation. It will serve as a platform to foster dialogue and mobilize collective intelligence, while taking into account the diversity of paths involved in this long-term effort.
The Summit addresses reconciliation on multiple levels, from national to community scales, while encouraging individual commitment. It serves as a meeting point for governments, businesses, communities, and citizens to build concrete, equitable solutions for the future. Three main areas will be highlighted throughout the discussions: understand, act, mesure.
The Summit will also highlight crucial topics such as Indigenous financial tools, procurement, human resources, and economic agreements.
The first edition of the ICS offers a unique approach combining expertise-sharing with technological innovation to deepen our collective understanding of reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and Canadian society.
By attending conferences and roundtable discussions, participants will be invited to contribute to measuring the state of reconciliation progress with First Nations and Inuit through technological tools and a discussion platform designed to foster collective intelligence. Curious? Come and contribute!
The ICS is open to all sectors of Canadian society, including Indigenous communities and other Quebec and Canadian citizens. Members from private and parapublic organizations, governments, academia, and others are invited to participate in this national event to build measurement parameters for ongoing reconciliation. Join us and make your voice heard!
The 2025 Indigenous Connections Summit is proud to offer participants a dynamic and engaging networking experience with Speed Networking, an innovative format designed to foster fast and effective professional exchanges. Presented by SEIZE03, this structured and interactive event allows participants to maximize strategic connections in a short amount of time.
Each 10-minute meeting provides an opportunity to optimize networking by engaging with new contacts, pre-scheduling targeted meetings, and exploring new collaborations.
📍 Registration required – Spots are limited, so registration is mandatory. 📅 Check the schedule to see when the activity takes place and plan your participation. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to expand your network!
We are honored to present our two honorary co-chairs. Their participation in this event reflects our shared commitment to advancing reconciliation together and building relationships founded on respect, understanding, and hope for a better future.
Michèle Taïna Audette, Innu and Québécoise Senator, grew up at the crossroads of two cultures. Born in Wabush, Labrador, and raised between Schefferville, Mani-Utenam, and Montreal, she was exposed to discrimination as an Indigenous woman from an early age. She has dedicated her life to the fight for equality, equity, and social justice, particularly for Indigenous women. At the age of 27, she became President of Quebec Native Women and later served as President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. She was also a commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In 2019, she joined Laval University to contribute to reconciliation before being appointed Senator in 2021. Renowned for her work in advancing reconciliation and defending the rights of Indigenous women, Michèle Audette is a prominent advocate for social justice in Canada. In recognition of her contributions, she has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Ottawa and the University of Montreal.
Michael Sabia is the President and CEO of Hydro‑Québec. He served as the Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance Canada from 2020 to 2023. He is also the former Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
From March 2009 to January 2020, Mr. Sabia served as President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), where he oversaw the strategic direction of CDPQ and the global growth of the organization.
Before joining CDPQ, Mr. Sabia held senior positions with BCE, including President and CEO. From 1993 to 1999, he was a senior executive with Canadian National Railway, where he became Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Sabia spent the preceding decade working as a senior official in the Government of Canada, as the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and in senior positions in the Department of Finance.
Mr. Sabia has been Chair of the Board of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He was also a member of the Canadian Government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. Mr. Sabia serves on the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors.
Mr. Sabia is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He obtained a BA in Economics and Politics from the University of Toronto and an M. Phil. in Economics and Politics from Yale University.
Dominic Lafontaine is an Algonquin multimedia artist, poet and musician. His audacious, humourous and often absurd artworks explore the very notions of cultural identity, meaning and belonging. A graduate of Visual Arts at Ottawa University, he synthesizes his knowledge of traditional art forms with new media in order to redefine the visual language of contemporary native art. His motto: «Research, remix and repeat!»
Dominic Lafontaine is a multidisciplinary artist from the Anishnabe community of Timiskaming. He uses artificial intelligence to explore and reflect on various issues affecting First Nations. His works, characterized by their ironic and humorous touch, also invite audiences to ponder the blurred boundaries between truth and fiction. During the Indigenous Connections Summit, Dominic will use a conversation with artificial intelligence to create an entirely fictional keynote speaker, who will present a vision of reconciliation that feels more real than reality. This unique presentation aims to inspire profound reflections and collectively open minds to new perspectives.
For more information: https://dohlicious.com/
The ICS is made possible thanks to the commitment and generous support of our partners and sponsors, with whom we are thrilled to share the success of this event.
