Corporate–Indigenous Relations Council
Effective corporate-Indigenous relations are increasingly important to our objectives as a country.
Mutually beneficial relationships are at the heart of success and prosperity for industry, public sector organizations, and Indigenous communities and businesses, and sets the foundation for reconciliation in Canada.
Signal49 Research’s Corporate–Indigenous Relations Council (CIRC) is an executive network with a mandate to create equitable, productive, and collaborative corporate–Indigenous relations. It fosters honest dialogue between senior-level representatives from public, private, and Indigenous organizations in a confidential venue. Members work together to find practical solutions to common challenges and opportunities.
Who Should Join?
CIRC is a network for leaders from Indigenous, public, private, and not-for-profit organizations whose roles focus on the corporate–Indigenous relations landscape.
Members have a shared and committed interest in improving their knowledge, practices, and policies in Canada.
Key Objectives
- Support organizations from across all sectors in developing best practices and constructive, mutually beneficial relationships.
- Contribute to reconciliation through collaborative and respectful engagement between Indigenous, private, and public sector organizations.
Benefits of Membership
| Collaborate | Connect | Gain | Grow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work collaboratively and develop productive relationships with peers and stakeholders from across the country in an intimate and confidential forum | Hear from experts and practitioners on key issues and learn from their successes and challenges | Access practical ideas about how your organization can develop and maintain effective corporate–Indigenous relations | Keep your finger on the pulse of key developments and contemporary issues |
Testimonial
Become a Member
Work together to find practical solutions to common challenges and opportunities.
Members Only
CIRC members can access exclusive content from this page.
Member Activity
CIRC UNDRIP Discussion Session #6
Theme: Provincial Perspectives on UNDRIP
April 14, 2026 • Virtual
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
CIRC Spring 2026 Members Meeting
May 26 & 27, 2026 • Winnipeg, MB
CIRC UNDRIP Discussion Session #5
Theme: The Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management and How it Relates to UNDRIP
January 29, 2026 • Virtual
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
CIRC Fall Members Meeting
Theme: Cultivating Indigenous Excellence: Strategies for Career Advancement and Workforce Growth
October 28 & 29, 2025 • Halifax, NS
Julie Pellerin, Director, Indigenous and Northern Communities, Signal49 Research
Marta Bristow, Senior Council Manager, Signal49 Research
Andrea Riches, Human Resources Director, Global Supply Chain and Fleet, Clearwater Seafoods
Sandra Gogal, Partner, Cassels
Heather Holland, Director, Mi’kmaq Relations & Environmental Initiatives, Nova Scotia Power
Kathleen Anne Sawdo, Executive Director, Indigenous Works & Kochita
Tracy Menge, Benefits Officer, Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqan (KWK)
UNDRIP Virtual Series Session 4
Theme: “Partnering with Indigenous Nations: Operationalizing Consent and Inherent Rights in Major Projects”
October 2, 2025 • Virtual
Marta Bristow, Senior Council Manager, Signal49 Research
Julie Pellerin, Director, Indigenous and Northern Communities, Signal49 Research
Larry Innes, Partner, OKT Law
Nicole Minde, Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations, ATCO Group
CIRC Spring Members Meeting
Theme: “Consultation and Community Engagement – Harmonizing Approached to FPIC”
May 28 & 29, 2025 • Kelowna, BC
Chief Clarence Louie, Osoyoos Indian Band, Tribal Chair, Okanagan National Alliance, Member of BCH Board of Directors
Jim Scouras, Former Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations
Patrick Tomlinson, Project Manager, Strategy and Negotiations Team
Jay Johnson, Negotiator, Okanagan Nation Alliance
Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of British Columbia
Sandra Gogal, Partner, Cassels
Mélanie Corriveau, Corporate Director, Community Relations, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Leah Manson, Team Lead, Strategy & Negotiations Team BC Hydro
Ian Jacobsen, Director, Indigenous Relations, Ontario Power Generation
Donna Mandeville, Director General Natural Resources Canada
Heny Schut, Policy Analyst Natural Resources Canada
Relevant Research for Members
Immigration and Labour Markets in Canada’s North—March 2026
Territorial 20-Year Outlook—December 2025
Supporting Indigenous Exporters—October 2025
Recruiting and Retaining Indigenous Professionals—July 2025
Indigenous Representation in Healthcare—May 2025
Learning From One Another: Skill Gaps in Labour Markets in Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut
Learning From One Another: Labour Markets in Northern Ontario
Learning From One Another: Labour Markets in Yukon
Learning From One Another: Labour Markets in Nunavut
Contact Us
For more information about the Corporate–Indigenous Relations Council or to arrange for a guest invitation to attend one our meetings, please contact our team.
1-888-801-8818
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; after hours, please send an e-mail.