Binasi: Economic Reconciliation Business and Agriculture Forum

Chief Bunn is the first woman and youngest person ever elected as Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation. She is one of the youngest-serving Chiefs in Canada.

A talented public speaker, Chief Bunn graduated with distinction from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is now pursuing a law degree at Robson Hall, the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

A dedicated advocate for Indigenous rights and youth empowerment, Tréchelle has spoken on provincial, national, and international stages, including at the United Nations. She is the founder of the Reconciliation Run, Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation half marathon, and the creator of the first Indigenous student-athlete scholarship at the University of Manitoba.

Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized with numerous honours, Including the Indspire First Nations Youth Award, the King Charies Ill Coronation Medal, the CBC Manitoba Future 40 Award, and the University of Manitoba Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

SCO is proud that Chief Bunn was an SCO Youth Chief from 2023 to 2025. She finished her term only 10 days before her election as Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation.

Ian Bushie was first elected as the MLA for Keewatinook in 2019. He is a member and former Chief of Hollow Water First Nation. Bushie served as the official opposition critic for transportation and infrastructure as well as the deputy house leader. In 2021 and 2022, he introduced legislation to mark Orange Shirt Day as a statutory holiday in Manitoba. Bushie has owned a small business in his home community for over 25 years. He is the proud father of six children and looks to them as inspiration for his work in improving the lives of northern Manitobans. 

Ashley Callingbull is an actress, model, host, and First Nations activist from the Enoch Cree Nation. She is an actress on Blackstone, Tribal, The Great Salish Heist and was a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada. Ashley is also an international motivational speaker and has been a keynote speaker at Harvard University, TED Talks and WE Day.

Ashley’s hard work and charity work was recognized as she received the Top 20 Under 30 Award in Canada and was named as one of Canada’s Top 10 Power Women. Ashley received the Youth First Nations Award from Indspire which recognizes outstanding achievement across Turtle Island. Ashley was honoured to be inducted into the Circle of Honour at the Esquao Awards which recognizes Indigenous female leaders and activists. For her community work Ashley received the Role Model Award from the United Nations on Global Dignity Day. On the 70th Anniversary of Her Late Majesty, Ashley was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her dedication of public service to family, community and her country.

This past year, Ashley was announced as the first Indigenous First Nations woman to become a Sports Illustrated Model. Ashley is an In Game Host for the Canadian Football League, the National Lacrosse League, and the National Hockey League. Ashley made history this year as the first Indigenous woman to win the title of Miss Universe Canada and will be representing our nation at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November. She also recently signed her first book deal with Harper Collins publishing and will be a published author in Spring 2025.

Metis politician and activist. David Chartrand has served as the elected President of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) since 1997, making him the longest-serving president in the federation’s history. He is currently serving an eighth term following the 2022 election. From 1997 to 2021, he was also a member of the Board of Governors of the Métis National Council, holding various portfolios. Chartrand was first elected to the Manitoba Métis Federation Board of Directors, representing the Winnipeg Region, in 1988, and was re-elected four times.

He has held various volunteer positions, including Vice-President of the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg, President of the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres, President of the National Association of Friendship Centres, and a founding director and president of Beat the Street, an adult literacy program in Winnipeg.

He also served on the board of the Northern Justice Society (Simon Fraser University) and as a Director for the Manitoba Métis Federation for 10 years before becoming President in 1997. He served as a member of the Premier’s Economic Advisor Committee for the Province of Manitoba.

Tasked with leading the growth and development of the Indigenous tourism industry in Manitoba and in collaboration with Travel Manitoba and Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), Holly Courchene is leading efforts for the Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Strategy and increasing the demand for Manitoba’s Indigenous tourism experiences through Indigenous Tourism Manitoba.

Holly was born and raised in Peguis First Nation, where she owned and operated multiple successful businesses. She understands the barriers and complexities of owning a business, both on and off the reserve. She brings that firsthand knowledge to tourism operators in Manitoba.

Through her previous work as the Manitoba Regional Coordinator at ITAC from 2019 to 2022, Holly guided many Indigenous entrepreneurs and community-owned tourism enterprises to strengthen their offerings into market and export-ready products. Holly’s connections and leadership within the region are proven and she is a true advocate for Indigenous tourism in Manitoba.

Elected to an historic third term as the Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) in 2024, Jerry Daniels is a citizen of the Long Plain First Nation and a proud father.

Under his leadership, SCO has grown exponentially, taking significant steps to address critical issues for the more than 87,000 First Nation citizens, and 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations that SCO represents.

As a graduate from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Grand Chief Daniels believes in fostering economic development for First Nations people. In April 2022, he announced the acquisition of the iconic Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Winnipeg. The Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project will be a multi-use community hub that will provide more than 350 units of affordable housing for the citizens of SCO member Nations.

This redevelopment project has sparked further partnerships, economic development, and employment opportunities for First Nations citizens. In December 2023, Grand Chief Daniels signed a memorandum of understanding with True North Real Estate Development to develop a residential tower at the Portage Place Shopping Centre. This development acted as a catalyst for a 12-storey health care centre of excellence.

A strong believer that the youth voice must be heard, SCO created a Youth Council and established scholarships to assist youth in pursuing post-secondary education.

Grand Chief Daniels is committed to providing opportunity for First Nations people to vision, design, lead, and implement high quality programming and services for First Nations people. He is working towards a bright future and expanding opportunities for the Nations and citizens SCO represents.

Raised on a farm near Carman, Manitoba, his worship Scott Gillingham learned early that results don’t come without effort – and that success is built by teamwork. He developed a deep respect for those who put in the work to keep communities running. That same commitment to service led him to spend more than 20 years as a pastor, working with people to strengthen communities and tackle tough challenges. Over time, he saw how city policies directly impacted the lives of families, businesses, and neighbourhoods – and he knew he wanted to do more. That’s what led him to run successfully for the St. James ward on City Council in 2014, and again in 2018. During his time at City Hall, Scott has built a reputation as a collaborative leader with a long-term vision for Winnipeg.

Since being elected as Mayor in 2022, Scott has focused on delivering real results. He believes that leadership is about collaboration and action. Mayor Gillingham has also taken Winnipeg’s voice to the national stage as Vice-Chair of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, pushing for progress on housing, public safety, and economic growth.

As Senior Director of Indigenous Financing at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Monica James leads a team dedicated exclusively to empowering Indigenous participation in food and agriculture, assisting communities in reclaiming their inherent right to food security.

Monica is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and grew up in northern Manitoba. With over 20 years of experience creating space for Indigenous entrepreneurs at the economic table within corporate Canada, she’s passionate about bridging the gap between Indigenous and Western worldviews.

Before FCC, she was instrumental in creating a strategy to support Indigenous entrepreneurs at the Business Development Bank of Canada and guided the organization’s reconciliation journey with Call to Action #92.

Monica works and resides on Treaty One Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis and acknowledges that she’s a guest on these lands.

Ron Kostyshyn was first elected as the MLA for Swan River from 2011 to 2016 and was elected as the MLA for Dauphin in 2023. 

He previously served as the provincial minister of agriculture and as the reeve for Mossey River Municipality. During his first tenure as agriculture minister, Kostyshyn helped to improve food safety and support Manitoba producers. He has also served on various boards including the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Conservation Commission, Intermountain Conservation District, Ethelbert District Veterinary Board and Farm Stewardship Association of Manitoba. 

He and his wife, Judy, raised two daughters and ran a family mixed farming operation for 40 years in rural Manitoba. 

Grand Chief Kyra Wilson is a proud Anishinaabe (Ojibway) and Nehiyaw (Cree) leader, raised in Treaty 1 territory from Long Plain First Nation and Sandy Bay First Nation. Her path has always been grounded in her connection to land, language, and ceremony and guided by a deep commitment to building stronger First Nations communities. 

She began her journey in social work, earning a bachelor’s degree and continued her education through the Indigenous Knowledge Master of Social Work program at the University of Manitoba. Her education reflects both her dedication to service and her belief in the power of Indigenous knowledge systems to heal, guide and uplift communities. 

After serving as True North Sports + Entertainment’s President & CEO since its inception, Jim Ludlow transitioned to the role of President, True North Real Estate Development in 2014, advancing and developing a variety of commercial and real estate developments, expanding the footprint of True North and adding to Winnipeg’s physical and business landscape.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ludlow attended the University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Arts, and then attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, where he received his law degree. Prior to joining True North in 1999, Ludlow was a partner at a senior Canadian law-firm, and previous to that was General Counsel and Vice-President of Corporate Development to a leading Canadian venture-capital firm.

Ludlow is actively involved in the Winnipeg community, having served or currently serving as a member of the boards of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, CentreVenture Development Corporation, Alpine Canada, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group Inc. He previously held the position of Honorary Colonel with 1 CFFTS at 17 Wing Winnipeg, and in 2011 was the recipient of the national award for Business Achievement at the Western Canada General Counsel Awards in Vancouver.

Ludlow is the proud father of four children – Cedric, Charlie, Fiona, and Amanda.

Reanna McKay is an architectural intern at Number Ten Architectural Group in Treaty One Territory. She is a Nîhithaw (Woodlands Cree) artist, writer, and educator from Barren Lands First Nation. Reanna received a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba (UofM).

Reanna advocates for Indigenous inclusion and representation in design education and is committed to empowering Indigenous communities and youth. While at the UofM, she co-founded the Indigenous Design and Planning Student Association and co-edited the publication “Voices of the Land: Indigenous Design and Planning from the Prairies.” Additionally, Reanna is working with Portage & Main Press on a three-part children’s book series on Indigenous architecture.

Her work continues to amplify Indigenous voices, community engagement, and land-based pedagogies in architecture.

Reanna was recognized by CBC Manitoba with a Future 40 Award, by Women in Urbanism Canada as one of the 14 Mobilizing Women Impacting Urbanism in Canada, and named the 2023 Youth-First Nations Laureate with the Indspire Awards. She grounds herself in heart work, ceremony, community, and wellness, and she continuously works towards the resiliency and resurgence of Indigenous peoples in all that she does.

Jamie Moses was elected in 2019 and has served as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for St. Vital ever since. He was one of the first three Black MLAs elected in Manitoba’s history. As an MLA, he passed legislation to recognize Emancipation Day in Manitoba and to establish anti-racism training for provincial employees.

In October 2023, Moses was appointed to the provincial Cabinet as Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade, and Natural Resources. Now serving as Minister of Business, Mining, Trade, and Job Creation, he is dedicated to expanding economic opportunities, growing Manitoba businesses, and supporting a diverse workforce in the province.

With a background in agri-business, the financial sector, and as a former coach, Jamie is passionate about creating opportunities for all people. Jamie and his wife are long-time residents of St. Vital, where they are raising their two children in the neighbourhood they love.

Max Osceola III is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He has represented the Seminole Tribe in an Indigenous Culture Ambassador Program in New Zealand and at the U. Embassy in Berlin through a cultural bridge-building initiative in collaboration with Rhodes Scholars.

Max’s background encompasses the sponsorship of various Native American economic development projects, including a construction joint venture with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that resulted in the completion of over $280 million worth of projects on the reservation. Notably, Max recently organized a panel discussion on the future of Native America for US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), with a focus on Native American history.

Given their unique perspective, having grown up in the casino industry, Max is uniquely positioned to leverage his accumulated knowledge and skillset to provide valuable guidance and facilitate positive outcomes for joint enterprises within the gaming industry.

Bram Strain is the President and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba. Bram is a Manitoban, raised in Elm Creek and is a graduate of Brandon University. Prior to joining the Business Council, Bram worked at all three levels of government in senior roles such as, City Manager in Lethbridge, Alberta, Deputy Minister in the Manitoba Government in Infrastructure and Education, Training, and Immigration, in the Federal system as Assistant Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification and Regional Director General for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 

Bram was appointed to the Premiers Business & Jobs Council, subcommittees U.S. Trade and Clean Energy & Economy and on the board of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy. He was also part of Ministers’ Immigration Advisory Council and the 2023 World Police and Fire Games. 

Bram is a strategic leader who utilizes a relationship-based leadership style that focuses on results and outcomes beneficial to stakeholders. Bram has worked extensively with the private sector in the development of economic and infrastructure projects leading to growth and community enhancement. On behalf of the Business Council, he is focused on economic growth for the province of Manitoba by creating the conditions for a competitive business environment for industry to thrive. 

Known for his devotion and gentle inner strength, Chief Roy Whitney is the hard-working leader of the Tsuu T’ina Nation, located just outside of Calgary. He first learned about hard work when he started helping out on the family’s cattle ranch at the age of five. He was elected band councilor in 1976 at the age of 21 and then Chief at 30, a position he still holds today. Over the last twenty-five years, Chief Whitney has initiated or guided a number of successful community-based business enterprises. One of his first projects was the creation of the Tsuu T’ina Cultural Museum. More recently, his projects have been commercial. The Wolf Flats Ordnance Disposal Corporation is an internationally recognized company specializing in the removal and disposal of unexploded ordnance. Sarcee Gravel Products Inc. employs numerous community residents. The Redwood Meadows Golf and Country Club and the Buffalo Run Golf Club, which opened its first nine holes in 1997, are the most recent projects. Chief Whitney also raised the money to build the Chief Joseph Big Plume Building, a stunning structure that serves as the band’s administration office, as well as the Tsuu T’ina Nation Business Park. In addition to his community duties, Chief Whitney negotiated with the provincial and federal governments to develop a First Nations justice system, the first one in Canada. He has also served as the Chairman of the Treaty 7 Tribal Council. Nationally, Chief Whitney chairs the federal government’s National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, which guides Aboriginal Business Canada and its partners in implementing strategies for Aboriginal business growth. 

In 2022, Kyra Wilson was elected Chief of Long Plain First Nation. As Chief she led with compassion, humility and a clear vision forward. She focused on building opportunities for youth and families, strengthening community infrastructure and improving access to health and wellness services. She worked side by side with Elders, fellow Chiefs and community members, always listening first and leading with care. 

Now serving as Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Kyra brings that same leadership to the broader table. She continues to focus on what matters most: children, families and the future of First Nations people.