Pick up your pass and join other delegates for an informal coffee.

Join us the fire lighting and setting a hared understanding of values and responsibilities that guide engagement, decision-making, and partnership across the conference.

Opening remarks from territorial, federal, and First Nation leadership to welcome delegations, situate the conference in the current northern context, and signal aligned priorities. Leaders will highlight key opportunities, commitments, and the role of partnership in advancing Indigenous-led economic development. Clear signal of leadership alignment, priority areas, and the broader policy and investment context shaping the days ahead.

Opening remarks from the Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce. 

Be sure to check out the food trucks outside the KDCC for Yukon specific culinary options or visit one of our great local dining options. 

Delivering major projects in the North requires more than a single source of funding, it demands a coordinated capital stack that brings together Indigenous equity, public investment, institutional financing, and private capital.

This panel will explore how successful projects are structured from the ground up, with a focus on what it takes to move from concept to execution. Speakers will share practical insights on aligning partners, de-risking investments, and navigating the complexities of multi-source financing in an Arctic and Indigenous context.

Grounded in real project experience, the discussion will unpack how capital flows, where challenges arise, and what proponents need to secure investment. The session will also examine how Indigenous ownership and leadership are reshaping investment models and creating new pathways for long-term economic growth.

A must-attend for proponents, investors, and decision-makers looking to understand how to build investable, scalable projects in the North.

A session on what is truly investable in northern tourism, focusing on Indigenous-led experiences, infrastructure gaps, and market-ready products. This discussion breaks down what drives revenue in the North seasonality, pricing, access, and workforce, and what it takes to move from concept to a viable, scalable offering.

A candid walkthrough of a completed partnership - from first conversation to agreement and delivery. 

 A practical session on building investment and partnership pathways between Yukon and Alaska, including regulatory realities, structuring approaches, and relationship-building. Clear cross-border pathway: key barriers, enabling conditions, and immediate actions to initiate partnerships.

This panel discussion is intended to provide a candid, step-by-step walkthrough of how Selkirk Copper came to be including from the first conversation to agreement and delivery.

We will cover off the key questions you have provided that should be of interest to the audience, namely:

• How the opportunity was identified and advanced (e.g., acquisition out of bankruptcy.
• How the partnership between Selkirk First Nation and Selkirk Copper was structured and has evolved
• How differences in governance, timelines, and expectations worked through during the partnership development, and how trust was built over time
• What has worked well in the project so far, and what are you working on improving

A candid discussion on why deals stall in the North and how to design processes that move projects forward without increasing risk.

A candid conversation with a senior Indigenous leader on the future of Indigenous capital, economic development priorities, and what leaders must do now to prepare.

Across the Arctic and beyond, Indigenous investment corporations are reshaping the economic landscape through bold, strategic deployment of capital. This panel brings together senior leaders at the helm of some of the most dynamic and rapidly growing Indigenous portfolios in the country.

From infrastructure and energy to mining, real estate, and community-driven ventures, these leaders are not just investing, they are building the foundations of long-term prosperity. The conversation will explore how capital is being mobilized to advance self-determination, unlock major projects, and position Indigenous partners as central players in Canada’s economic future.

This is a discussion about scale, ambition, and the emergence of Indigenous-led investment as a defining force in the Arctic economy.

An in-depth, small-group walkthrough of a real project — from concept to construction — focused on real-life development and construction considerations, as well as key decision points

Indigenous Development Corporations sit at the intersection of business, community, and nation-building. Their investment decisions carry weight far beyond financial returns.

This panel offers a rare look inside how these organizations evaluate opportunities. What makes a project worth backing? How are risks assessed in complex northern environments? And how do leaders balance commercial discipline with long-term community priorities?

Panelists will share the frameworks that guide their decisions, from partnership structures and governance considerations to alignment with cultural values and regional economic goals. At its core, this conversation reveals how Indigenous investment strategies are redefining what success looks like in the Arctic economy.

Be sure to check out the food trucks outside the KDCC for Yukon specific culinary options or visit one of our great local dining options. 

A tactical session on converting opportunity into contracts. Part one will break down upcoming procurement opportunities in defence infrastructure, and how to work with Defence Construction Canada. 

This session highlights the investment opportunity behind the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, an Inuit-led infrastructure project connecting Manitoba’s hydroelectric grid and fibre network to Nunavut’s Kivalliq region.

As one of the North’s most significant clean energy and connectivity initiatives, the project offers a compelling platform for long-term, stable returns while advancing energy transition, digital access, and regional economic growth.

The discussion will focus on:

• Project structure and financing opportunities including partnership models
• Revenue potential 
• Risk profile and mitigation strategies in remote Arctic infrastructure

An intimate discussion about the role of small-medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) in the defence sector. The session will focus on service-level contracts, pathways for SMEs to access procurement opportunities, and how SMEs can ready themselves for bids or sub-contracts. 

This session  will focus on capacity building, readiness requiements, and where Indigenous businesses can capture value.

Across the North, the push for new energy and transmission infrastructure is accelerating. But many communities continue to live with the impacts of past projects that disrupted their lands and livelihoods. As demand for reliable, lower-carbon energy grows, Nations are asserting greater ownership and decision-making authority, creating new models for how projects are structured and governed. This panel brings together leaders working across these realities to examine what it takes to innovate in a way that is viable, rights-respecting, and grounded in community priorities. From governance models to emerging technologies, the discussion will explore which solutions are real, what remains out of reach, and what it will take to get northern energy development right.

There is a lot of technology that is providing solutions that could make your organization more effective financially. Especially for geographically diverse organizations. This is a way to increase organizations capacity and ability to grow over time.

No project moves forward without people. And no workforce can thrive without housing.

This session reframes workforce development and housing as core economic infrastructure, essential to delivering projects and unlocking growth across the North. Panelists will explore the direct link between labour availability, training, community capacity, and the ability to execute major initiatives.

The discussion will highlight practical solutions, from training pathways to housing delivery models, and examine how coordinated approaches can enable both immediate project success and long-term economic resilience.

Scaling a business in the North is not theoretical. It is operational, capital-intensive, and often unforgiving.

This panel brings together leaders who have navigated the realities of growth in Arctic conditions. From managing cash flow and securing bonding, to building a workforce and forming the right partnerships, the discussion will focus on what it truly takes to scale in remote and complex environments.

Expect candid insights, hard-earned lessons, and practical advice for communities and entrepreneurs working to grow sustainable northern businesses. This is about moving beyond startup success toward long-term, resilient growth.

A governance-focused session on aligning leadership, administration, and business arms to deliver projects efficiently.

A closing reconvene to capture outcomes from the conference—commitments, partnerships, and next-step meetings.

Join us inside the KDCC for some refreshments.