Presenters
NACCA Forum
Presenters
Discover an incredible lineup of inspiring speakers
2026
Presenters
Elaine Chambers
Elaine is a proud citizen of the Champagne & Aishihik First Nation and of the Crow Clan. Over the past Thirty-Seven years Elaine has been employed with däna Näye Ventures and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. She has served as a valued member of NACCA’s Board of Directors, contributing her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities.
Elaine’s vision and commitment to collaboration will guide NACCA into an exciting new chapter as we continue to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs through the Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFI’s) network and work toward Indigenous Prosperity.
Dominique Collin
Dominique Collin has served as senior advisor with NACCA, ABSCAN, and Ulnooweg on housing finance issues. He will continue to coordinate research, product development, and housing ecosystems modernization efforts. He has more than thirty years of experience in First Nations access to capital issues including micro-credit, business financing, community banking, risk capital, and housing and infrastructure financing. His focus has been on assisting innovative financing solutions developed by First Nation financial institutions that integrate sustainability and financial viability.
Chief Lance Haymond
Mr. Lance Haymond is Algonquin/Anishinabe from Kebaowek First Nation, a community established in the Temiscamingue region of Quebec. He is currently serving his tenth term as Chief of his community.
Chief Haymond has spent a large part of his career on advocacy for more housing to meet his community needs, the region of Quebec and those of all First Nations across the country.
He is heavily involved at the regional and national levels as he is the Chief portfolio holder, responsible of the Housing and Infrastructure file for the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and the Co-chair of the national Chief Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCoHI) at the Assembly of First Nations. He also served as Manager of Aboriginal On Reserve Housing Programs for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Anna Jane Edwards
Anna-Jane Edwards is the Manukura for Amotai. She is driven by an unwavering belief that every child has the right to thrive in Aotearoa. This has led her to explore how economics, indigenous knowledge systems, co-design and systems thinking can be brought together to disrupt the conditions preventing all people from living full and prosperous lives.
Her roles in health and local government over the past 15 years have explored this concept, eventually leading her to co-found Amotai in 2018 where she has recently returned as Manukura.
Anna-Jane believes that supplier diversity, where organisations buy more goods and services from diverse suppliers, is one of the biggest opportunities to grow meaningful economic step-change for Māori and Pasifika.
Anna-Jane shares her home time between raising a resilient, happy, socially, and environmentally conscious little boy and participating at a governance level on a number of organisations including the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Hawaiki Hou Sport New Zealand.
Jennifer Laewetz
Jennifer Laewetz is a proud member of George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, with deep roots in both First Nations and Métis communities. A nationally recognized voice in Indigenous governance and politics, she draws on experience in federal politics and her work as a business owner to help revitalize governance systems, bridge policy and community priorities, and ensure decisions lead to meaningful outcomes. Her insightful commentary is featured on television, radio, podcasts, and national media, including regular appearances on APTN National News and CBC Saskatchewan.
Jennifer Laewetz est une fière membre de la Première Nation de George Gordon, en Saskatchewan, et possède de profondes racines au sein des communautés des Premières Nations et métisses. Reconnue à l’échelle nationale comme une voix influente en gouvernance et en politique autochtones, elle met à profit son expérience en politique fédérale et comme entrepreneure pour revitaliser les systèmes de gouvernance, rapprocher les politiques des priorités communautaires et veiller à ce que les décisions aient des retombées concrètes. Ses analyses éclairées sont diffusées à la télévision, à la radio, dans des balados et dans les médias nationaux, notamment à APTN National News et à CBC Saskatchewan.
Martin Légaré
Martin Légaré has been with SOCCA since 2002 and is currently general manager of both ABSCAN and SOCCA. He played a key role in the creation of ABSCAN in 2005 and has been the main force behind its housing finance programming. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a certificate in commercial credit. Mr. Légaré is also a member of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
Nanaia Mahuta
Hon. Nanaia Mahuta is a senior Māori leader and former Member of the New Zealand Parliament having served 27years. She made history as the first wāhine (women) Māori to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Māori Development. WIth nearly three decades of experience in government and a strong commitment to Indigenous rights, development, diplomacy, and social equity. Hon Mahuta is an Independent Director serving on a range of tribal governance boards.
She is affiliated with Waikato‑Maniapoto iwi (tribes) and is guided by Māori values and tikanga. Throughout her career, Hon. Mahuta has championed the role of Indigenous knowledge in shaping sustainable, inclusive futures. Her leadership contributed to advancing New Zealand’s work in inclusive trade, climate engagement, and Indigenous international collaboration. She is widely recognised for her long‑standing advocacy for Indigenous partnerships, intergenerational wellbeing, and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Hon. Mahuta now serves as Project Lead for Tauhokohoko – Indigenous Trade and as an Honorary Professor at Te Kotahi Research Institute at the University of Waikato. In this roles, she continues to support Indigenous‑led solutions in global trade and sustainability, helping to bridge Indigenous wisdom with contemporary science and policy, and offering insights into inclusive, future‑focused systems.
Keith Matthew
Dedicated to fostering economic self-sufficiency for Indigenous communities, Keith Matthew’s roles as CEO of Seklep Business Services and Board Director of NACCA provide invaluable insights into economic development, governance, and community leadership.
Keith Matthew, a proud member of the Simpcw First Nation and Chair of NACCA, is a leader in Indigenous economic development with experience in journalism, governance, and industry partnerships. He helped establish Simpcw Resources Ltd. and serves on several national boards, while proudly being father to Gypsi and Jordan.
Shannin Metatawabin
Shannin Metatawabin is Cree/Inninow from the Peetabeck Community of the Mushkegowuk Nation and is the father of four children.
He is CEO of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), an organization representing a national network of 58 Indigenous Financial Institutions that spur economic growth through loans to small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses. Informed by his vision of Indigenous self-reliance, Shannin has increased support to the Indigenous lending network by over half a billion dollars during his tenure at NACCA. He is firmly grounded in his Cree worldview and language and has served as an entrepreneur, commercial lender, business/community developer, and management consultant, assisting with well-over 300 Indigenous business start-ups and expansions.
Shannin is a tireless advocate for meaningful economic reconciliation, creating investment vehicles such as the Indigenous Growth Fund and Indigenous Prosperity Foundation to connect private and philanthropic investors with Indigenous projects. Prior to joining NACCA, he served as Manager of the Aboriginal Affairs and Sustainability with DeBeers and Executive Director of the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation.
M. Shannin Metatawabin est Cri/Inninow issu de la communauté Peetabeck de la Nation Mushkegowuk et père de quatre enfants.
Il est président directeur général de l’Association nationale des sociétés autochtones de financement (NACCA), une organisation nationale regroupant un réseau de 58 institutions financières autochtones dont la mission est de stimuler la croissance économique, grâce à des prêts commerciaux aux petites et moyennes entreprises autochtones. Guidé par sa vision d’autodétermination, Shannin a ainsi contribué au soutien du réseau et à le faire progresser de plus d’un demi-milliard de dollars au cours de son mandat à NACCA. Fermement enraciné dans sa vision du monde et sa langue crie, il a tour à tour été entrepreneur, prêteur commercial, promoteur d’entreprises communautaires et consultant en gestion, contribuant ainsi à plus de 300 démarrages et expansions d’entreprises autochtones.
Shannin est un défenseur infatigable d’une réconciliation économique significative, en créant des véhicules d’investissement tels que le Fonds de croissance autochtone et la Fondation pour la prospérité autochtone afin de mettre en relation des investisseurs privés et philanthropiques avec des projets autochtones. Avant de se joindre à la NACCA, il a été directeur des affaires autochtones et de la durabilité chez DeBeers et directeur exécutif de la Société des services techniques des Premières nations de l’Ontario.
Magnolia Perron
Magnolia Perron is the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), where she is dedicated to advancing Indigenous economic development. She holds a Masters in Indigenous Nationhood from the University of Victoria and a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration from Carleton University. Magnolia is a champion for Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic growth, with extensive experience in advocacy, research, policy, and program development, having worked with numerous Indigenous non- profit organizations.
Magnolia is from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She has been recognized as a 2024 Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade Forty Under 40 recipient, honoring her leadership and impact in the business and Indigenous communities. She is also an active contributor to various Indigenous Advisory Committees, including for companies such as TELUS. Magnolia is committed to creating opportunities for Indigenous communities and leaders, and continues to inspire positive change through her work and leadership.
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is the Director of Programs and Member Services at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) in Ottawa. A member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, he has over 20 years of experience in economic and business development, working with First Nations, organizations, and government. Kevin has served as a Senior Business Development Officer, lecturer, and board director and previously owned Northern Approach, a business consulting firm. In 2017, he became the first First Nations president of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC). Holding a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education, he is also certified as a Professional Economic Developer (EcD) and Aboriginal Professional Administrator (PAED) the first First Nations individual to achieve both designations. An avid outdoorsman and sports coach, Kevin remains dedicated to Indigenous economic growth and self sufficiency.
Kate Russel
Kate Russell is a proud Awabakal woman from Lake Macquarie and is committed to empowering her community. Kate draws on her extensive experience working across public and community sectors and is driven by a desire to promote opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – making sure to approach all programs, policies and initiatives through an intersectional lens. Kate is passionate about engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to co-design programs and services using international best practices to make tangible changes in policy. As a consultant, Kate has worked across multiple policy areas to support the delivery of outcomes and community benefits, with a focus on people and culture programs. Prior to this, she held senior roles at the Department of Planning and Environment, where she oversaw the design and delivery of programs across a portfolio of agencies and over 15,000 staff.
Currently, Kate is the Chair of the Diversity Council Australia’s Indigenous External Advisory and a Director of the Committee for Sydney, as well as member of the inaugural Advisory Board for the ASEAN-Australia Centre (AAC). She previously served as a Director for Yilabara Solutions and Interrelate. In July 2023, she commenced her role as Chief Executive Officer at Supply Nation, the Australian leader in supplier diversity. Kate holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction), an MBA and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.
Travis Seymour
CEO – First Nations Market Housing FundTravis Seymour, a Mohawk from the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, is an accomplished professional and trailblazer. As the first-ever First Nation CEO at the First Nations Market Housing Fund (FNMHF), he leads the organization from its headquarters in Akwesasne. Travis, an FCPA, FCGA, brings extensive expertise as Director of Finance and Administration for FNMHF since 2018. His career spans impactful roles with MNP LLP, the First Nations Financial Management Board, Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Travis holds notable designations as a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager and a Certified Government Audit Professional. Beyond his professional achievements, Travis enjoys outdoor activities like camping and fishing. His accomplishments and dedication make him a respected leader and role model for others in his community and beyond.
Relay Tangie
Relay holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, is a Certified General Accountant Ontario (CPA, CGA) and a fellow with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) UK. Her key strength has been the ability to bring finance and operations together, streamline, develop and implement sustainable processes that prepare organisations for growth and provide timely information used for decision making. Relay is a member of Toastmasters International, volunteers with Junior Achievement Ontario and mentors new migrants into becoming well integrated and functional members of their community.
Nacca Forum
Presenters
Discover an incredible lineup of speakers
2026
Presenters
Elaine Chambers
Elaine is a proud citizen of the Champagne & Aishihik First Nation and of the Crow Clan. Over the past Thirty-Seven years Elaine has been employed with däna Näye Ventures and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. She has served as a valued member of NACCA’s Board of Directors, contributing her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities.
Elaine’s vision and commitment to collaboration will guide NACCA into an exciting new chapter as we continue to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs through the Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFI’s) network and work toward Indigenous Prosperity.
Dominique Collin
Dominique Collin has served as senior advisor with NACCA, ABSCAN, and Ulnooweg on housing finance issues. He will continue to coordinate research, product development, and housing ecosystems modernization efforts. He has more than thirty years of experience in First Nations access to capital issues including micro-credit, business financing, community banking, risk capital, and housing and infrastructure financing. His focus has been on assisting innovative financing solutions developed by First Nation financial institutions that integrate sustainability and financial viability.
Chief Lance Haymond
Mr. Lance Haymond is Algonquin/Anishinabe from Kebaowek First Nation, a community established in the Temiscamingue region of Quebec. He is currently serving his tenth term as Chief of his community.
Chief Haymond has spent a large part of his career on advocacy for more housing to meet his community needs, the region of Quebec and those of all First Nations across the country.
He is heavily involved at the regional and national levels as he is the Chief portfolio holder, responsible of the Housing and Infrastructure file for the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and the Co-chair of the national Chief Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCoHI) at the Assembly of First Nations. He also served as Manager of Aboriginal On Reserve Housing Programs for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Anna Jane Edwards
Anna-Jane Edwards is the Manukura for Amotai. She is driven by an unwavering belief that every child has the right to thrive in Aotearoa. This has led her to explore how economics, indigenous knowledge systems, co-design and systems thinking can be brought together to disrupt the conditions preventing all people from living full and prosperous lives.
Her roles in health and local government over the past 15 years have explored this concept, eventually leading her to co-found Amotai in 2018 where she has recently returned as Manukura.
Anna-Jane believes that supplier diversity, where organisations buy more goods and services from diverse suppliers, is one of the biggest opportunities to grow meaningful economic step-change for Māori and Pasifika.
Anna-Jane shares her home time between raising a resilient, happy, socially, and environmentally conscious little boy and participating at a governance level on a number of organisations including the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Hawaiki Hou Sport New Zealand.
Jennifer Laewetz
Jennifer Laewetz is a proud member of George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, with deep roots in both First Nations and Métis communities. A nationally recognized voice in Indigenous governance and politics, she draws on experience in federal politics and her work as a business owner to help revitalize governance systems, bridge policy and community priorities, and ensure decisions lead to meaningful outcomes. Her insightful commentary is featured on television, radio, podcasts, and national media, including regular appearances on APTN National News and CBC Saskatchewan.
Jennifer Laewetz est une fière membre de la Première Nation de George Gordon, en Saskatchewan, et possède de profondes racines au sein des communautés des Premières Nations et métisses. Reconnue à l’échelle nationale comme une voix influente en gouvernance et en politique autochtones, elle met à profit son expérience en politique fédérale et comme entrepreneure pour revitaliser les systèmes de gouvernance, rapprocher les politiques des priorités communautaires et veiller à ce que les décisions aient des retombées concrètes. Ses analyses éclairées sont diffusées à la télévision, à la radio, dans des balados et dans les médias nationaux, notamment à APTN National News et à CBC Saskatchewan.
Martin Légaré
Martin Légaré has been with SOCCA since 2002 and is currently general manager of both ABSCAN and SOCCA. He played a key role in the creation of ABSCAN in 2005 and has been the main force behind its housing finance programming. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a certificate in commercial credit. Mr. Légaré is also a member of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
Nanaia Mahuta
Hon. Nanaia Mahuta is a senior Māori leader and former Member of the New Zealand Parliament having served 27years. She made history as the first wāhine (women) Māori to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Māori Development. WIth nearly three decades of experience in government and a strong commitment to Indigenous rights, development, diplomacy, and social equity. Hon Mahuta is an Independent Director serving on a range of tribal governance boards.
She is affiliated with Waikato‑Maniapoto iwi (tribes) and is guided by Māori values and tikanga. Throughout her career, Hon. Mahuta has championed the role of Indigenous knowledge in shaping sustainable, inclusive futures. Her leadership contributed to advancing New Zealand’s work in inclusive trade, climate engagement, and Indigenous international collaboration. She is widely recognised for her long‑standing advocacy for Indigenous partnerships, intergenerational wellbeing, and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Hon. Mahuta now serves as Project Lead for Tauhokohoko – Indigenous Trade and as an Honorary Professor at Te Kotahi Research Institute at the University of Waikato. In this roles, she continues to support Indigenous‑led solutions in global trade and sustainability, helping to bridge Indigenous wisdom with contemporary science and policy, and offering insights into inclusive, future‑focused systems.
Keith Matthew
Dedicated to fostering economic self-sufficiency for Indigenous communities, Keith Matthew’s roles as CEO of Seklep Business Services and Board Director of NACCA provide invaluable insights into economic development, governance, and community leadership.
Keith Matthew, a proud member of the Simpcw First Nation and Chair of NACCA, is a leader in Indigenous economic development with experience in journalism, governance, and industry partnerships. He helped establish Simpcw Resources Ltd. and serves on several national boards, while proudly being father to Gypsi and Jordan.
Shannin Metatawabin
Shannin Metatawabin is Cree/Inninow from the Peetabeck Community of the Mushkegowuk Nation and is the father of four children.
He is CEO of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), an organization representing a national network of 58 Indigenous Financial Institutions that spur economic growth through loans to small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses. Informed by his vision of Indigenous self-reliance, Shannin has increased support to the Indigenous lending network by over half a billion dollars during his tenure at NACCA. He is firmly grounded in his Cree worldview and language and has served as an entrepreneur, commercial lender, business/community developer, and management consultant, assisting with well-over 300 Indigenous business start-ups and expansions.
Shannin is a tireless advocate for meaningful economic reconciliation, creating investment vehicles such as the Indigenous Growth Fund and Indigenous Prosperity Foundation to connect private and philanthropic investors with Indigenous projects. Prior to joining NACCA, he served as Manager of the Aboriginal Affairs and Sustainability with DeBeers and Executive Director of the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation.
M. Shannin Metatawabin est Cri/Inninow issu de la communauté Peetabeck de la Nation Mushkegowuk et père de quatre enfants.
Il est président directeur général de l’Association nationale des sociétés autochtones de financement (NACCA), une organisation nationale regroupant un réseau de 58 institutions financières autochtones dont la mission est de stimuler la croissance économique, grâce à des prêts commerciaux aux petites et moyennes entreprises autochtones. Guidé par sa vision d’autodétermination, Shannin a ainsi contribué au soutien du réseau et à le faire progresser de plus d’un demi-milliard de dollars au cours de son mandat à NACCA. Fermement enraciné dans sa vision du monde et sa langue crie, il a tour à tour été entrepreneur, prêteur commercial, promoteur d’entreprises communautaires et consultant en gestion, contribuant ainsi à plus de 300 démarrages et expansions d’entreprises autochtones.
Shannin est un défenseur infatigable d’une réconciliation économique significative, en créant des véhicules d’investissement tels que le Fonds de croissance autochtone et la Fondation pour la prospérité autochtone afin de mettre en relation des investisseurs privés et philanthropiques avec des projets autochtones. Avant de se joindre à la NACCA, il a été directeur des affaires autochtones et de la durabilité chez DeBeers et directeur exécutif de la Société des services techniques des Premières nations de l’Ontario.
Magnolia Perron
Magnolia Perron is the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), where she is dedicated to advancing Indigenous economic development. She holds a Masters in Indigenous Nationhood from the University of Victoria and a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration from Carleton University. Magnolia is a champion for Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic growth, with extensive experience in advocacy, research, policy, and program development, having worked with numerous Indigenous non- profit organizations.
Magnolia is from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She has been recognized as a 2024 Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade Forty Under 40 recipient, honoring her leadership and impact in the business and Indigenous communities. She is also an active contributor to various Indigenous Advisory Committees, including for companies such as TELUS. Magnolia is committed to creating opportunities for Indigenous communities and leaders, and continues to inspire positive change through her work and leadership.
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is the Director of Programs and Member Services at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) in Ottawa. A member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, he has over 20 years of experience in economic and business development, working with First Nations, organizations, and government. Kevin has served as a Senior Business Development Officer, lecturer, and board director and previously owned Northern Approach, a business consulting firm. In 2017, he became the first First Nations president of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC). Holding a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education, he is also certified as a Professional Economic Developer (EcD) and Aboriginal Professional Administrator (PAED) the first First Nations individual to achieve both designations. An avid outdoorsman and sports coach, Kevin remains dedicated to Indigenous economic growth and self sufficiency.
Kate Russel
Kate Russell is a proud Awabakal woman from Lake Macquarie and is committed to empowering her community. Kate draws on her extensive experience working across public and community sectors and is driven by a desire to promote opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – making sure to approach all programs, policies and initiatives through an intersectional lens. Kate is passionate about engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to co-design programs and services using international best practices to make tangible changes in policy. As a consultant, Kate has worked across multiple policy areas to support the delivery of outcomes and community benefits, with a focus on people and culture programs. Prior to this, she held senior roles at the Department of Planning and Environment, where she oversaw the design and delivery of programs across a portfolio of agencies and over 15,000 staff.
Currently, Kate is the Chair of the Diversity Council Australia’s Indigenous External Advisory and a Director of the Committee for Sydney, as well as member of the inaugural Advisory Board for the ASEAN-Australia Centre (AAC). She previously served as a Director for Yilabara Solutions and Interrelate. In July 2023, she commenced her role as Chief Executive Officer at Supply Nation, the Australian leader in supplier diversity. Kate holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction), an MBA and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.
Travis Seymour
Travis Seymour, a Mohawk from the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, is an accomplished professional and trailblazer. As the first-ever First Nation CEO at the First Nations Market Housing Fund (FNMHF), he leads the organization from its headquarters in Akwesasne. Travis, an FCPA, FCGA, brings extensive expertise as Director of Finance and Administration for FNMHF since 2018. His career spans impactful roles with MNP LLP, the First Nations Financial Management Board, Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Travis holds notable designations as a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager and a Certified Government Audit Professional. Beyond his professional achievements, Travis enjoys outdoor activities like camping and fishing. His accomplishments and dedication make him a respected leader and role model for others in his community and beyond.
Relay Tangie
Relay holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, is a Certified General Accountant Ontario (CPA, CGA) and a fellow with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) UK. Her key strength has been the ability to bring finance and operations together, streamline, develop and implement sustainable processes that prepare organisations for growth and provide timely information used for decision making. Relay is a member of Toastmasters International, volunteers with Junior Achievement Ontario and mentors new migrants into becoming well integrated and functional members of their community.