For Indigenous Entrepreneurs Only

This session will provide First Nation leadership and economic development staff with a practical overview of Indigenous Participation Plans (IPPs) as they are increasingly used in major infrastructure and procurement processes. The session will focus on how IPPs function as economic tools , not consultation or rights agreements, and how communities can engage with them strategically to advance employment, business participation, training, and long-term capacity building.

Using real project examples, the discussion will highlight why early preparation and clarity of community priorities matter, how IPPs might be scored within competitive bid processes, and what communities can realistically influence within tight procurement timelines. The session will also emphasize readiness: understanding community assets, workforce and business capacity, internal governance roles, and how to position a First Nation to move from reactive engagement to informed, community-driven participation.

Our featured speaker, Michael Jacobs of CIPS, will lead an important discussion on how IPPs support community‑driven economic participation.