Billie Fortier to speak on Indigenous Energy Sovereignty

MLT Aikins lawyer Billie Fortier will be speaking at Forward Summit West on May 13, 2026, on Tsuut’ina Nation. 

She will be joining moderator Steven Vaivada (President, Scout Engineering and Consulting Ltd.) and fellow panellists Hillary Thatcher (Executive Vice President, Indigenous & Northern Infrastructure, Canada Infrastructure Bank) and Raylene Whitford (Director, Canative Energy) on Powering Partnership: Energy, Policy, and Indigenous Sovereignty. This 60-minute fireside chat will explore how governments and Indigenous Nations can move from consultation to true partnership in advancing energy projects and ownership. 

From accelerating major projects to navigating regulatory complexity, the discussion will focus on enabling Indigenous energy sovereignty through smarter policy, capacity support, and multi-nation collaboration. 

Billie Fortier, as well as members of the MLT Aikins Indigenous practice group including lawyers Sydney Thomson, Tyler Fidler and Kayla Kreutzer will be available on-site throughout the Summit – visit us at Booth #5 to connect. 

About Billie 

Billie represents Indigenous communities and businesses in negotiations with resource companies to establish joint ventures and other business relationships. She has been recognized since 2022 in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for her work in Aboriginal Law and has direct experience advising Indigenous communities on partnerships and equity investments.  

She also advises the leadership of First Nations and Métis communities on a variety of matters, including corporate structuring of Indigenous-owned businesses, financial administration and governance, including drafting laws and bylaws. She also advises clients across a number of industries on general commercial matters and in connection with mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. She is a member of the Fort McKay First Nation.  

About Forward Summit  

Forward Summit brings together the very best of Indigenous and non-Indigenous business and community leaders. Attendees can embrace the limitless possibilities that come with meeting decision-makers from a variety of industries as business and community leaders collectively chart a new course into the future of leadership and innovation.  

About our Indigenous practice area  

MLT Aikins has a longstanding partnership with First Nations and Métis and their businesses across Canada. Our Indigenous practice area works collaboratively across sectors to advocate for the rights and interests of Indigenous communities. Our legal experience includes providing counsel to Indigenous communities on legislative drafting and implementation, economic ventures, jurisdictional matters and rights-based litigation, as well as establishing tax laws and corporate structures and engaging in landmark Aboriginal law cases. Additionally, our lawyers advise on construction and infrastructure projects, negotiate resource sector agreements, assist with environmental impact assessments and support the exercise of governance in respect of Indigenous lands and traditional territories.  

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