YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Fiona Blondin has taken her leadership skills to KWG Resources as the Ontario-based exploration company attempts to advance its projects in the Ring of Fire.

Blondin worked at the Ekati mine for three years when it was owned by BHP and still in its early stages of development. Filling a role in the securities division, she witnessed the mine progress from the construction phase to becoming operational.

SA国际影视传媒淚 look back at that period of time as being foundational in my career and in my approach,SA国际影视传媒� says Blondin, who was in her early 20s during that period. SA国际影视传媒淚 really felt that it opened up a lot of opportunities for our people around employment and I really learned a lot from that experience SA国际影视传媒� I learned a lot about the impact of policies within the organization for Indigenous people. I learned a lot about how Indigenous people can play a greater role.

SA国际影视传媒淭wenty-five years ago, our role within mining was really surrounding employment SA国际影视传媒� 25 years later, our whole sector and our participation within mining companies has really dramatically evolved.SA国际影视传媒�

It is with that mindset that she accepted an appointment as a director on KWG ResourceSA国际影视传媒檚 board in September. She says boards are starting to become more diverse and inclusive.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to have representation (from Indigenous communities)SA国际影视传媒� the companies that we work with should understand our values around the environment, should understand why weSA国际影视传媒檙e taking the approach that we are,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淚 think that Indigenous communities have an expectation that the people they work with reflect their own populations.SA国际影视传媒�

She points to various examples around the country where Indigenous groups have taken an ownership stake in mining projects, such as the Tahltan First Nation partnering with Skeena Resources on a gold project in British ColumbiaSA国际影视传媒檚 Golden Triangle.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Tahltan are really taking a leadership role in their approach to working with mining companies and their approach to the Golden Triangle, and their personal investment as a nation in ownership as Indigenous businesses, as a nation and even potential owners and investors within mining,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

SA国际影视传媒�(Indigenous people) are making a huge impact on the Canadian economy at this point. I really believe that we have strong connections to the land. We have strong connections to each other, and we strong we respect for each otherSA国际影视传媒� ISA国际影视传媒檓 also starting to see a greater change in strategic alliances that are building with Indigenous communities, when youSA国际影视传媒檙e starting to have more than one community SA国际影视传媒� sometimes more than five communities SA国际影视传媒� work together to createSA国际影视传媒� business alliances or alliances for the region.SA国际影视传媒�

After working with BHP, Blondin was hired by Sheila Copps, then-minister of Canadian Heritage, which exposed her to the distribution of core funding for off-reserve First Nations as well as SA国际影视传媒減owers shaping the countrySA国际影视传媒� while in Ottawa.

From there, she took a position with Ishkonigan, a consulting firm owned by Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. She referred to Fontaine as an SA国际影视传媒渋nspiring leader nationally,SA国际影视传媒� and the role she took on as SA国际影视传媒渞eally transformative.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his was so valuable in refining my approach to the work that I do to this day with Indigenous communities,SA国际影视传媒� she recalls.

SA国际影视传媒楽upport that visionSA国际影视传媒�

Blondin emphasized that the key to moving forward for industry is to truly understand the goals that Indigenous groups set for themselves: SA国际影视传媒淟etting the communities lead the way and what we can do to support that vision,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淓ach nation has different concerns. Whether youSA国际影视传媒檙e Indigenous or non-Indigenous, I think that we all have a huge investment in the environment. Even sitting on the board of directors for a mining company, I feel highly invested in the environment. I feel highly invested in our approach and what we plan to still have seven generations from now.SA国际影视传媒�

Earlier this year, she became director of Indigneous Strategy with Cormorant Utility Services, based in Cambridge, Ont., about 90 minutes outside of Toronto. She was thoroughly impressed with John Risley, a major shareholder in Cormorant, who sold half of Clearwater Seafoods to Indigenous ownership in 2020.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I came to Cormorant Utility, I knew I was in the right place,SA国际影视传媒� says Blondin.

KWG Resources is exploring chromite deposits in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, part of mineral-rich area known as the Ring of Fire. Chromite is integral in the making of stainless steel.

The board of directorsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渇ocal pointSA国际影视传媒� will be working with Indigenous communities, she says.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel highly invested in the outcome of communities and the work that theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing with mining. I feel invested in seeing our people create opportunities for our own nation. I feel like those key pieces of my experience and approach is what ISA国际影视传媒檓 bringing to KWG Resources,SA国际影视传媒� says Blondin, now a 49-year-old grandmother. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel strongly about Indigenous ownership and the opportunity should always be for all the Indigenous communities to have the first chance to own all project-related infrastructure and, potentially, mine sites themselves and I bring that strong vision with me to the work that I do with boards of directors.SA国际影视传媒�

Blondin spent the early part of her childhood in Yellowknife.

Her mom, Georgina, attended the University of Alberta to attain her teaching degree, bringing Fiona with her while she was in elementary school. Her aunt Ethel Blondin-Andrew also earned a teaching degree. All three of them then moved to Fort Providence where her mom and Ethel worked as teachers.

Her mother later moved to Vancouver to pursue her masterSA国际影视传媒檚 degree.

Although Fiona has been living in Ontario for the past two decades, she still feels a strong connection to the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I wake up in the morning I think about home, I think about home, about the North,SA国际影视传媒� she says.