Guiding First Nation, industry, and economic development leaders toward shared success and sustainable prosperity
empowering human, fiscal, and technical capacity
Indigenous relations
Professional development
Empowering leaders and youth with training, mentorship, and career pathways or guidance in resources, energy, and environmental sustainability.
Communications
Crafting effective messaging and engagement strategies to enhance Indigenous representation, industry collaboration, and public awareness in resource development.
Nation building
Strengthening First Nations self-governance, economic independence, and sustainable development through strategic planning, investment, and capacity-building initiatives.
Technology STrategy
Designing innovative digital solutions that support Indigenous governance, resource management, and sustainability in the natural resource sector.
Matchmaking
Connecting First Nations, industry, and investors to foster sustainable partnerships, economic opportunities, and responsible resource development.
The Partners
Edgard Cruz
Edgard Villanueva Cruz is a budding leader and entrepreneur with a a mission to support the needs of Indigenous communities. As a Tahltan Nation member and a confident, engaging public speaker, Edgard leverages his leadership skills, honed through mentorship and hands-on experience, to drive impactful initiatives in youth leadership, policy development, and strategic advisory. His work embodies a collective, unified, and reciprocal approach, ensuring the needs of youth are met, and the protocol of the respective nation followed.
Edgard has a proven track record in youth leadership development and policy negotiations. His strategic approach, coupled with his ability to navigate complex policy environments, has been instrumental in advancing Indigenous youth initiatives, ensuring they are supported by a strong network of community leaders, government representatives, and other stakeholders. His skill in driving campaigns that resonate with Indigenous values is a hallmark of his leadership, instilling confidence in his abilities.
Edgard’s entrepreneurial journey began in Vancouver’s inner city, where he established TriBlend Consulting. Through this venture, Edgard has successfully collaborated with community service providers, Aboriginal representative organizations, and government agencies to create a coordinated support network for Indigenous youth. This experience has equipped him with the skills to manage and scale initiatives that drive social impact and economic development. Initiatives include the ‘Our Place, Our Home, Our Vision Implementation Committee,’ ‘Everyone Has a Place in the Circle,’ ‘DMZ Indigenous Launchpad’ and the ‘CAP Political Accord Committee Negotiations.’
Edgard follows a strategic, values-driven approach to enterprising and community development. His deep understanding of Indigenous needs, combined with his entrepreneurial expertise, makes him a valuable partner in creating solutions that are not only effective but also culturally aligned. He currently sits on the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Youth Council, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association Indigenous Youth Business Advisory Committee, and the Aboriginal Life In Vancouver Enhancement Society Board of directors supporting communities locally and nationally.
Ethan Clark
Founding Partner
Ethan began his career in politics and advocacy, focusing on off-reserve and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. He primarily worked as a communications consultant with organizations at the municipal, provincial, and national levels, successfully engaging tens of thousands of Indigenous peoples in urban centers. He ensured urban Indigenous communities were aware of their rights and could voice their aspirations and desired changes within their governments and communities. Additionally, he led youth personal and professional development projects while involving them in policy development and implementation.
As an entrepreneur, Ethan has founded and launched various Indigenous-focused companies in marketing, consultancy, and technology. Through his ventures, he has engaged Indigenous communities globally, unifying their peoples and upholding their traditional economic, environmental, and social systems using advanced technologies. His innovative work in blockchain architecture has created some of the most advanced decentralized financial models and governance frameworks to date, optimizing Indigenous peoples’ political leverage and economic sustainability based on historical importance.
Ethan ensures that true communication and engagement occur at the community level, accounting for the aspirations of all stakeholders while working with community leadership. He has effectively bridged the language barriers between traditional Indigenous worldviews and Western corporate practices within many different projects.
He always analyzes Indigenous peoples’ high-level economic, social, and environmental impacts in all his work. He believes that any decision affecting Indigenous lands must follow the protocols of the respective Nation, dialectic, and clan. Engaging only with band councils or government agencies is not only harmful to Indigenous culture and rights but also detrimental to the planet’s sustainability, given the critical role of Indigenous rights in environmental protection. Ethan ensures that every project he undertakes aligns with traditional protocols and leverages the most innovative technologies available.
