The National Energy Business Centre of Excellence is a program of the Indian Resource Council. The IRC was founded in 1987 by Chiefs representing oil and gas producing First Nations. For more information about the Indian Resource Council, please visit their website http://www.indianresourcecouncil.ca/
The Business Centre is a program of the Indian Resource Council and was established in 2008 to p
rovide resources for First Nations to gain a better understanding of the oil and gas business. First Nations recognize the opportunities in their oil and gas resources offer, therefore, the need for them to play a larger role other than passive owners of resources collecting royalties. Increasing numbers of First Nation members are getting relevant education and training, and are seeking opportunities in the development of their oil and gas resources. IRC was founded in 1987 by Chiefs representing the oil and gas producing First Nations, following the recommendation of a task force that was established to study the role of the Crown in the management of First Nations oil and natural gas resources. An expanded and restructured Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC) was established at the same time. The work and activities of the IRC are guided by the mandates that were approved and adopted at previous AGM’s in 1993 and 1995. These mandates, which are currently being revamped, are as follows:
To support First Nations in their efforts to attain greater management and control of their oil and natural gas resources;
To complement initiatives by individual First Nations to gain economic self reliance and to ensure the preservation of the Crown Trust obligations under Treaties with First Nations;
To coordinate the promotion of initiatives with Federal and provincial governments, with industry and with other groups associated with oil, natural gas and related activities to enhance economic benefits realized by the First Nations from resource development;
To encourage a greater development and utilization of First Nations human resources in oil, natural gas and related activities;
To transform IOGC into a First Nations institution, working in partnership with the IOGC co-management Board. To this end work towards the establishment of an oil and gas business centre, and a First Nations oil and gas institution in the long term. The Indian Resource Council conducted a national GAP analysis to better understand the issues facing First Nations. The GAP analysis showed that First Nations involved in oil and gas developments do not have sufficient expertise or access to information/expertise to be fully informed players in the development process. First Nations tend to be isolated from one another, both physically and in terms of communicating/sharing information relevant to oil and gas developments. The conclusion of the analysis was that a major gap existed in terms of the services that First Nations needed in order to participate effectively in the development process and maximize both the wealth and employment possibilities from specific developments. The IRC provides a collective voice for oil and gas producing First Nations in all regions of Canada. The IRC also works with government and industry to ensure that interests and rights of their members are well represented. Our vision is to ensure that First Nations attain greater management and control of their oil and gas resources without the Crown relinquishing its trust and fiduciary obligations respecting our lands and resources. For these important roles to be fulfilled it is essential that an online resource be available to provide members with up-to-date information and to allow the general public to learn more about us.
