Stephen Buffalo
Chair, Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
We are witnessing a new chapter in Indigenous economic development. One where our communities are no longer treated as stakeholders to be consulted after the fact, but as partners with the right to shape, lead, and benefit from the growth of Canada’s economy.
At Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, we are proud to be part of this transformation. Our model works because it is built on the understanding that Indigenous groups are not obstacles to development — we are essential to it. We have always known that prosperity and stewardship can go hand in hand. The broader public is finally catching up.
This past year has reinforced the critical importance of Indigenous voices in the resource economy. Across the country, there is growing recognition that Canada’s energy potential — its ability to support jobs, national sovereignty, and social services — depends on meaningful Indigenous participation. That includes full access to capital, to infrastructure, and to the decision-making tables where our future is being shaped.
AIOC exists to make that access possible. Over the past five years, we have backed nine transactions representing over $745 million in Indigenous investment. Our program has benefited 43 First Nations and Métis communities. These are more than numbers. They represent sportsplexes built, education funds grown, jobs created, and nations charting their own path forward.
The Government of Alberta’s decision to triple AIOC’s loan guarantee capacity to $3 billion, and to expand our mandate into new sectors like tourism, speaks to the success of our model. But it also speaks to a bigger truth: the tide is turning. There is a growing understanding that the future of Canada’s economy is inseparable from the full economic inclusion of Indigenous Peoples.
We know the work is not done. Our communities continue to face systemic barriers rooted in outdated legislation and underinvestment. But momentum is on our side. We are proactively moving forward with purpose, and with partners who share our vision of prosperity, sovereignty, and self-determination.
On behalf of the AIOC Board of Directors, I want to thank the Indigenous groups, leaders, industry partners, and governments who continue to believe in this work. I’d also like to extend our gratitude to our CEO, Chana Martineau, whose leadership has helped turn possibility into progress, and to our Board members who bring wisdom and dedication to every decision.