Catalyste+ at PDAC 2026: Shared value and Indigenous leadership

Indigenous-led entrepreneurship can generate long-term mutually beneficially outcomes and shared value in resource economies, with Indigenous women driving transformative change. 

Catalyste+ hosted a panel discussion on March 3 at the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, titled “Shared value and Indigenous leadership: Advancing inclusive entrepreneurship in resource economies”. 

Four women speakers, who work at Indigenous-led organizations or work closely with Indigenous communities, joined André Xavier from Catalyste+ for conversations centered on economic diversification, intergenerational leadership, and community well-being through work and lived experiences, building and nurturing Indigenous-centered enterprises.

Panelists:

Catherine Tegelberg Director, Community Economic Development at Lundin Foundation 

Michele-Elise Burnett President at Kakekalanicks

Natalie Pennefather Director of Lands and Economic Development at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Peggy Domingue Executive Director at Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA)

The Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA) is a non-profit organization established to support Indigenous businesses, Economic Development Officers, and First Nations communities across Ontario. Peggy Domingue, Executive Director, says that companies have to learn and understand Indigenous priorities, and use them to guide conversations from day one. 

“True value aligns projects with the community,” says Peggy. “With our First Nation communities, with our land use plans, our cultural priorities, our youth goals…That’s how we’re going to achieve true value and shared value.”

Mining is a complex sector, and it’s crucial for enterprises and their partners to root their work in Indigenous culture and values, sustainability, and local governance for ethical longevity. 

Showing up with an open mind and a willingness to learn and listen is fundamental for relationship building, says Natalie Pennefather, Director of Lands and Economic Development at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). Developing those relationships also requires consistency and honesty, because long-term relationships lead to benefits for everyone involved. 

“Communities are not stakeholders, they are rights holders,” says Natalie. She encourages companies and organizations in any sector to engage with First Nations communities and Indigenous partners, and ask about their protocols, goals, community history and identity, and what’s important to them and their people.

From left to right: André Xavier, Catherine Tegelberg, Michele-Elise Burnett, Natalie Pennefather, Peggy Domingue

The Lundin Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to creating lasting benefits for communities impacted by resource operations. With the support of Catalyste+, the Lundin Foundation has been working in Ecuador for the past four years and developed a network of women entrepreneurs titled “Soy Emprendedora”. The network provides opportunities to women to have access to resources, coaching, and mentorship to develop their business, and some of the entrepreneurs have supplied the Fruta del Norte mine with goods and services.

“It’s important for mining companies to go beyond compliance to intentionally support inclusive economic ecosystems, especially in early stage exploration of development,” says Catherine Tegelberg, Director, Community Economic Development at Lundin Foundation. “When we think of an economic system in a local community, that sense of interconnectedness is really critical.”

Indigenous-led economic development begins with sharing Indigenous stories, practices, and knowledge. Michele-Elise Burnett, founder and creative lead of Kakekalanicks, works with “Elders, artists, Knowledge Keepers, and historians to co-create public experiences that are emotionally resonant and historically grounded.” Kakekalanicks offer multi-sensory exhibits and audio installations that turn complex histories into felt understanding, including a trail walk that connects visitors to Indigenous teachings.

Catalyste+ has been working with Indigenous communities in Canada for nearly 60 years, fostering enduring relationships grounded in Indigenous worldviews. 

Through our Natural Resources Management programs, Catalyste+ aims to strengthen the institutional and management capacity of governments, civil society organizations and private sector partners; while ensuring that the extraction of minerals and metals benefits all stakeholders, rights holders and leads to sustainable development.

“This is not a short-term relationship, this is a long-term relationship,” says Peggy. “We need to invest in the soft infrastructure, as well as the trust and shared history of working together for a common good.”