Indigenous Relations Training

Michael Etherington is currently an Indigenous Relations Consultant and is dedicated on supporting organizations advancing Indigenous relations & meaningful engagement with career highlights that include: TEDx Talk Speaker, United Nations Keynote Habitat for Humanity 2nd World Summit, inaugural invited speaker for Treaty Recognition Week alongside former Premier Wynne and appearing in multiple national and international news outlets.

Michael has always stayed connected to community, spending much of his personal time volunteering through Passages Canada as a speaker to schools, colleges, and universities. This, along with his prior experience as Manager of ReconciliACTION with Downie Wenjack Fund, Cultural Program Manager of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, and trainer for the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, have garnered Michael the personal and professional recognition as a valued speaker. He is an Omushkego-Cree from Treaty No.9 and member of Fort Albany First Nation. He is proud of his culture, traditions and values that guide his work today on national and international stages. In 2022 he was songwriter and executive producer of song “Bring the Children Home” premiere on CTV National News and City TV Breakfast Television as call for unity, healing and to commemorate Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools. His message is rooted in one of hope, forgiveness and relational thinking to building a better future for Canada.

Matt is an author, a keynote speaker, communication consultant, and a leading expert on Canadian workplace culture. He has written two books: Canadian Workplace Culture: Mastering the Unspoken Rules and Would You Hire You? Matt is also an experienced course facilitator and has delivered countless talks, seminars, and professional courses on diversity, career development, leadership strategies, business writing, resiliency, conflict management, communication skills, emotional intelligence, building trust, and Indigenous history and culture.

Matt holds a B.A. in Indigenous Studies and History from Laurentian University and an M.A. in Communication Management from the University of South Australia. Overall, he has been teaching English, History, Culture, and Communication for 25 years in Korea, Japan, Macao, and Canada. Apart from his professional work, his other activities have included: volunteer, career coach, communication/media consultant, actor, writer, radio DJ, studio musician, speech writer. Also, he became the first TV English News presenter in Macau’s broadcasting history in 2004.

Also, Matt is a citizen of the Métis Nation and a founding member of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in 1993. He was elected as the first Post-Secondary Representative on the Provisional Council for the MNO. His family & heritage are deeply connected to the Red River Métis and his ancestors played a significant role in the events leading up to Manitoba entering into confederation in 1870.

Lyle is currently a Cultural Advisory and Consultant at Indigenous Omega. As an Indigenous Relations Consultant, Lyle helps companies build respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities. He has over eight years of experience in providing consultation and education services on Indigenous engagement and consultation strategies, cultural awareness, and treaty rights.

Lyle leverages his unique experience to create and deliver presentations, workshops, and training materials that foster understanding and appreciation of Indigenous perspectives and values. He also support companies in developing and implementing policies and programs that protect Indigenous sovereignty and community agency. His goal is to facilitate meaningful and sustainable partnerships that advance reconciliation and social justice.

Originally from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. Reg is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelors Degree. With over 25 years of business development experience and expertise in working with Indigenous communities, organizations and institutions. Reg operates under a simple MOTTO of “Honesty, Integrity, Balance”, which derives from his strong spiritual and cultural upbringing.

As the former Economic Development Officer for his Nation, he spearheaded the development and operational structure of the Nakota Crossing Petro-Canada located on highway 43 at the Thomas Potts Business Park.

To his valor, Reg has held numerous leadership roles including: Economic Development Officer & Interim Finance Manager (Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation) Director, Partnerships & Indigenous Development (Backwoods Energy Services), Chief Executive Officer (Wicihitowin Circle of Shared Responsibility Society); Director of Operations (George Gordon First Nation); Administrative Manager (Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre).

Moving our Indigenous communities and clients forward one hand shake at a time.

Meghan is excited for the chance to get involved in such meaningful work in advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. This is particularly meaningful for her as a descendant of settlers and someone who started her career working in indigenous affairs with Government of Canada well over a decade ago.

Over the course of her 15-year career as a facilitator, community organizer, and event planner, Meghan has led dozens of sessions from strategic retreats and visioning sessions through to workshops and courses to various audiences from the public sector executives to adult learners to young people and kindergartners. Most notably, she has recently delivered 15 cohorts of the digital executive leadership program with the Institute on Governance in Ottawa to more than 200 public sector executives from a wide range of backgrounds.

In addition to co-founding Civic Tech Toront and leading Canada's first Civic Design Camp in Toronto, Meghan’s professional experience includes working in a variety of roles with organizations like Code for Canada, the City of Toronto Civic Innovation Office (part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies global i-team network), Veterans Affairs Canada, Service Canada and other parts of the Government of Canada, MaRS Solutions Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University's the Dais (formerly Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship) and Samara Canada.

As a facilitator, Meghan draw on a wide toolkit of practices and techniques intended to create inclusive and transformative experiences for learners and participants. Whether pulling from the art of hosting, a liberating structures with deep democracy and open space technology, she have a deep understanding of how to plan, design and host memorable sessions that drives towards powerful outcomes. Meghan’s background, passion and skills will help provide you and your participants with compelling and informative experiences that help them grow and learn meaningful lasting change.

Angeline is the Principal Consultant at Indigenous Omega, and her experience working in both the public and private sector gave her a unique perspective on the landscape of Organizational Indigenous Relations. She developed the model used by organizations to improve both their internal capacities and their external relationships as part of her Indigenous Relations philosophy.