Xwchíyò:m Territory, Rosedale, BC (March 14th, 2023) The Cheam First Nation Chief and Council and Cheam Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors are pleased to announce a three-year appointment of Michael J. McDonald, K.C. (Mike McDonald) to the Cheam Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors.
An “expression of interest” to join the Cheam Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors was posted publicly early in October of 2022 and closed in early December of 2022. The Interview selection committee had the difficult task to recommend a successful candidate amongst the excellent applicants who were selected for an interview.
Mike McDonald is of Cree descent and a member of the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. His mother is a Norway House Cree Nation member in northern Manitoba. Mike retired from full-time law practice on December 31, 2022 and is now excited to use his extra time to support well-positioned Indigenous Businesses such as Cheam Enterprises Inc. Throughout his professional life, he has been a trusted legal advisor to Indigenous and business leaders in and outside of the Indigenous context in forestry, energy, mining, construction, environmental, and real estate contexts.
Professional Highlights:
- He currently sits as a member of the Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2017.
- Became a national leader in Impact Benefit Agreements acting on some of Canada’s largest projects in the infrastructure, mining, energy, resort, real estate, construction, and forestry contexts.
- Leading lawyer in the Indigenous Business, Indigenous Law and Governance, and Environmental Law contexts. Mike is ranked nationally by Lexpert for his expertise in Indigenous Law and Mining Law.
- Mr. McDonald’s career has instilled policy changes to Aboriginal consultation and accommodation, resulting in the “McDonald Model of Negotiation” a precedent for Aboriginal-commercial engagement now widely used across Canada as well as changes to the BC Law Society in creating and implementing a Reconciliation Plan and bringing in mandatory Indigenous intercultural competency training for all lawyers in BC..
“We are pleased to welcome Mike to the CEI Board,” said Andrew Victor, Chief of Cheam First Nation and CEI Director. “Mike’s experience in First Nation business and governance and prestigious legal career will be invaluable to Cheam Enterprises Inc. as we grow our business and pursue our mission to build businesses and career opportunities for our Members.”