The Build Canada initiative prioritizes Indigenous partnerships as a core pillar of major infrastructure development. Embedding Indigenous values and decision-making into commercial operations has shown measurable results, including: enhanced environmental stewardship, strengthened community engagement, and reduced operational friction.
As one of North America’s largest construction and engineering organizations, Kiewit consistently works on some of the industry’s most complex, challenging projects. With their institutional knowledge of the industry, Kiewit has moved to build long-term collaborative partnerships with Indigenous nations to improve their operational efficiency.
In anticipation of the upcoming 8th Annual Conference, Senior Vice President of Kiewit, Ryan Tones, shares a few insights on how Indigenous nations are propelling organizations like Kiewit to strategize and meet the demands of a shifting market and more.
Question: From your perspective, how are Indigenous nations able to help organizations like yours strategize to meet the demands of a shifting market?
The support of Indigenous nations is critical to the success of major infrastructure and energy projects—for both owners and contractors. By engaging early, we gain access to diverse perspectives, build meaningful community relationships, and foster the trust necessary for projects to advance in a positive and sustainable way. Indigenous nations also play a key role in workforce development by collaborating on training programs that both create employment opportunities within their communities and help address labour shortages across the industry.
Increasingly, we’re seeing alternative and progressive delivery models—such as CMAR or progressive design-build—create more space for this kind of meaningful collaboration early in the project lifecycle, aligning values and outcomes from the outset.
Question: Given the current landscape in infrastructure and energy developments, how are the conversations and engagements evolving with respect to Indigenous partnerships in both the short and long term?
Indigenous partnerships in infrastructure and energy developments are evolving to emphasize sustainability, equity, and long-term collaboration. Discussions are increasingly focused on Indigenous ownership and economic participation in projects, supported by initiatives like federal loan guarantees. Looking ahead, we see Indigenous-led renewable energy developments shaping Canada’s energy landscape—driving innovation while respecting cultural values and environmental stewardship.
At the same time, the shift toward more collaborative delivery models is supporting this evolution, creating frameworks that prioritize transparency, shared decision-making, and long-term value for all impacted groups.
Question: What are you most looking forward to at the 8th Annual FNMPC Conference?
The Kiewit team is looking forward to engaging with Indigenous, industry, and government leaders to explore the future of infrastructure and energy development in Canada. The FNMPC conference consistently delivers actionable insights that help shape our business practices and strengthen our partnerships.
We’re particularly interested in discussions around how progressive project delivery can support Indigenous inclusion and leadership in major projects. The growing attendance and representation each year is a testament to the important work FNMPC is leading, and Kiewit is proud to be a Sustaining Partner.
Register now and join Kiewit at #FNMPC2025.