Full Name
Justin Bourque
Title
President
Company
Asokan Generational Developments
Speaker Bio
Justin is an experienced and passionate leader with 27 years of diverse Industry and Indigenous Community development experience.
Presently, he is Founder and President of Âsokan Generational Developments, a consulting firm providing strategic advisory services focused on bridging the gap between Industry and Indigenous Communities.
As a passionate Indigenous leader, Justin is deeply committed to enhancing the relationships between corporations and Indigenous Communities. With extensive experience in both, he sees the value in mutually beneficial relationships. Building Indigenous resilience, economic sovereignty and shareholder value through development and management of meaningful partnerships between Indigenous Communities and Industry. He has been at the forefront of ideating, developing and successfully executing a number of major projects, both greenfield and brownfield, representing Indigenous Communities as well as corporate clients. These projects included a number of complex Indigenous equity ownership transactions, where he has served in diverse roles, including as an advisor, management committee representative, project lead, lead negotiator, Indigenous Community leader, President and Director of the Board post-closing. Most recently, Justin has played an integral role in three major Indigenous equity transactions worth approximately $2.6 billion and involving more than 35 unique Indigenous Communities throughout Alberta. As part of executing these transactions, Justin supported the raise of nearly $0.5 billion in capital.
These transactions included a landmark deal between 23 Indigenous Nations and Enbridge in the purchase of an 11.57% working interest in seven major pipelines within the Athabasca oil sands system in northern Alberta, the largest Indigenous energy partnership in North America to date. Justin played a key role in the creation of Athabasca Indigenous Investments, the limited partnership of 23 diverse Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 First Nations and Métis communities located in northern Alberta who came together to invest in the Enbridge-operated pipelines.
Justin’s unique vision, significant experience in Alberta’s energy sector and Indigenous Community development, paired with his traditional upbringing and values, provide him with a unique, holistic perspective, enabling him to bridge the gap between the Western and the Indigenous worlds. By building bridges between Indigenous Communities, Industry and government organizations, while promoting the strictest standards of governance, Justin has established a reputation as an influential Indigenous leader throughout the business community, and a relentless advocate for Indigenous prosperity. He has advised local, provincial and federal governments as well as Industry on the dynamics of Indigenous partnerships and is often featured in local and national events, conferences and in the media.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership and invaluable contributions to Indigenous Communities, in December 2022, Justin was awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. In November 2023, Âsokan was added to the Indigenomics Institute 10 To Watch List for demonstrating excellence and leadership in the emerging $100 billion Indigenous economy. Justin was also named one of Canada’s Top 20 Dynamic CEOs by The CEO Publication; One of 10 Most Innovative Business Leaders to Follow in 2022 by CIO Views; and Top 50 Under 50 by YMM. He has also been awarded the JA Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame "Innovator" Award for his forward-thinking leadership and innovative spirit during his tenure as CEO of Willow Lake Métis Nation in Anzac, Alberta. During his time as CEO, Justin built the Nation’s innovative governance and ESG frameworks, and forged several strategic partnerships to create revenue and job opportunities, spur community development, and secure the Nation’s future. Under his leadership, Willow Lake Métis became a self-governing Nation. In addition, through the Sohkastwâwin initiative, which in Cree means “the act of being resilient”, the previously landless Nation purchased 205 acres of land that it plans to reclaim and develop in a sustainable way, providing their community a home for the first time.
Justin was born and raised in the community of Willow Lake/Anzac and is proud to call it home. He is a traditional harvester, trapper and land user and continues to exercise his rights on the land, passing his knowledge on to his community and kin. He is also Owner and Operator of Traditional Teachings Inc., an Indigenous business providing land-based learning to the youth.
Justin takes great pride in both his home and his Métis upbringing, which instilled in him a deep connection to the land, environmental stewardship, cultural integrity, and respect for the governance his ancestors promoted. He has a true passion for all Indigenous Peoples and communities and continually strives to build capacity, develop partnerships, and maintain cultural connections.
Presently, he is Founder and President of Âsokan Generational Developments, a consulting firm providing strategic advisory services focused on bridging the gap between Industry and Indigenous Communities.
As a passionate Indigenous leader, Justin is deeply committed to enhancing the relationships between corporations and Indigenous Communities. With extensive experience in both, he sees the value in mutually beneficial relationships. Building Indigenous resilience, economic sovereignty and shareholder value through development and management of meaningful partnerships between Indigenous Communities and Industry. He has been at the forefront of ideating, developing and successfully executing a number of major projects, both greenfield and brownfield, representing Indigenous Communities as well as corporate clients. These projects included a number of complex Indigenous equity ownership transactions, where he has served in diverse roles, including as an advisor, management committee representative, project lead, lead negotiator, Indigenous Community leader, President and Director of the Board post-closing. Most recently, Justin has played an integral role in three major Indigenous equity transactions worth approximately $2.6 billion and involving more than 35 unique Indigenous Communities throughout Alberta. As part of executing these transactions, Justin supported the raise of nearly $0.5 billion in capital.
These transactions included a landmark deal between 23 Indigenous Nations and Enbridge in the purchase of an 11.57% working interest in seven major pipelines within the Athabasca oil sands system in northern Alberta, the largest Indigenous energy partnership in North America to date. Justin played a key role in the creation of Athabasca Indigenous Investments, the limited partnership of 23 diverse Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 First Nations and Métis communities located in northern Alberta who came together to invest in the Enbridge-operated pipelines.
Justin’s unique vision, significant experience in Alberta’s energy sector and Indigenous Community development, paired with his traditional upbringing and values, provide him with a unique, holistic perspective, enabling him to bridge the gap between the Western and the Indigenous worlds. By building bridges between Indigenous Communities, Industry and government organizations, while promoting the strictest standards of governance, Justin has established a reputation as an influential Indigenous leader throughout the business community, and a relentless advocate for Indigenous prosperity. He has advised local, provincial and federal governments as well as Industry on the dynamics of Indigenous partnerships and is often featured in local and national events, conferences and in the media.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership and invaluable contributions to Indigenous Communities, in December 2022, Justin was awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. In November 2023, Âsokan was added to the Indigenomics Institute 10 To Watch List for demonstrating excellence and leadership in the emerging $100 billion Indigenous economy. Justin was also named one of Canada’s Top 20 Dynamic CEOs by The CEO Publication; One of 10 Most Innovative Business Leaders to Follow in 2022 by CIO Views; and Top 50 Under 50 by YMM. He has also been awarded the JA Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame "Innovator" Award for his forward-thinking leadership and innovative spirit during his tenure as CEO of Willow Lake Métis Nation in Anzac, Alberta. During his time as CEO, Justin built the Nation’s innovative governance and ESG frameworks, and forged several strategic partnerships to create revenue and job opportunities, spur community development, and secure the Nation’s future. Under his leadership, Willow Lake Métis became a self-governing Nation. In addition, through the Sohkastwâwin initiative, which in Cree means “the act of being resilient”, the previously landless Nation purchased 205 acres of land that it plans to reclaim and develop in a sustainable way, providing their community a home for the first time.
Justin was born and raised in the community of Willow Lake/Anzac and is proud to call it home. He is a traditional harvester, trapper and land user and continues to exercise his rights on the land, passing his knowledge on to his community and kin. He is also Owner and Operator of Traditional Teachings Inc., an Indigenous business providing land-based learning to the youth.
Justin takes great pride in both his home and his Métis upbringing, which instilled in him a deep connection to the land, environmental stewardship, cultural integrity, and respect for the governance his ancestors promoted. He has a true passion for all Indigenous Peoples and communities and continually strives to build capacity, develop partnerships, and maintain cultural connections.
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