Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities forum (ANEDO)

, kicked off at the grand Casino Rama resort, Orillia (located on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg and Chippewas of Rama First Nation). The forum focuses on economic reconciliation for sustainable development and has members of over 39 First Nations based in Ontario who join the event. 

Our small team at OneFeather was happy to be there - and to sponsor the event was extra special! Amongst networking with other Indigenous exhibitors like retailer 

 and having important discussions about economic reconciliation pathways, we also got to experience laughs by some

Chad Solomon of Biskane and our OF's Lawrence Lewis ✌🏼

"OneFeather is proud to have been a sponsor and exhibitor with ANEDO. It was a great gathering of our First Nations communities, and listening to the keynote speakers including Indigenous leader John Beaucage was a real highlight."  

-Lawrence Lewis, Founder at OneFeather

All the official sponsors at ANEDO: Chi Miigwetch

In the spirit of collaboration over competition, 

ANEDO which stands for Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities

 showcase their initiatives and those of First Nations members. 

They provide actionable insights and calls to action, and highlight policies and funding opportunities from Ontario and Canada. The forum welcomes those to connect with Economic Development Officers (EDOs), First Nation economic leaders and subject matter experts to exchange ideas and experiences, foster networking, and learn from each other’s journeys. Diving into discussions about the future of economic reconciliation and the pathways that lie ahead!

OneFeather Sponsors First Nations Conference ANEDO

Ja'elle Leite is of proud Métis heritage and is also a woman in the tech space who founded data management company, 

. She's already an anomaly in field she's in, but what makes everything all the more distinct is the way in which Ultralogix functions.

Using an analytical approach for Indigenous communities, industry, private and public sectors with a unique storytelling-with-data approach, the outcome makes complex information more accessible and impactful. 

In this important conversation with the What's That Noise'?! Leite explains the ways of keeping Indignenous culture alive through data, and the ways of teaching companies to take an ethical and unbiased approach when handling data.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ja-elle-leite-9973b2226/

https://www.youtube.com/@onefeatherapp/videos

https://open.spotify.com/show/0SW489x40xOpZD2r4WbAQ0

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-that-noise/id1364610122

Women-owned and Indigenous Data with Founder of Impactful Data Management Services 

What is your role at OneFeather, and what does a typical day look like?

My role is Client Project Manager, and I often have 1-3 client meetings per day, checking in with team members throughout. Other than that each day looks different!

I originally joined as a member of our Field Staff. I was referred by a family member who is also currently Field Staff. As a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, my family and I were familiar with OneFeather's work and intrigued by the opportunity to travel to voting events.

I really enjoyed attending polling stations in First Nation Communities- it was an opportunity to see parts of Turtle Island that I had never been to before, and it was exciting to see the vote day unfold, and the nations receive their results.

When the Client Project Manager position at OneFeather became available, it was suggested that I apply for it and I'm so grateful that that I did. I enjoy working with our clients for longer periods of time and learning how to support them in their own unique circumstances.

OneFeather is one of the very few companies that I believe chooses not to be extractive in the way they make decisions. OneFeather manages to strike a balance between ensuring a sustainable future while making choices that are guided by Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

How would you describe the team culture at OneFeather?

The entire team that makes up OneFeather aligns on one main vision- we want to use our talents to serve First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples in their journeys towards self determination. We care deeply about our work and strive to make decisions that will positively impact those we work with and the world at large. We also take care of each other, if someone on the team needs support we all make an effort to provide it whenever possible.

If you could work on any project at OneFeather, what would it be and why?

I'm currently enjoying my work with Elections Services and would like to stay here long-term. I would like to grow my knowledge by working with nations we haven't yet supported.

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year at OneFeather?

I'm looking forward to my one-year anniversary of working here, as well as seeing the team again at our next summit.

Can you share a memorable project you’ve worked on?

Our team is currently supporting MNBC's General Election. I work remotely, so I don't always see what happens in our offices. I've been blown away by the incredible output of the Election Services team in our offices in Victoria. They've managed to create more than 22,000 mail-in ballot packages while juggling all of the other ongoing projects.

Thanks so much for sharing, Melissa! And stay tuned to learn about more of our 🪶 staff members, folks. 

Meet Our Team: Client Project Manager, Melissa Hardy

What is your role at OneFeather, and what does a typical day look like?

Why did you choose OneFeather?

What makes OneFeather unique?

How would you describe the team culture at OneFeather?

If you could work on any project at OneFeather, what would it be and why?

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year at OneFeather?

Can you share a memorable project you’ve worked on?