Intermediate Indigenous Business and Economic Development - Fall 2024

Randy Bottle is recognized and honoured as an Elder among local community leaders and agencies. He originates from the Blood Tribe First Nation and is from the Tall People Clan. After serving the Blood Tribe Band Council for 24 consecutive years, he has become a staple in the Calgary community.

Randy’s primary goal is to promote traditional spirituality through ceremony, storytelling, and sharing personal experiences. His primary work now focuses on urban aboriginal youth, helping them to better understand their identity and develop a better sense of belonging. As a fluent Blackfoot speaker, he plays a key role in preserving and passing on the language to urban aboriginal youth and the larger Blackfoot-speaking community.

Trent is currently the Chairman of the Ermineskin Cree Nation group of companies and Senior Advisor and Executive Management Consultant to ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd., ATCO Sustainable Communities Inc., Simplex Grinnell, and Willow Industries.  In this capacity Trent is assisting each company with the development of their Aboriginal Relations and business development strategies.

Trent is also the founding President & CEO of George Gordon First Nation Holdings Inc. – former parent business development company for the George Gordon First Nation.  Under the direction of a seven member board, Trent recently completed a two year contract and was responsible for implementing the company’s strategic initiatives that included a large scale wind farm assessment, oil and gas exploration and the negotiation and signing of a variety of industry partnerships and joint ventures designed to maximize the socio-economic opportunities associated with potash projects in the surrounding region.  As a consequence of these efforts, the company’s joint venture with ATCO Structures & Logistics (ASL) has led to the largest Canadian contract ever awarded to ASL in its 65-year history.

In past years, Trent completed a four-year contract as the Chief Financial Officer for the Siksika Nation’s economic and business development arm. Under the direction of the President & Chief Executive Officer, Trent was responsible for the day to day financial affairs, compliance and reporting requirements of the Siksika Nation group of companies, which included nine diversified companies involving Oil and Gas Development, Real Estate Holdings, Environmental Services, Agri-Business Development, Conference Centre Management, Vacation Resort Development, and Property Management. His responsibilities also included reporting to and assisting the President and the board of directors in making investment and financial decisions and providing valuable input in the strategic business initiatives of the group of companies. During his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, the group of companies’ assets grew from $14 million in market value to in excess of $100 million.

In addition, Trent has served as a Senior Advisor to the Western Cree Tribal Council in representing their socio-economic and business development interests in the proposed $6 billion Enbridge Gateway Pipeline Project.  He has in past years also served as the Chief Negotiator and Senior Advisor to the Akaitcho Treaty 8 Chiefs in representing their socio-economic and business development interests in the Ekatai Diamond Mine owned and operated by BHP Billiton - the largest resource and mining company in the world. 

Prior to his appointment to these various advisory positions, Trent served Aboriginal communities throughout the Province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories in his role as one of the founding Senior Managers of Aboriginal Banking with the Bank of Montreal. He promoted employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal peoples at all levels within the Bank and developed key strategic marketing initiatives and business development opportunities with numerous Aboriginal communities. During his eight years with the Bank of Montreal he was involved with the Bank’s Aboriginal Banking initiatives reporting to the National Senior Vice President responsible for Aboriginal Banking.  He also reported to the Senior Vice President responsible for the Alberta and Northwest Territories Division.  Throughout his tenure Trent promoted the creation of Bank of Montreal branches in Deline, NWT and the Siksika, Tsuu T’ina and Cowessess First Nations.  He also assisted in developing and promoting several individual programs for personal and commercial loans and other financial services offered by the Bank to Aboriginal people.  Trent was involved in all aspects of retail, commercial and corporate banking services and he played a strategic role in guiding the Bank of Montreal in establishing a very significant portfolio with various Aboriginal communities throughout Canada.

Trent has also held positions with a few federal government departments including Immigration Canada, Revenue Canada and Indian & Northern Affairs Canada.  Throughout his career, he has focussed upon the needs of “his people”.  He is particularly interested in promoting self-determination among Aboriginal peoples and through each of his working positions he has endeavoured to advance this goal.  Whilst working in Saskatchewan he helped several First Nations achieve balanced budgets during his time with Indian & Northern Affairs Canada and believes that his past position with the Bank of Montreal has proven beneficial for both the Bank and Aboriginal peoples.  

Over the years Trent has participated in a number of community events and has made several presentations to numerous organizations in raising the public’s awareness of Aboriginal issues. He served as a faculty leader and facilitator at the Banff Centre for Management’s Aboriginal Governance and Accountability Program from 1996 to 2002. As well, he has been a director with a number of local, regional and national Aboriginal organizations including the Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s Aboriginal Opportunities Committee, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (Alberta Chapter), Petromin Resources Ltd., a public company listed on the TSE Venture Exchange and was past chairman of the Metis Economic Development Corporation. He is currently the chairman of Treaty 7 Economic Development Corporation’s Investment Committee. Trent is the President and Principal owner of Aboriginal Financial Services Corporation, a senior advisory and executive consulting services firm.

Trent is a Treaty Indian from the Gordon’s First Nation in the Treaty 4 area of southern Saskatchewan.  He attended the University of Alberta and the University of Regina and has earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts, Economics (Special) from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina.  He majored in economics and finance and is a CMA Associate having completed the pre-requisites for a Certified Management Accounting (CMA) designation.