My Interest in Business Ethics

Region
Ontario ; Northern Canada

Sector
Aboriginal - First Nations ; Private Sector - Consultant

Areas of Interest
Development ; Economic - Environmental ; Economic - Social ; Education ; Indigenous People ; Resource Extraction ; Spirituality ; Sustainability


Me in Brief

Gordon Williams is a member of the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. He pursued his education in the University of Manitoba where he received his Arts Degree in 1966. He continued his studies at McGill University where he received his Master’s Degree in Divinity in 1968. He then travelled to the far east to use his acquired skills to assist the Tribal Peoples of Taiwan in there struggles to integrate into mainstream Taiwanese culture. This also provided him with an opportunity to study the minority/ majority issues that were part of that country. He returned to Canada and worked for the Presbyterian Church for three years. He then changed direction and began a 25 year career with the Federal Government. During that time he worked with seven different departments at the management and EX levels. He retired from the Federal Government in 1995 and since then has worked as a consultant for public, private and Aboriginal organizations. This has afforded him the opportunity to be selective in the areas that he wants to apply his experience and acquired skills. He now has standing offers with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada and contracts with other Departments as well. He has over the years conducted Aboriginal Awareness Training to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police all across the Country. He has also provided training to the Ottawa City Police and the Calgary City Police. He also makes presentations to public schools, high schools, colleges and universities. He is a sot after speaker for special occasions and does them as often as he can. Mr. Williams is a respected Elder of his people and is called upon on a regular basis to participate in a variety of meetings. He does the openings and closings of meetings every week. The part of his life is treasured by him and he learns more on a regular from his peers. This part of his life is also in demand not only for his cultural teachings but for his varied experiences in the public sector as well as the private sector.

Currently he is the Elder in Residence for the Indian Residential School Resolution Canada (IRSRC) which takes him to Regina and Vancouver where there are Regional Offices of (IRSRC). As the Elder in Residence he provides employees with an opportunity to speak to him privately without fear of repercussions. This has served the department very well and there is a real possibility that the Elder in Residence concept will become will be adopted by other departments. Mr. Williams also works on a regular basis with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) where he is the Chairman of a Working Group of Elders who provide advice to the Executive members of NWMO in their interface with Aboriginal People.

The Working Group is a Committee of the Elders Forum that meets with NWMO semi-annually to also provide advice. Mr. Williams has provided a one day Awareness Training to the Senior Management group of NWMO. There is a good possibility that more training regarding awareness will be pursued in the future. Mr. Williams was assisted by one of the Aboriginal staff members during the one day awareness training. This was the second time NWMO was involved with Awareness Training. Mr. Williams is being approached by First Nations to assist them in their understanding of Nuclear Waste Management. He is ready and willing to share his knowledge with First Nations and will be approaching others to determine their interest in understanding the issue of dealing with Nuclear Waste Management. Mr. Williams is involved with other issues such as the recent formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Residential School Survivors. He is working on the critical concern regarding Missing Children from Residential Schools.