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Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com
Justin Bourque has launched a podcast that he hopes will give his audiences greater insight into the complex dealings of building a better world for Indigenous peoples through economic reconciliation.
His goal for Bush to Boardroom is to highlight the success that Indigenous leaders are starting to achieve and to reveal how those successes are best accomplished.
Bourque is the founder and CEO of Âsokan Generational Developments, a consultancy firm that specializes in Indigenous governance and knowledge sharing with the goal of building bridges between industry and Indigenous communities.
He also operates a land-based teaching program, called Traditional Teachings Incorporated, which offers hands-on learning to youth on trapping and winter survival skills for high school credit.
Bourque launched Bush to Boardroom in April. It’s about Indigenous leaders who are bridging the gap between community and the boardroom.
“I wanted to hone in on something specific and unique that isn't being discussed in podcasts right now.” While celebrating the success of Indigenous people in the business world, he wants to go deep into his guests’ personal stories.
The podcast idea followed the success of a three-part series Bourque created in 2025, also titled Bush to Boardroom.
In the initial episode of the series, Bourque introduced himself. He talked about how, early in his career, he felt uncomfortable about disclosing his Indigenous background.
Bourque believes there are many who have hidden their Indigenous backgrounds early in their careers. Those individuals are now showing up as proud Indigenous people in their business settings.
“That's really the crux of why I wanted to start this podcast, to really hone in on and allow individuals to share their story of walking in both worlds,” he said.
The first Episode 1 of the new podcast is titled “Chana Martineau on Identity, Trust and Indigenous Equity Partnerships.” Martineau is CEO of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, which is a provincial Crown corporation that facilitates Indigenous investment in major projects.
Martineau has spent more than 30 years building a career in financial institutions and capital markets. And she too didn’t disclose her Indigenous identity in corporate environments. She speaks with Bourque about when she found the courage to share her Indigeneity story publicly.
During his podcasts Bourque wants to address topics that will move forward discussions between non-Indigenous proponents and Indigenous partners. He wants to be clear about the level of relationship building and trust that is required between the two before deals can hope to be advanced.
“The relationship is ever evolving,” Bourque said. “I'll put it that way. Are we at a point right now where everything is rosy peachy keen? No. There's still a lot that needs to be worked through.”
But Bourque believes there is a willingness, and the right environment for those discussions.
“I mean, from an economic perspective, both sides are willing to act in good faith and negotiating good-faith partnerships.”
Improved relationships have resulted because companies have changed their risk perceptions, he said.
“I think that industry has really recognized that Indigenous communities are no longer just a risk to development but an opportunity to development,” he said. “And from a reconciliation perspective, it really becomes their way of participating meaningfully, from an economic reconciliation perspective.”
Indigenous communities have long called for inclusion in the economy. Bourque believes developers, corporations and financial institutions are keen to find ways to include Indigenous participation.
“I think that relationships are improving,” he added. “It really comes down to the ability for each party to be willing to build trust and to engage honestly. And I think that's really starting to take shape now.”
Bourque said there is not one specific thing companies need to do to be viewed as credible partners for Indigenous communities.
“Every relationship is unique,” he said.
“I think a lot of the companies are still figuring out what that requirement to do is. I think it all depends on what they're talking about and what kind of a relationship they're trying to build with the Nations, whether that be an equity investment relationship or just, in general, a framework relationship with the Nations and how do they collaborate on a whole number of different topics.
“They need to be willing to take the journey with the Nations to achieve mutual benefits. And I think we're seeing more and more businesses that are willing to embark on that journey.”
Bourque said when he launched his three-part series last year, he hadn’t considered a regular podcast. But positive feedback prompted him to pursue it.
“There were many people that actually reached out and said they would like to be on the podcast,” he said. “And, at that point, I didn't have a plan for a podcast…I was really trying to introduce my whole self. And then that grew.”
Though more episodes of Bush to Boardroom are being planned, Bourque is not entirely sure of their release dates.
“I don't have a set time or schedule at this point in time,” he said. “I think roughly we're going to be looking quarterly to get started. It will be continuous, probably growing in frequency as we kind of get comfortable with things. But for now, I would expect episode two to come out in the next quarter.”
When asked about his choice of name for the podcast, Bourque shared a story about a day last year when he was out on the land harvesting a moose.
“I was working out on the trapline processing the meat until late Sunday evening,” he said. “I went home, showered, changed, got on a plane and was in Toronto at a conference and opening the (Toronto Stock Exchange) within 36 hours of finishing processing meat,” he said.
Bourque said he lives by a few fundamental principles.
“And bush to boardroom is really one that really resonates with how I live my life.”