Indigenous Advisory Circle to support Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board
May 19, 2026
The Manitoba Hydro Hydro-Electric Board (MHEB) is pleased to announce the appointment of members to the Manitoba Hydro Indigenous Advisory Circle (IAC), to support and enhance the utility’s ongoing efforts in advancing Indigenous reconciliation.
The IAC will provide knowledge, advice, and perspectives directly to the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board (MHEB) on Indigenous reconciliation, and the advancement of Manitoba Hydro’s Indigenous Relations Commitment Statement. Creation of the IAC was outlined in the board’s 2023 mandate letter from the provincial government.
Robert Wavey is the co-chair of the IAC, supported by council members Eva Wilson Fontaine, Harvey Bostrom, Desiree Theriault and Chief Clarence Easter. Biographies of the members are included in the attached media backgrounder.
“We’re excited to welcome the co-chair and members of the Indigenous Advisory Circle. They bring a wealth of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and lived experience with which to provide the MHEB valuable advice and recommendations,” said Jamie Wilson, Chair of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and co-chair of the IAC.
“Although it took us some time to get the IAC in place, I look forward to their important contribution to the future of Manitoba Hydro and our Indigenous relationships.”
The five-member IAC will advise the MHEB on Manitoba Hydro policies and programs identified by the Board, on recommendations from Manitoba Hydro, that have potential implications for Indigenous reconciliation.
The council will meet two to four times per year and provide advice to the MHEB. The IAC’s discussions will be subject to the same confidentiality requirements as the MHEB.
“I am very pleased to be named as co-chair of this advisory circle and look forward to helping Manitoba Hydro enhance its ongoing reconciliation efforts through the board,” said Robert Wavey.
“It is work that will benefit all Manitobans over the long run.”
The MHEB will consider the IAC’s advice in its decision-making and governance processes and provide feedback to the IAC on how its advice was considered and applied.
“Including these Indigenous perspectives in our decision-making will go a long way to strengthening our relationships with Indigenous communities,” said Wilson.
The IAC will be holding its first meeting in the coming weeks.
Indigenous Advisory Circle – Member Bios
Robert Wavey (Co-chair)
Robert Wavey has served as Chief, Councillor, CEO and Senior Negotiator with the Fox Lake Cree Nation. He is a former Chair of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Keewatin Tribal Council, the Home Guard Cree-Fortesque Future Industries Task Force, and of the Keeyask Hydro Limited Partnership Board.
Mr. Wavey has also held positions as the Executive Director of the Keewatin Tribal Council and of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Robert worked for the Manitoba government’s Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, culminating in being appointed as the department’s deputy minister.
Mr. Wavey continues to provide services and advice to the Fox Lake Cree Nation when required and is an Elder-Tech advisor to the Keewatin Tribal Council and to the Treaty 5 Administration Office in their respective self-government discussions and negotiations.
Mr. Wavey attended residential schools at the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba and at the Gordon’s Indian Residential School on the George Gordon Indian Reserve just outside Punnichy, Saskatchewan.
Harvey Bostrom
Harvey Bostrom, a Metis from Manigotogan, was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1973 to 1981. He served as Minister of Cooperative Development with responsibility for Lands and Renewable Resources, and Minister of Renewable Resources and Transportation Services. He is an Economics graduate of the University of Manitoba and worked as a teacher and economist.
Mr. Bostrom entered the civil service after leaving politics and became the executive director of Manitoba’s Native Affairs Secretariat (later renamed the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat) in 1990. He was appointed acting deputy minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs by NDP Premier Doer in 2001 and then received full deputy minister status.
In September 2015, Mr. Bostrom was appointed by the Manitoba Government to the Chair of the University College of the North (UCN). UCN has two major campuses in The Pas and Thompson as well as 12 Community Centres. It is recognized as a unique educational institution with a tri-lateral governance system that provides for participation of Elders, students and faculty.
Mr. Bostrom is a past executive director of the Northern Association of Community Councils.
Chief Clarence Easter
Clarence Easter has been Chief of Chemawawin Cree Nation since 1994. A residential school survivor, Chief Easter’s personal goal is to restore the way of life, the culture and the lifestyle of his community; and to educate community members, youth and outside/government/industry about mitigating damage, and restoring the environment which was sustainable for thousands of years.
Chief Easter has been a leader in several other organizations focused on First Nations health and sustainability. He studied management and project management at Keewatin Community College and University of Winnipeg.
Chief Easter has been Co-chair of the Summit of Treaty 5 Sovereign Nations since 2017. He believes in the wellbeing of our nations and strives for a better quality of life for all Treaty 5 people. He hopes the relationship between Canada and the Treaty 5 nations will improve based on our sacred Treaties.
Eva Wilson Fontaine
Eva Wilson Fontaine is a member of Peguis First Nation and serves as Executive Director of Anish Healing Centre, Co-Founder of Akiing Onji Foundation and owner of AMIK Inc.. She is also a former trustee of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation.
Ms. Wilson Fontaine has extensive experience supporting Indigenous wellness initiatives, with a focus on former Indian Residential School Survivors, Indian Day School Survivors, Sixties Scoop Survivors, MMIWG2S+ families and intergenerational healing.
Her work is grounded in advancing mental wellness, cultural safety and community-led approaches to healing and reconciliation.
Together with her husband, she helped establish Eagle Landing in Garson, Manitoba, a land-based space dedicated to cultural connection, wellness and learning. Guided by the teachings of Elders, Eva is committed to strengthening opportunities that support Indigenous culture, community well-being and respectful relationship building.
Desiree Theriault
Ms. Theriault is a Métis (Otipemisiwak) award winning land designer and environmental planner based in Winnipeg. She is a Partner at Narratives Inc., leading work across Indigenous planning, impact assessment and design. Her practice is grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches, supporting communities and institutions in navigating complex projects that engage Indigenous rights, governance and relationships to land.
Ms. Theriault contributes to reconciliation and institutional change across sectors, including through the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects’ Reconciliation Advisory Committee and by supporting the Canadian Institute of Planners’ Reconciliation Action Plan.
She serves on the Board of the Exchange District BIZ and is Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council for the Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects. She is also co-editor of Voices of the Land, a publication amplifying Indigenous youth designers across the Prairies.
Ms. Theriault is committed to the land and all its relations, grounding her work in care, responsibility and reciprocity.
