Sheldon Wuttunee

Department: First Nations
Representing: First Nations

As the current Chief Executive Officer and President of the Saskatchewan First Nation Natural Resource Center of Excellence (SFNNRCE), it is the role of Mr. Wuttunee to assist and support 74 First Nations in developing sound decisions regarding the sustainable natural resource development in lands within Treaty and Traditional First Nations territories. The leadership confidence in this position is based on previous governance and management experience as well as negotiations between First Nations groups, Government and Industry relating to the initiatives such as Enbridge Pipelines Alberta Clipper Project. Mr. Wuttunee’s experience also includes extensive involvement in the Saskatchewan/Federal Government Duty to Consult and Accommodate processes. As the leader of this organization, Mr. Wuttunee consistently managing, negotiating and advising to advance the interests of Saskatchewan First Nations across a broad scope of natural resources including petroleum (oil and gas), uranium, potash, forestry, diamond mining, etc.

Mr. Wuttunee has worked alongside First Nations in Saskatchewan in the development and implementation of the Accelerated Site Closure Program (ASCP) which focusses on reclamation of inactive or abandoned oil and gas wells and facilities throughout Saskatchewan. The involvement of Mr. Wuttunee and the SFNNRCE in the ASCP has resulted in the group receiving the Premiers’ Award for Excellence in Public Service in November of 2023.

On behalf of the impacted First Nations along the North Saskatchewan River system, Mr. Wuttunee was appointed to Incident Command at the time of the Husky16TAN Oil Spill in Saskatchewan (2016). Mr. Wuttunee provided a platform to reform the management of natural resource disasters including the creation of an Independent Third-Party Assessment framework for First Nations.  Mr. Wuttunee has also played an integral role in the development of the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee’s (IAMC) in relation to the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project and also the Trans Mountain Pipeline through work with the impacted Indigenous groups across Western Canada and continued work the Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) and the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER). As a member and former Chief of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Mr. Wuttunee’s skills in creating meaningful engagement with First Nations, government, industry is informed by my vision, values, and drive to protect culture and grow prosperity.