100% First Nations owned and operated consulting business led by Chris and Monique Fry.
This dynamic duo has lived, career and academic experiences that cross sectors and perspectives to make them the right choice for your next project or plan.
As a CCIB Certified Indigenous Business, our offices are located on the Tsuut’ina First Nation in Redwood Meadows, AB where we can work remotely for you, and are just a quick flight away to your location for those important in person sessions and meetings via Calgary airport.
The Founders
Chris Fry
Born and raised in Calgary, AB, I am a member of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation in the Yukon. I have an undergraduate degree in International Indigenous Studies and a Masters of Science in Sustainable Energy Development from the University of Calgary.
I have an extensive background working within the energy sector in the field of Indigenous Relations just as it was becoming an area of importance in the country. Working for large global and Canadian energy companies, I have seen and worked in far off places such as the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and the Gulf of Mexico. I am a professional who understands how to navigate the legal frameworks of consultation, support strategic design for procurement and employment opportunities for communities and advise on social investment for greatest impact.
Fun Fact, we are avid music and food lovers- who will travel for the best pasta in Italy, the hottest curry in Thailand, and the best line up at a music festival in Austin whenever the spirit moves us!
President and Owner
Monique Fry
VP Social Impact & Indigenous Relations
I am from the Xwchíyò:m First Nation on my grandfather’s side and from the Shíshálh Nation on my grandmother’s side. Both Nations are located on territories that are currently known as the province of BC. I have more than 16 years of experience in cross-cultural communication with a focus on successful engagement and partnerships with Indigenous communities. I hold both a BA and an MA from the University of Calgary (UofC) in Communication and Culture, with a focus on International Indigenous Studies with Culture and Society.
I have worked in cross-sectoral spaces all my career- including non-profit, urban Indigenous, social investment, energy, tech, and post-secondary education. I value transparency, ethics and protocols, and centering Indigenous ways of knowing into all my work and life. I have been called a Cultural Mediator by Elders in the community for my work to bridge the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Fun fact, Chris and I also co-teach a graduate course in the School of Public Policy at the UofC, in the Sustainable Energy Development MSc program. We make a killer team!
OUR ROOTS
Although our Nations are geographically distant, with the Fraser River Valley in BC and the Yukon territories, we share a profound cultural connection. Both of our First Nations deeply identify as people of the water.
In Halq’eméylem, Stó:lô means “People of the River,” reflecting our intrinsic bond with the Fraser River. Similarly, our ancestors named the area Kwanlin, meaning “running water through canyon” in Southern Tutchone, highlighting their enduring relationship with the Yukon River. This shared reverence for water underscores our cultural compatibility and mutual respect for our natural surroundings.
Our traditions further strengthen this connection. The Stó:lô people have long practiced fishing, canoeing, and river stewardship, viewing the river as a source of life and spiritual sustenance. Similarly, the Southern Tutchone people have rich traditions of storytelling, hunting, and fishing along the Yukon River, celebrating the river’s role in their cultural heritage. Living and working in the Treaty 7 Territory of Mohkintsis, which is now known as Calgary in Blackfoot, further emphasizes our deep connections to the rivers. The Bow and Elbow Rivers have been central to the lives and traditions of the Indigenous peoples in this area, much like the Fraser and Yukon Rivers are to our Nations.
Additionally, both of our cultures have a deep-rooted tradition of potlatch ceremonies. For the Stó:lô, potlatches are significant social events where stories are shared, songs are sung, and wealth is redistributed, reinforcing social bonds and cultural values. The Southern Tutchone also hold potlatch ceremonies, which serve as important gatherings for the community to honor ancestors, celebrate significant events, and strengthen communal ties. These shared practices and values, including the potlatch traditions, underscore our cultural compatibility and mutual respect for our natural surroundings.
These cultural components underscore the way we live, the way we navigate and make sense of the world, and the way we work.
Values
Find your direction
We offer a deep-rooted understanding to help find your path with care and integrity.