Robin Billy is from the Adams Lake Indian Band and has spent his educational and professional career determining how best to serve his Nation.
His first professional position was with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc as the environmental coordinator. In this position he coordinated the cleanup of 17 contaminated sites, developed one of the few environmental assessment processes on-reserve and secured funding for all types of new environmental initiatives.
Robin then moved to Manitoba and continued his career as an environmental consultant advancing numerous environmental projects, including cross-country consultation on the five-year review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Robin had an opportunity to return to university and completed his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Manitoba. He then worked as the general manager for a company specializing in converting waste into electricity.
Robin was then seconded to the federal government to work on the Additions to Reserve process. During his three years in the Additions to Reserve process, he converted 75% of the land in the province each year, to reserve land. Robin was recognized for his efforts with a Deputy Ministers award for land conversion.
He moved back to the Secwepemc Nation in 2010 and has been focused on advancing title and rights for the Nation, primarily through economic development corporations. He was employed as the Manager for Sexqeltkemc Enterprises Inc.(SEI), a corporation owned by 3 Bands since that time , including his home Band of Adams Lake, securing millions of dollars in contracts in the TransCanada highway expansion, energy projects, built a data centre, and camp and catering project at the Mica Dam.
Robin left SEI to become Chief of Adams Lake, providing leadership, negotiating with government and industry, and implementation of policies and laws to govern the community. Successfully passed key financial administration and taxation laws, secured millions of dollars for major outstanding infrastructure projects, new initiatives to secure funding and additional land for the community, and developed 15-year language program. Robin then worked for the Stkelmlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation (SSN) as the Director of Operations where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. This included title and rights, legal, major projects and administration. Robin has developed laws for SSN, negotiated major agreements with proponents, and securing new lands and substantial revenue for the SSN.
Robin is now utilizing his years of education and experience to assist First Nations build Indigenous Innovation Districts (ie data centres, film studios, smart grids), and any type of major infrastructure projects (ie hotels, resorts, housing).
