Robert Merasty has been the executive director for the Indigenous Resource Network since February 2022. He served as Chief of his home community of Flying Dust Cree Nation and also held the political office as Second Vice Chief for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations for the 74 First Nations of Saskatchewan. Raised by his grandmother, an Indigenous knowledge keeper, Merasty says he was taught the values that guide him as a leader and warrior for Indigenous economic and resource development. In Cree, these are the teachings of “manatisowin” (honesty and integrity), “sahgitowin” (loving for others), “kisiwatisowin” (kindness to others), and “wichitowin” (always ready to help others). A former board member of SaskPower’s First Nations Power Authority and Saskatchewan’s Corporate Procurement Committee, he has also served in a variety of business and economic development roles at the Saskatchewan Research Council, the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan, and the FSIN Corporate Circle. Robert is proud to advocate for Indigenous involvement in the resource sector across Canada.