Bearspaw First Nation

What Bearspaw First Nation does

Bearspaw First Nation is a self-governing, sovereign Indigenous government and Treaty No. 7 (1877) signatory Nation based in Mînî Thnî (Morley), Alberta, approximately 65 km west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. The Nation serves its ~1,085 eligible voters living across four reserves — Stoney Indian Reserves #142, #143, and #144 at Mini Thni, and Eden Valley Indian Reserve #216 — and operates as a member of the Îyârhe Nakoda confederation alongside Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Its core mandate combines self-determination, cultural preservation, and member services (health via Stoney Health, education via Stoney Education, housing, HRD, and post-secondary support funded through the Ozîja Thiha Education Trust) with active economic development.

The Nation operates a diversified portfolio of wholly-owned commercial enterprises anchored by its Trans-Canada Highway location: the Bearspaw Service Centre (gas station with Morley Centex and Subway convenience store, developed 2013), the Bearspaw Kananaskis Travel Centre, the Stoney Nakoda Resort, and telecom/broadband businesses (Clearwave Broadband Networks and Stoney Nakoda Telecom). Revenue is generated through commercial operations (fuel sales, retail, hospitality, telecom), investment returns from the independently administered Ozija Thiha Legacy Trust (~$58 million), and recurring federal and provincial government funding for community programs and infrastructure. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization runs on conventional administrative and operational systems rather than technology products.

The entity is governed by an elected Chief and Council (Chief Darcy Dixon and four Councillors inaugurated January 9, 2026, following a November 2025 election in which 720 of 1,085 eligible voters cast ballots) with a Council of Elders providing traditional guidance. Day-to-day administration is led by CEO Robert Shotclose and CFO Bob Taylor, alongside Health Director Mohinder Bajwa at Eden Valley. Strategic economic development is pursued through partnership agreements with major energy and resource counterparties including TC Energy (formal relationship agreement signed May 2023) and Indigena Drilling (partnership announced October 2025), with additional forthcoming agreements with Inter Pipeline and West Fraser in development.

Name

Bearspaw First Nation

Legal name

Bearspaw First Nation

Website

https://bearspawfirstnation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bearspaw First Nation is a sovereign Treaty 7 (1877) signatory Indigenous government in Alberta serving ~1,085 members across four reserves, delivering community services while operating fuel, hospitality, telecom, and trust-funded economic development ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Morley

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Business Operations: Bearspaw First Nation operates various commercial businesses including service centers (Bearspaw Service Centre with Centex petroleum and Subway), travel centres, resort operations (Stoney Nakoda Resort), telecommunications (Clearwave Broadband Networks, Stoney Nakoda Telecom), and travel services. These businesses generate revenue through fuel sales, retail, hospitality, and telecommunications services to both community members and external customers.
2. Capital Trust Fund Management: Bearspaw First Nation manages capital trust funds including the Ozija Thiha Legacy Trust ($58 million independently administered) and Ozîja Thiha Education Trust. Revenue is derived from investment returns and distributed for member benefit and economic development purposes.
3. Government Funding and Grants: The Nation receives federal and provincial government funding for programs and services including health, education, housing, and infrastructure. Also receives project-specific funding such as $3.4 million federal transit funding and historic funding agreements with Canada.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bearspaw First Nation is a self-governing, sovereign Indigenous First Nation (Treaty No. 7 signatory, 1877) that delivers governance, community services (health, education, housing, membership), and economic development for its members. It operates wholly-owned commercial businesses including the Bearspaw Service Centre with Morley Centex fuel and Subway, the Bearspaw Kananaskis Travel Centre, the Stoney Nakoda Resort, Clearwave Broadband Networks, and Stoney Nakoda Telecom, alongside the Ozija Thiha Legacy Trust (approximately $58 million in capital trust funds) and the Ozija Thiha Education Trust (OTET) supporting post-secondary education.

Product overview

Bearspaw First Nation operates as a self-governing First Nation with a diverse portfolio of economic development ventures and community services. The organization's commercial operations include service centres, travel centres, telecommunications services (Clearwave Broadband Networks, Stoney Nakoda Telecom), and the Stoney Nakoda Resort. Financial security is provided through the Ozîja Thiha Legacy Trust (managing approximately $58 million in capital trust funds) and the Ozîja Thiha Education Trust supporting member education. Community infrastructure projects include the Eden Valley Travel Centre, Eden Valley Water Treatment Plant, Bearspaw Administration Building, and Eden Valley Multipurpose Space. The First Nation also provides housing, health services (via Stoney Health), education services (via Stoney Education), HRD programs, and post-secondary education support to its members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ozîja Thiha Legacy Trust: Trust established for present and future generations and financial security of the Bearspaw First Nation and its membership.
• Ozîja Thiha Education Trust (OTET)
• Bearspaw Service Centre
• Stoney Nakoda Resort
• Clearwave Broadband Networks
• Stoney Nakoda Telecom
• Bearspaw Travel Centre

Products and services

• Bearspaw Service Centre A service centre development located at Mînî Thnî (Morley), featuring a gas station (Morley Centex) and Subway convenience store, serving travelers on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Calgary and community members.
• Stoney Nakoda Resort A resort operation providing hospitality and tourism services in the Kananaskis area, operated by the Stoney Nakoda Nations including Bearspaw First Nation.
• Clearwave Broadband Networks Broadband network services providing internet and telecommunications infrastructure to the Stoney Nakoda Nations territory and surrounding region.
• Stoney Nakoda Telecom Telecommunications services operated by the Stoney Nakoda Nations providing connectivity to community members and customers.
• Bearspaw Kananaskis Travel Centre A travel centre located at Kananaskis, operating as a fuel station and convenience store, serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains.
• Ozija Thiha Legacy Trust A trust established for present and future generations of the Bearspaw First Nation, administering approximately $58 million in capital trust funds independently from Canada since approximately 2022, providing financial security for the Nation and its membership.
• Ozija Thiha Education Trust (OTET) An education trust established to assist and encourage the educational development of Bearspaw members, supporting completion of education at trades, college, and university levels through post-secondary funding.
• Eden Valley Travel Centre A five-acre travel centre development at Eden Valley featuring a fuel station, convenience store, and retail space showcasing Bearspaw artisan craftsmanship, designed to create employment and economic benefits for the community.
• Eden Valley Water Treatment Plant Infrastructure project providing water treatment services for the Eden Valley community.
• Eden Valley Multipurpose Space A multipurpose community facility at Eden Valley providing space for cultural gatherings, sports, events, and community services.
• Bearspaw Administration Building Proposed administration building project at Mînî Thnî to house Bearspaw First Nation government administration offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 720 of 1085 eligible voters participated in November 2025 election, demonstrating strong community engagement

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indigena DrillingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Bearspaw First Nation announced partnership with Indigena Drilling in October 2025. IRC Trust and Indigena Drilling welcomed Bearspaw First Nation. Partnership photo shows CEO Rob Shotclose, Chief Darcy Dixon, and council members with Stephen Buffalo and Indigena representatives.
• University of Calgary - Veterinary MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Stoney Nakoda First Nation partnered with University of Calgary Vet Med for animal health and learning. A collaborative initiative delivers vital pet care to underserved communities while empowering vet students with hands-on learning experiences.
• TC EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023TC Energy and Bearspaw First Nation signed a relationship agreement in May 2023 which will benefit members in both Morley and Eden Valley. The partnership includes a formal agreement (TC-ENERGY-AGREEMENT-BPFN-RA-2023-04-10-TCPL-3000000) and involves relationship building for mutual benefit.
• Inter PipelineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter Pipeline agreement with Bearspaw First Nation is forthcoming. Partnership in development stage for mutual economic benefit.
• West FraserminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Fraser agreement with Bearspaw First Nation is forthcoming. Partnership in development stage for mutual economic benefit.
• Morley Centex (Centex Petroleum)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of 2013 Bearspaw Service Centre development. Centex petroleum operates fuel station and convenience store at Bearspaw Service Centre.
• Subway (Morley Bearspaw Gas/C-Store)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubway restaurant located at Bearspaw Service Centre (340 East Morley Road) as part of the 2013 service centre development.
• Stoney Nakoda ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBearspaw First Nation business development venture - Stoney Nakoda Resort provides hospitality and tourism services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Membertou First Nation: Mi'kmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia with a well-developed portfolio of Indigenous-owned businesses including technology, hospitality, and gaming. Comparable as a sovereign Nation using commercial enterprises to drive self-sufficiency.
• Chiniki First Nation: Sister Nation under Treaty No. 7 and member of the Îyârhe Nakoda confederation. Shares governance heritage, reserve geography in Alberta, and operates jointly with Bearspaw on businesses such as Stoney Nakoda Resort and Clearwave.
• Musqueam Indian Band: Coast Salish Nation in Metro Vancouver with extensive land development and partnership revenue from corporations operating on reserve lands. Comparable as a sovereign First Nation monetizing land and partnership agreements to fund member services.
• Squamish Nation: British Columbia-based First Nation recognized for an extensive economic development portfolio (real estate, hospitality, telecommunications). Comparable as a sovereign Indigenous government that has built a diversified commercial enterprise base to fund member services.
• Six Nations of the Grand River: Largest First Nations reserve in Canada with extensive economic development operations. Comparable as a sovereign Indigenous government operating commercial businesses, trusts, and services for a large membership base.
• Osoyoos Indian Band: Treaty-bearing First Nation in British Columbia with notable tourism and hospitality ventures (Nk'Mip Resorts). Comparable to Bearspaw's resort and travel-centre strategy of leveraging reserve land for tourism revenue.
• Mohawk Council of Kahnawake: Self-governing Mohawk Nation in Quebec with significant commercial operations and treaty-rights-based governance. Comparable as a sovereign First Nation that operates businesses to fund community services and assert economic self-determination.
• Goodstoney First Nation: Third member Nation of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Treaty 7) confederation alongside Bearspaw and Chiniki. Operates in the same Alberta corridor with shared commercial enterprises and tribal council coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bearspawfirstnation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bearspaw-first-nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bearspaw First Nation