Willow Lake Métis Nation

Name

Willow Lake Métis Nation

Legal name

Willow Lake Métis Nation

Website

https://wlmn.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Indigenous community services
• Agricultural operations
• Employment training programs
• Energy infrastructure partnerships
• Cultural preservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alberta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pipeline Partnership Revenue: Equity partnership in Northern Courier Pipeline provides stable long-term revenue from oil transportation and terminal services agreements
2. Agricultural Operations: Revenue from bison ranching, hydroponic farming, and planned community gardens
3. Industry Partnership Agreements: Revenue from strategic partnerships with energy companies including relationship framework agreements and business services

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Willow Lake Métis Nation operates as a Métis community-governed organization that delivers a portfolio of services to its citizens, including agricultural operations (Willow Lake Métis Farms combining hydroponic farming and bison ranching), employment and training programs (Class 3 Driver's License, Security Guard Training), cultural preservation programs (Métis Festival, Harvesting Camps), and citizen support services (education funding, bereavement assistance, wills support, fiber optic internet). The Nation also generates economic revenue through equity partnerships in energy infrastructure, most notably a 15% stake in the Northern Courier Pipeline via the Astisiy Limited Partnership alongside Suncor Energy and seven other Indigenous communities.

Product overview

Willow Lake Métis Nation operates as a Métis community organization in Anzac, Alberta, governed through Seven Pillars of Governance. The organization offers a portfolio of community programs including agricultural initiatives (Willow Lake Métis Farms with Growpod hydroponics and bison ranching), employment and training programs (Class 3 Driver's License, Security Guard Training), education support, cultural programs (Métis Festival, Harvesting Camps), and citizen support services (Bereavement Assistance, Wills Support, Fibre Optic Internet). Willow Lake Métis Farms represents the Nation's most significant product initiative, combining modern hydroponic farming with traditional bison ranching and community agriculture to achieve food sovereignty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Willow Lake Métis Farms A multi-phased agricultural initiative combining hydroponic farming (Growpod), bison ranching, traditional farmland, community gardens, beekeeping, and a medicinal herbs greenhouse to achieve food sovereignty and economic development for Willow Lake Métis Nation citizens.
• Growpod (Growcer Hydroponic Farm) Modular hydroponic farming unit capable of producing up to 10,000 lbs of fresh leafy greens per year, year-round, creating one full-time job with profits reinvested into farm expansion.
• Class 3 Driver's License Program Professional driver training program enabling Citizens to obtain Class 3 commercial driver's licenses for employment in trades, construction, and transportation sectors.
• Security Guard Training Program One-week training program providing Alberta Security Service Worker Training, Security Service Worker License, CSTS 2020 Certificate, First Aid and CRP Certificate, with potential for full-time employment.
• Employment and Training Services Career planning, job search assistance, skill enhancement, workshops, training, career fairs, and employment preparation services servicing Gregoire Lake Estates to Conklin, Alberta.
• Education Policy and Post-Secondary Student Support Financial support program for Métis students to gain access to post-secondary education and graduate with skills needed to pursue careers and contribute to Métis self-governance and economic self-reliance.
• Fibre Optic Internet Initiative Technology access program transitioning the community from dial-up to high-speed Wi-Fi at no cost to Citizens, providing approximately $1,200 in annual savings per Citizen.
• Métis Festival Annual celebration of Métis history and resilience bringing Métis culture to life through traditional activities, food, dance, and community gathering.
• Harvesting Camps Traditional land cultural activities including fish camps, harvest camps, and berry picking, facilitated 2-4 times per year to engage Citizens in traditional harvesting practices.
• Indigenous ESG Pathway Project Indigenous Environmental, Social, Governance framework project integrating traditional knowledge with modern sustainability practices, funded by Natural Resources Canada.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 bison returned to traditional lands for food security
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• CNOOCmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Diamond sponsor for Métis Fest 2023. Long-term commitment to partnering with community members and stakeholders. Building trust through information sharing, consultation, and collaborative understanding of needs.
• Suncor Energy (Astisiy Limited Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Landmark equity partnership making WLMN an equity partner in Base Plant operations. WLMN co-owns Northern Courier Pipeline through Astisiy LP with Suncor operating the asset. Stable revenue for initial 21-year term with extension possibility. Partners include three First Nations and five Métis communities.
• KeyeramajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership began in 2021 focused on long-term engagement, Indigenous land and culture respect, capacity building, and supporting WLM businesses. Keyera aligned with WLMN's economic future vision for next generations.
• ConocoPhillips CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2019Relationship Agreement formalized in 2015 and signed in February 2019. Focus on community investment, employment, education, and environmental stewardship. Supports economic opportunities while protecting Métis way of life.
• EnbridgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2019Landmark equity partnership formalized February 2019. Enbridge supports WLMN transition towards self-governance. Part of Athabasca Indigenous Investments Holdings LP (23 Indigenous groups). Pipelines include Athabasca, Wood Buffalo/Athabasca Twin, Norlite Diluent, Waupisoo, Wood Buffalo, Woodland.
• TeckmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Frontier Project Participation and Economic Agreement formalized April 2018. Teck supports WLMN transition towards self-governance and believes in Indigenous ownership.
• MEG EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner supporting Willow Lake Métis Farms and community initiatives. Aligned with sustainable development goals in Northern Alberta.
• COSL CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Willow Lake Métis Farms initiative and sustainable development in Northern Alberta.
• Government of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Willow Lake Métis Farms through Aboriginal Business Investment Fund. Minister Rajan Sawhney (Indigenous Relations) recognized project for innovation, food security, and economic opportunity. Reconciliation in action.
• SouthbowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Willow Lake Métis Farms initiative and sustainable development.
• Imperial OilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer exploration site visits for summer students at Kearl Lake operations. Industry engagement supporting youth career development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Keyera Corp. Midstream energy company partnered with WLMN since 2021 on long-term engagement, Indigenous land and culture, and capacity building. Broad incumbent in Alberta midstream with comparable Indigenous partnership focus.
• Teck Resources: Counterparty in the Teck Frontier Project Participation and Economic Agreement (formalized April 2018), supporting WLMN's transition to self-governance. Broad incumbent in Alberta resource development with comparable impact-benefit and Indigenous partnership structure.
• Enbridge: Major pipeline operator and WLMN partner in the Athabasca Indigenous Investments Holdings LP (23 Indigenous groups). Broad incumbent with comparable role as both an energy-infrastructure owner and a counterparty to Indigenous equity partnerships in Alberta.
• ConocoPhillips Canada: WLMN relationship-agreement counterparty since 2015/2019 covering community investment, employment, education, and environmental stewardship. Broad incumbent in Alberta oil sands with a similar reconciliation-partnership model.
• Suncor Energy: Operator of the Base Plant and counterparty in the Astisiy LP that operates Northern Courier Pipeline on behalf of WLMN and 7 other Indigenous communities. Broad incumbent in the same industry: the energy counterparty whose assets anchor WLMN's largest revenue stream.

Direct peers

• Willow Lake Métis Group (WLMG): Wholly-owned economic development subsidiary of WLMN providing maintenance, construction, logistics, and workforce solutions. Internally comparable and a key vehicle for the Nation's industry-services revenue stream, often co-investigated in WLMN deal context.
• Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation: Adjacent Indigenous community in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo with long-standing oil sands impact-benefit agreements and constitutional rights litigation. Directly comparable on Section 35 rights, resource-sector partnerships, and Federal Court action posture.
• Keewaytin Inc. Indigenous-owned construction and industrial services company featured as a partner on the WLMN website. Comparable as a community-driven Indigenous enterprise providing services to energy and infrastructure clients in Northern Alberta, with overlapping workforce and economic-development mandates.
• Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC): Crown corporation that provided the financing guarantee enabling the Astisiy/Athabasca Indigenous Investments transactions. A direct counterparty and enabling institution for WLMN's pipeline equity strategy, and the model Indigenous economic-development financier in Alberta.
• Fort McKay First Nation / Fort McKay Group of Companies: Neighboring Indigenous community in the Athabasca oil sands region with significant energy-sector equity, employment, and contracting arrangements via its group of companies. Highly comparable economic model: pipeline/energy equity stakes, industrial services, and employment programs for citizens working with Suncor and other operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WillowLakeMetisAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wlmn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Willow Lake Métis Nation