Emily Whetung-MacInnes, former Chief of Curve Lake First Nation, joins Proof Strategies as Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations
Toronto, November 8, 2022 – Proof Strategies, Canada’s leading independent communications agency, has welcomed Emily Whetung-MacInnes as Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations. This newly created role was co-designed with Emily to help Proof better counsel clients on the importance of Indigenous perspectives and how to engage with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful and impactful ways.
The new emphasis will expand work to provide strategic planning and counsel for clients focused on relationship building with Indigenous communities. Emily will be a partner for clients in their journey to engage with Indigenous communities across Canada. Work is already underway providing insight for several Proof Strategies clients in the energy, mining, development and healthcare industries.
“Good and honest communication is the cornerstone of building and maintaining trust – which, I know, Proof Strategies believes in greatly. Organizations must ensure the voices of Indigenous People are heard and respected through participatory and collaborative approaches,” said Emily Whetung-MacInnes, Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations at Proof Strategies. “I am excited to work closely with the Proof team and our clients to help them in their journeys.”
“We are committed to learning and understanding how to better build trust with Indigenous communities,” said Bruce MacLellan, President & CEO of Proof Strategies. “Creating this new role with a senior leader is an example of innovation in how we partner with clients. We are very fortunate to work with Emily.”
Emily grew up in Curve Lake First Nation in central Ontario and is passionate about the rights of First Nations people and ensuring their perspectives are heard. When she was elected to Chief in 2019, she made it her priority to ensure that her community had every opportunity to thrive through the protection of the environment and Treaty Rights, sustainable economic advancement and through building healthy relationships between First Nations and Canadians. Impressively, Emily led her community through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the community transition to online activities, developing agricultural lands to help with food security and securing vaccinations for the community.
“Emily knows firsthand how to build and maintain trust through communication,” said Melody Gaukel, Senior Vice President, Corporate & Financial, Proof Strategies. “Emily is a trusted advisor that has already become an integral part of the team – helping our clients engage in meaningful ways with Indigenous Peoples to ensure their voices are included and respected.”
“Among the 94 Calls to Action in the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, number 92 calls on business to play a part in the education of employees and to seek ways that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects. Agencies can and must do their part in this work,” added MacLellan
About Proof Strategies
For leaders responsible for managing, protecting, and building organizations and brands, Proof Strategies is a public relations, government relations and communications partner that “asks better questions” to create insight, grow trust and support clients. Founded in 1994, the independent agency has earned more than 300 awards for client work and industry leadership, including Best Workplace in Canada in 2010 by Great Place to Work™, Agency Team of the Year in 2020 by the Canadian Public Relations Society and Caring Company Certification in 2022 by Imagine Canada. Proof has been carbon neutral since 2008. Follow Proof at getproof.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @get_proof.
Media contact:
Maddy Porter
Senior Consultant, Proof Strategies