Fort Chipewyan, Alberta (April 27, 2022) – Oosita Group of Companies (OGC), the business arm of the Fort Chipewyan Métis, announced today that its board of directors has succeeded in gaining Eddison Lee-Johnson as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. Lee-Johnson will begin the appointment May 1st, 2022.
The board undertook a “long and worthwhile” process to attract Lee-Johnson to the position. Lee-Johnson is uniquely skilled for this position, with a history as surveyor, agrologist, and environmental professional with specialties in project and program management, stakeholder engagement, research, and community development processes.
“The board is pleased to have attracted the best individual to assume leadership of this organization,” said Kendrick Cardinal, President of the Fort Chipewyan Metis Local 125 (“Fort Chip Metis”) board. “Eddison has led the way in community development for nearly a decade in his last role. Taking into account his industry knowledge and educational background, we are excited to see how he leads Oosita into the future.”
“I am excited to be hired as the First CEO of Oosita Group of Companies,” said Lee-Johnson. “OGC is ready to do business with Industry, governments and stakeholders in the Oilsands and across Canada. We are building a niche business offering that promotes value to our clients with benefits directly going to the members of Fort Chipewyan Métis.”
Lee-Johnson joining OGC comes at a time when Fort Chipewyan Metis are developing a new strategic plan for their own future. A large initial prospect pool was narrowed into a smaller group who met with board leadership, until Lee-Johnson was chosen.
“Eddison was the prime choice from a highly talented candidate pool,” said Tammy Riel, executive director of Fort Chipewyan Metis Local #125. “He has been successful in providing First Nations’ leverage on consultation and negotiation processes before and has a background of responsible fiscal and project management. We are pleased to have brought him on and could not be more excited to work with him.”
Lee-Johnson added that he is “committed to building a robust business & engagement model that supports integrity, sustainable growth, value creation and solutions-based approaches to our partners and clients. There is no shortage of remarkable ideas, and OGC will make dreams and ideas of our partners, clients and members a reality.”
Lee-Johnson, (AGE), holds an M.Sc. in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia as well as an Associate Degree in Agriculture and a B.Ed in Community Development and Agricultural Science from the University of Sierra Leon-Milton Margai Collection of Education and Technology. He also holds a Diploma in Negotiation from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and is currently pursuing a diploma in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University. Lee-Johnson is a member of three professional organizations: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, British Columbia and Alberta Institute of Agrologists, and as an Environmental Professional.
About Fort Chip Metis and Oosita Group of Companies
Fort Chip Métis Local #125 (“Fort Chip Métis”) is located in the oldest consecutively inhabited settlement in Alberta. It was established to preserve and promote Métis Culture, and provides services for the Métis people of Fort Chipewyan.
Oosita Group of Companies (OCG) is the business arm of the Fort Chipewyan Métis. Oosita empowers Metis-run businesses in Fort Chip while connecting them to the larger community.
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