June 21, 2022:
Robin Billy, a member of the Adams Lake Indian Band, has joined the ChinookX team as co-founder and director of business development. In this role he will be identifying and engaging with Indigenous communities who are ready to take the plunge into emerging technologies.
“I am excited and honoured to be getting out there and meeting with potential community partners who have the land and clean energy to build out our tech and data projects. Together, we can make sure the infrastructure of the future in Canada is Indigenous-owned,” Billy says.
Billy brings to the team decades of experience leading Indigenous communities and organizations in economic development, operations management and environmental stewardship. His roles have included elected Chief, director of operations, government-to-government coordinator and environment coordinator.
His technology experience includes building Sexqeltkemc Cloud Services, a data centre enterprise co-owned by three Secwepemc Nations – Adams Lake, Neskonlith, and Splatsin. He served as director for the First Nations Technology Council, helping Indigenous communities connect with new and emerging digital technologies.
“Having Robin join our core team is an incredible opportunity for ChinookX to deepen our engagement and relationships with Indigenous communities, ultimately supporting our mission of using emerging technologies to advance Indigenous self-determination,” says Lee White, fellow ChinookX co-founder and director of client relations.
Billy’s accomplishments include securing millions of dollars for infrastructure projects as the elected Chief for Adams Lake, negotiating precedent-setting agreements with proponents on behalf of the St’kemlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation (SSN), and leading an aggressive Aboriginal Title strategy to rebuild SSN traditional laws and take back control of lands and resources.
He is a proud Secwepemc man who continues to practice his culture including hunting, fishing and berry picking.