Since 1998, CBI has worked closely with the Indian Taxation Advisory Board (ITAB) and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA)
to help improve relationships and negotiations among First Nations and
the gas and oil industry. To accomplish this objective, CBI has
developed and conducted a four-part training series of workshops,
designed to build skills, build relationships, strengthen alliances,
and institutionalize change.

The first introductory workshop covered mutual gains negotiation and
was presented at Lake Louise, Alberta, in November 1998 and again in
New Brunswick in 1999. A second on advanced negotiation course was
presented in Calgary, Alberta, in May 2000 and Halifax, Nova Scotia, in
July 2000. These two courses sought to develop and improve negotiation
skills among the parties. CBI worked with ITAB and CEPA to develop two
sophisticated simulations - Riverbend, a six party, bilateral,
inside-outside negotiation and Big Oil, a two party two issue exercise.
The third workshop focused on consensus building and was offered in
Calgary in November 2001. A tailored case was developed for this
course, as well as a series of negotiation “challenges” to help
participants apply general principles to specific cases. The fourth in
the series, on partnerships and lessons learned, was delivered in
December 2003 in Calgary.