‘I’m doing this to support our communities and our nation’

University of Saskatchewan graduate W. Sean Willy (BComm’08) will receive a national award this month that celebrates his commitment to championing “a vision where Indigenous Peoples are full partners in the Canadian economy.”

Willy, a member of the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories, is this year’s recipient of the Indigenous Business Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB). According to the CCIB, the award recognizes Willy’s decades of advancing the Indigenous economy and his dedication to Indigenous economic inclusion for companies operating in Canada’s resource sector.

“I was kind of blown away, I’ll be honest,” Willy said of learning the good news about the lifetime achievement award.

While it is an honour to be recognized, Willy said his work remains focused on Indigenous people and communities.

“I didn’t get into this to win awards. I’m doing this to support our communities and our nation.”

Willy will receive the Indigenous Business Lifetime Achievement Award on Feb. 26, 2026, in Toronto, Ont., during the CCIB’s Central Business Forum and Awards Dinner.

Working in business, particularly in the resources sector, is a natural fit for Willy. Growing up in a mining household, he had the opportunity to experience life in communities across the Canadian Shield, from the Northwest Territories to Nunavut to Alberta to Saskatchewan. For 10 years Willy worked for the global mining group Rio Tinto before earning his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2008 at the Edwards School of Business at USask. After completing his degree, he went to work for Cameco Corporation, one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel.

“Having Cameco and Rio Tinto on my resume opened a lot of doors,” he said.

Willy met his future wife, Melissa Exner, while they were both studying at the Edwards School of Business. Now married, Sean Willy and Melissa Willy (BComm’09) live in Saskatoon with their two children.  

Throughout his career, Sean Willy has developed and implemented innovative Indigenous inclusion and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. He strives to ensure Indigenous Peoples are seen as full partners in long-term business relationships, which has led him to build strategic partnerships in Australia, the United States, and throughout Canada.

In August 2017, Willy was appointed as the president and CEO of Des Nedhe Group, the economic development corporation of English River First Nation. Since then, his leadership has propelled Des Nedhe to great success, driving growth and diversification into new sectors and regions.

A news release from the CCIB noted that “during his career, Willy has championed a vision where Indigenous Peoples are full partners in the Canadian economy, and through his ability to bridge the gap between Indigenous communities and corporate Canada, he has created the momentum necessary to bring that vision closer to reality.”

During the same week in January that he received the good news about the Indigenous Business Lifetime Achievement Award, Willy also learned that Des Nedhe Group was being awarded the 2026 Skookum Jim Award for Indigenous achievement in the mineral industry from the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).

Willy believes in the potential of Des Nedhe to serve English River members now and for generations to come. On a national scale, he is pleased to see more Indigenous people across the country attending university, including at his alma mater. He is also grateful for past Indigenous leaders and Elders “who set the table for us,” he said, noting there is now increased interest across Canada in economic reconciliation.

“Do you want the maximum economic impact for the country? Then you work with First Nation-owned businesses from the nation level,” he said.

A highly respected business leader, Willy was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. As a USask alumnus, Willy remains connected to USask and recently took part in an event on campus that was aimed at exploring practical solutions to strengthen investment in export-oriented sectors amid global trade wars. During the event, Willy advised the attendees that “the biggest thing Canada needs to do is to include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.” Willy believes that is starting to happen, noting he is pleased to see “a wave” of Indigenous participation in the larger Canadian economy.

“I think taking advantage of the opportunities in front of us, creating a value proposition, and driving sort of the future economics of Canada (is important),” he said.

Outside of his work with Des Nedhe Group, Willy is a board member for TELUS Corporation. He holds his Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) designation and is a past board member of Green First Forest Products, the past co-chair of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, a past member of Indigenous Works, and the current board chair of Creative Fire, a member of Des Nedhe Group. He also recently sat as a member of the Canadian government’s Indigenous Innovation Housing Committee and the Indigenous Advisory Committee on Small Module Reactors. 

“I’m deeply grateful for the people I’ve learned from and worked alongside over the years,” Willy said in the CCIB news release.

“The community leaders, Elders, colleagues, and the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who are doing the hard, steady work of building opportunity. I’ve seen how access to education, skills training, trades, and meaningful work can change the trajectory of families and communities. When that work is supported, it creates lasting pathways for future generations. Not just jobs, but ownership, leadership, and long-term stability. That is the foundation of strong Indigenous economies and inclusive procurement, and it’s exactly the kind of progress CCIB has championed. Now is the time for us, as a country, to take the next step and support Indigenous ownership and control as the path forward. This recognition reflects that shared effort so far, and I’m honoured to be part of it.”