Bob Miller, president of Bridging Innovations Inc. is a proud member of the Gitxsan Nation, and has a good understanding of First Nations culture, values and traditions. Bridging Innovations supports First Nations to address their immediate needs, and to achieve their long-term vision of healthy and dynamic communities and economies. Bridging Innovations understands the challenges facing First Nations in respect to improving the quality of life, and the quest towards increased social and economic self-sufficiency.

Bob Miller's recent First Nations consulting work includes the following projects:

• acted as executive director for the Interior Indian Friendship Society, managing the Friendship Centre on an interim basis while a full time ED was recruited
• developing a 5-year business plan for the Central Urban Training & Employment Society
• developed a forestry strategic plan, and later implementing certain aspects of the plan for the Secwepemc Economic Development Corporation
• co-facilitated a project for the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council to identify and report on information for the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition
• conducted natural resource department and title and rights department strategic plans, as well as community planning and consultation/ accommodation planning for the Splatsin First Nation
• co-facilitated a project for the Neskonlith, Adams Lake and Little Shuswap Indian Bands in respect to the Skwekwekwelt sacred area encompassing the Sun Peaks Resort
• worked with the Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation in regard to controversial road building and potential logging in a sacred watershed
• developed a conflict management plan and provided advice on dispute resolution
• worked on a project team headed by Grizzly-Man Resource Management to complete all of the plans and studies necessary for the Canim Lake Band to be offered a Community Forest

We have extensive experience in developing community strategic plans over First Nation's traditional territories. Bridging Innovations provides clients with a tool kit of building blocks to help communities grow and prosper and become more self-reliant on their lands. We have worked on developing business partnerships between First Nations and the forest industry.

Bob Miller’s previous work includes facilitating 12 Forest Land Use Planning workshops sponsored by West Coast Environmental Law. The participants developed strategic plans for their communities on their traditional territories. He also facilitated 10 First Nations Forestry Business workshops sponsored by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. The trainees gained knowledge of business opportunities, funding sources, writing a business plan, and steps to establish their own business.

From 1998 to 2002 Bob was a faculty instructor at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, BC where he taught college level business administration and forestry courses. In the year 2003 Bob was Co-Manager for the Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band near Burns Lake, BC.

Customized services provided to Aboriginal organizations involving tribal councils, band offices, institutions, businesses and not-for-profit societies include:

Facilitation:

• community building starting with strategic planning and action planning
• implementation of strategic plans working towards the community vision and goals
• negotiations support in dealing with government and industry
• forging more effective working relationships with non-native organizations
• Aboriginal and corporate partnership development

Management:

• organizational development and management
• human resource management
• project management
• governance, management and organizational reviews
• writing policy and procedure manuals

Training:

• training needs analysis
• training plan development
• training course design, development and delivery
• training for human resource development
• instruction on the specific course areas including governance and leadership; management and supervision; teamwork and communications, business administration and forestry

Forestry:

• land use planning and access management
• timber tenure acquisition and management
• holistic forestry planning and management

Economic Development:

• conducting community economic development initiatives
• proposal writing and securing funds
• business planning and development to ensure profitability
• providing business support services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs