An Indigenous leader from northwestern Ontario has been recognized by the province for his contributions to the field of business.
Jason Rasevych, a director of the board for the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA), is one of four recipients of a 2022 Colleges Ontario Premier's Award.
The accolade is presented to college leaders and graduates who have made enduring contributions to Ontario’s postsecondary system and helped build a stronger Ontario.
The awards were presented at the Colleges Ontario Higher Education Summit in Toronto on Nov. 28.
“This award goes out to my father, who always encouraged me to pursue a career in business and leverage the opportunities to battle for First Nations rights and inherent responsibilities wherever and whenever I can,” Rasevych said in a social media post.
“Many lessons learned out on the land to never dilute the relationship with the land and the vision for Indigenous-led governance and decision-making authority in pursuit of self-determination.
“These teachings and lived experiences sustain my culture, my identity as an Anishinaabe, and ensure I bring a perspective to corporate Canada to walk the talk on reconciliation/decolonization efforts. Nothing about us without us.”
A member of the Ginoogaming First Nation, Rasevych is well-known regionally for his work in First Nation economic development, securing more than $150 million for capital projects, legacy infrastructure, and business expansion with Indigenous groups.
He is a founder and the current president of the Anishnawbe Business Professional Network, and is currently a partner and the National Indigeous Client Services lead with Deloitte Canada.
Rasevych additionally leads Deloitte’s Indigenous Trust service line, which has 17 reoccurring engagements, supports First Nations and trustees to manage over $500 million in invested funds, and supports the growth, education and development of First Nations and its members.
Rasevych credits his early years, where he received exposure to traditional ways of life, in helping to shape his worldview and in his work with Indigenous communities.
Using his knowledge of Indigenous rights and resource industries, he has helped with negotiations between First Nations, industry and government on precedent-setting agreements in the mining, forestry, energy and broadband sectors.
Rasevych holds business and marketing diplomas from Confederation College, as well as business and economic development degrees from Lakehead University, the University of Waterloo, and Dalhousie University.
