Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust

The Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust (LICST) was created by the Nunatsiavut Government in 2006 to:

Provide financial, management, economic, and other assistance for the pursuit of economic and socio-economic strategies that establish, promote, assist, or otherwise foster employment, business and other relationships and undertakings which enable or are intended to enable Eligible Beneficiaries to gain or acquire additional experience, knowledge, skills, assets and property of any kind having economic value.

LICST provides independent oversight over the Nunatsiavut Government’s business interests held by the holding company Nunatsiavut Group of Companies. The LICST is able to carry out its broader mandate with funding from the earnings of Nunatsiavut Group of Companies.

There are five Trustees, each of who are Nunatsiavut beneficiaries and appointed by the Nunatsiavut Government.

The Trustees are:

Isabella Pain

Isabella was born and raised in Nain, Nunatsiavut. She graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Political Science), and a minor in Business.

In 2000, she was appointed as the co-chief negotiator of the Nunatsiavut land claims negotiation team. A year later, she became the chief negotiator of the Impact and Benefits Agreement (IBA) with Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company (VBNC). Isabella became Aboriginal Affairs Superintendent for VBNC in 2004, and was part of the team responsible for ensuring that the Inuit and Innu IBAs were properly implemented.

Isabella went to work for the Nunatsiavut Government in 2009. Her current roles are Deputy Minister of the Nunatsiavut Secretariat, Secretary of Executive Council, and senior negotiator.

Natan Obed

Natan has a Bachelor of Arts in both English and American Studies from Tufts University.

Natan grew up in Nain. He is currently President and CEO of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the organization which represents Canada’s 60,000 Inuit. In his previous role, he was Director of Social and Cultural Development for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in Iqualuit, where his work focused on issues such as health, education, language, justice, research, and suicide prevention.

Kristy Sheppard

Kristy resides in Rigolet. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Acadia University, and a Master of Arts in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University.

Kristy is a senior manager with the Nunatsiavut Government. Her career spans ten years and has been focused on community development. As Nunatsiavut’s first Director of Tourism, she helped establish the region as a tourism destination. Kristy has recently transitioned into the role of Director of Economic Development. At the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in June 2017, she was recognized as one of 250 up-and-coming leaders in Canada.

Kristy is an active member with industry organizations, including SmartICE and the Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Development Integrated Research Program.

Garry Best

Garry Best, a Beneficiary who grew up in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Garry is a graduate of Memorial University’s Engineering program, served for 23 years as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, and is currently Regional Executive Officer, Ontario, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada.

Garry has had leadership roles in our nation’s military, and since 2006, various roles in the federal government. His successful involvement in several First Nations programs, including the rebuilding and relocation of Manitoba First Nations impacted by the 2011 flood and First Nations Infrastructure and Housing Programs testify to his strong leadership and management skills.