Holly Fortier, President of Nisto Consulting is Cree/Dene from Ft. McKay First Nation, Alberta. She was born in Treaty 7 Territory and fortunate to be raised by cultural leaders, academics, and activists. Her business specializes in the development and delivery of Indigenous Awareness Training. She has been delivering trainings across Canada since 2007 to thousands of participants including government, corporate clients, educators, service organizations and first responders.

Her passion for sharing Indigenous history and culture rises out of her mother’s inspirational survival from a childhood in Indian Residential School, a story of courage, resilience, and triumph. Holly’s mission is to encourage a relationship of respect and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. Teaming with Pyramid Productions, she launched a new film and television company, Two Canoes Media, dedicated to producing high end marketing videos and documentaries.

Holly has been involved in the Alberta film industry since the early 1990’s, in projects including North of 60, The Assassination of Jesse James, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, The Revenant and many documentaries.

She received the 2016 Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women Esquao Award for Culture, and the 2018 Alberta Aboriginal Role Model Award. She is on the board of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Holly received an Honorary Degree from Olds College in 2022. Most recently, she received the Alberta Chamber of Resources Indigenous Leadership Award.

She says her biggest blessing is being mother to her daughter and two sons, and Kokum to three granddaughters.