Patrick is from the Sawridge First Nation near Slave Lake, Alberta (Treaty 8). He spent the early stage of his career working in the hospitality sector for a variety of Indigenous-owned businesses, including the Sawridge Group of Companies and the River Cree Resort & Casino. In addition he also represented a management consulting firm engaging Indigenous organizations, businesses and communities to advance economic development opportunities, strategic planning, community planning, process improvement and entrepreneurship. Most recently, he represented the Indigenous Relations team at Civeo, a company that specializes in providing remote workforce accommodations and hospitality services for the natural resources sector.

He has a diploma in Hospitality Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), a bachelor’s degree in International Hotel Management from Royal Roads University and recently completed a Master of Business Administration in Indigenous Business & Leadership at Simon Fraser University.

Having lost his father at 12 years old, he strongly believe in the power of mentorship and he was extremely fortunate to have many strong and positive mentors support him throughout my life – most importantly his mother Catherine. He sits as a volunteer board member at the Inner-City High School in downtown Edmonton. This school provides marginalized urban Indigenous and other youth with the support and education necessary to break the cycle of poverty that dominates their lives, enabling them to reach an educational level and career choice that facilitates their becoming contributing members of society.

He takes pride customer relationship management and Indigenous Relations experience working with First Nations, Métis settlements and governments, Indigenous organizations and other organizations/businesses that are committed to Indigenous reconciliation and inclusion