ABPA Celebrates President Jason Rasevych’s Historic Appointment to Global RRI Board – Elevating Indigenous Economic Sovereignty to the World Stage

Press Release

FEBRUARY 4, 2026 – THUNDER BAY, ON – The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA) is proud to congratulate its Co-founder and President, Jason Rasevych, on his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI).

This prestigious appointment places a Northern Ontario leader at the helm of one of the world’s most influential coalitions for land and forest tenure reform. It signals a major step forward in connecting Canadian Indigenous innovation with global conservation finance.

Global Scale and Financial Reach of RRI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a Canadian presence in Montreal, RRI is a global coalition of over 200 organizations dedicated to advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

RRI operates at a massive financial and political scale, coordinating global efforts to close the funding gap for community land rights. The organization was instrumental in the Path to Scale initiative, which aims to mobilize US$10 billion by 2030 to support the recognition of community land rights. Additionally, RRI plays a critical role in tracking and influencing global funding streams that currently average over US$500 million annually for tenure rights, ensuring these funds reach the communities effectively to combat climate change and poverty.

Leading Innovation at Waawoono

Jason’s appointment is a natural extension of his work at Waawoono Consultancy, where he is driving a dual agenda of sustainability standards reform and technological sovereignty.

Through Waawoono, Jason is actively working with national bodies like the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) to overhaul corporate reporting. He is advocating for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) to be a mandatory material disclosure, pushing for a system where Indigenous rights violations are treated as quantifiable financial risks rather than social externalities.

Furthermore, Jason is pioneering the development of Indigenous technology innovation platforms. He is leading efforts to create new investment vehicles that allow First Nations to own and deploy clean energy technologies and digital infrastructure, positioning Indigenous innovation as a distinct and viable asset class for global investors.

Voices of Leadership

Jason has always been a visionary who understands that true economic reconciliation requires both policy change and financial innovation, At Waawoono, he isn’t just advising companies; he is building the new infrastructure for Indigenous commerce—from rewriting sustainability standards to launching technology platforms that give our nations ownership over their future. We are thrilled to see him bring this expertise to RRI’s global board.

“It is an honor to join the RRI Board and contribute to a mission that influences billions in global conservation funding,” said Jason Rasevych. “My work with Waawoono has focused on two things: holding markets accountable through better reporting standards and unlocking wealth through Indigenous-led technology and nature-based solutions. I look forward to scaling these Canadian innovations to help RRI empower communities worldwide, ensuring they are the primary drivers of the global green economy.”

The ABPA looks forward to supporting Jason as he bridges Northern Ontario’s success stories with RRI’s global mandate, amplifying the voice of Anishnawbe business on the international stage.

RRI Welcomes New Indigenous and Local Community Leaders to its Board, Including Youth and Afro-descendant Peoples for the First Time – Rights + Resources – Supporting Forest Tenure, Policy, and Market Reforms

About the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA):

The ABPA is a non-profit, member-based organization based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It serves the First Nation business community within the Treaty #3, Treaty #5, Treaty #9, and Robinson Superior 1850 Treaty areas. The ABPA advocates for the inclusion of Indigenous businesses in the regional economy and provides a platform for professionals to connect, collaborate, and succeed.

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