Practical learning for
the people doing the work
We deliver senior-level training, facilitation, and coaching grounded in nearly two decades of direct experience in Modern Treaties, Self-Government, and intergovernmental relations. Our training is designed for leaders and teams who need working knowledge, not just introductory awareness.
What this work looks like
Kennedy Governance Strategies provides training, facilitation, coaching, and leadership development that supports effective work in complex governance environments. Offerings are practical and case-driven, and grounded in what actually happens at Treaty tables, in Council chambers, and inside the Crown systems that Nations engage with.
The focus is on building the judgment and capability needed to operate well in the real environments clients face, rather than on introductory awareness or general cultural competency. This is learning for people who already carry responsibility, and who need to sharpen their effectiveness in it.
Modern Treaty & Self-Government Fundamentals
Working-level training on how Modern Treaties and Self-Government agreements actually operate. This covers core structures, Effective Date realities, fiscal arrangements, and the institutional relationships that shape implementation.
Designed for organizations that engage with Modern Treaty and Self-Governing Nations and need grounded understanding, not a general overview.
Executive Coaching & Leadership Development
Selective one-on-one coaching and mentoring for senior leaders navigating complex governance, organizational, or intergovernmental roles. Draws on established leadership development approaches, tailored to the actual situations a leader is working through.
Offered only to existing clients and via trusted referrals.
Treaty Implementation Capacity
Tailored capacity-building for Nations preparing for Effective Date, expanding intergovernmental engagement, or moving into new implementation phases.
Designed around the Nation's actual files and the decisions its staff and leadership are working through
Bespoke Briefings & Workshops
Custom-designed sessions on specific governance, policy, or implementation questions: from Council workshops on a live decision to team briefings on a developing Crown policy.
Scoped and built around the specific question at hand, not drawn from an off-the-shelf catalogue.
Intergovernmental Relations & Crown Engagement
Training on how federal and provincial systems operate in practice: how mandates get set, how decisions get made, how priorities shift, and what that means for Nations engaging with the Crown.
Grounded in direct experience inside those systems.
Treaty Simulations & Applied Exercises
Facilitation of applied learning exercises that let leaders, staff, and partners work through realistic negotiation and implementation scenarios together.
Valuable for building shared understanding across tables and across teams.
Negotiation &
Table Skills
Practical learning on how negotiation actually unfolds at Treaty, fiscal, and policy tables, including preparation, mandate development, sequencing, and the relationship work that runs alongside technical negotiation.
For senior staff, leadership or team members moving into negotiation or representation roles.
Governance Orientation & Onboarding
Structured orientation for incoming elected Governments, Council members, senior staff, or board members in governance-rich environments.
This helps new leaders come up to speed on Treaty, Self-Government, and intergovernmental realities quickly enough to contribute from the outset.
How we engage
Selective, not high-volume
We take on a limited number of engagements at a time. The firm does not offer certification programs, standardized curriculum, or high-volume awareness training; those are well-served by other providers.
Case-driven and practical
Learning is built around real files, real tables, and real decisions. Content is grounded in direct experience with Treaty negotiation, implementation, and intergovernmental engagement, not in theoretical or introductory material.
Founder-delivered
Engagements are delivered directly by Jake, with occasional involvement of trusted collaborators where the material calls for additional perspective. Clients get the senior voice they are paying for.
Tailored, not templated
Each engagement is scoped and designed around the client's actual context. We do not resell the same workshop across different clients.
This work is suited to
organizations and individuals that:
Already have foundational awareness and need working-level depth
Are preparing for a specific moment or file
(negotiation, implementation milestone, new role)
Need learning grounded in real governance and policy experience, not generic awareness training
Are building internal capacity to reduce reliance on external advisors over time
Value case-driven, practical learning that connects directly to the decision they actually face
Let’s Work Together
Considering a tailored learning or coaching engagement?
We take on engagements where senior, tailored delivery adds real value.
Reach out to discuss whether this is a fit.