A First Nations owned government relations and advocacy firm. We build the relationships, strategy, and advocacy that turn priorities into action in Ottawa.
The name
The meaning of Odawa
/ɑˈdɑːwɑ/·ah-dah-wah
As an Anishinaabe owned firm, we understand that in the Ojibwe and Algonquin tradition, Odawa, the origin of the word Ottawa, means “to trade.” Yet the Odawa people were far more than traders. They were respected diplomats, relationship builders, and connectors among Nations. Moving between communities, they helped build alliances, resolve differences, and create the conditions for shared prosperity. Their legacy reminds us that leadership is rooted in relationships, reciprocity, and the strength of bringing people together.
At Odawa Relations, our definition of Government Relations extends beyond engagement with federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to include Indigenous governments as distinct governing authorities. We foster respectful nation-to-nation relationships that recognize Indigenous Nations as rights holders, decision-makers, and partners in shaping shared priorities.
We build relationships that create opportunity, unlock access, and strengthen outcomes for First Nations and their partners.
What we do
Concentrated and deliberately specific work.
Our core mandate is advocacy and representation: bringing First Nations voices to the right places in the federal and provincial systems, and making sure they are heard.
Government Relations & Advocacy
Ongoing strategy and direct engagement with federal and provincial decision makers, sustained until real outcomes are reached.
Public Affairs & Communications
Message development, strategic positioning, briefing materials, media engagement, and rapid response when it counts.
Community Engagement & Bridge Building
Connecting communities, organizations, and institutions, and building relationships rooted in community priorities.
Coalition Building
Aligning many voices around a shared objective, turning fragmented asks into coordinated pressure.
Corporate Indigenous Relations Advisory
Strategic counsel for partners navigating consultation requirements, partnerships, and reconciliation commitments.
Surge & Rapid Response
Fast mobilization for time sensitive files, getting the right people in the right rooms when the stakes demand it.
Why Odawa
Uniquely built to serve First Nations priorities.
First Nations owned and led. Trust is earned before an engagement begins.
Direct relationships with senior federal decision makers. Clients reach the right people, not gatekeepers.
Decades inside the federal system. Strategy built on how decisions are actually made.
Together, we bring deep experience in both First Nations governance and federal government processes, enabling us to navigate each effectively and bridge understanding between them.
Given our trusted network of First Nations from across all regions, we bring voices together to make single asks turn into movements.
Timing matters. When your files are time sensitive and need urgent response, relationships make the difference. When things need to happen fast, we're here to support.
Who we serve
Our Founders
Travis Boissoneau
A proud member of the Anishinabek Nation from Garden River First Nation, also Mushkegowuk from the James Bay area and a respected leader with decades of experience advancing First Nations priorities. Travis has served as Chief Administrative Officer of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Regional Deputy Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, and as a justice advocate with the Chiefs of Ontario.
A Certified Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce, he brings deep governance expertise, strong political relationships, and a lived understanding of treaty rights, First Nation politics, and community realities.
Olivier Cullen
Two decades of experience in government relations, communications, and reconciliation, spanning the private sector and the most senior levels of the federal government. Olivier served more than eight years as a senior political advisor in various ministries including Public Safety, Indigenous Services, and Health.
As a senior advisor to the Minister of Public Safety, he led the overhaul of the national First Nations Policing Program. Known for strategic insight and creative problem solving, he excels at forging partnerships and navigating complex, high stakes issues. Olivier holds a Bachelor of Social Science in communications and political science from the University of Ottawa, where he deliberately shaped his studies around understanding how he could help advance First Nations rights in Canada.
Travis brings deep experience in First Nations governance, while Olivier brings extensive expertise in the federal government.
Together, they provide a dual perspective that spans both governance systems, strengthening the relationships that matter most.
We build the bridges that too often do not exist, and we walk them alongside our clients.
Get in touch
Start a conversation.
Tell us what your community or organization is facing.
We will help carry your voice to where it matters most.