Speaker Presentations

• Tewatohnhi’saktha’s story of shifting from being activity focused to a results based approach

• The challenges of establishing measurements to track results and shared organizational strategies

• Key lessons learned for establishing a strategic management system to lead your organization/community to your desired future, successful implementing your plans, and building the capacity of the organization to achieve results day-to-day.

“Developing Sustainable Economic Futures”
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Who are we?
Established under the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act, the FNFA is a non-profit corporation owned and operated by its members (First Nation governments across Canada who borrow or invest through the FNFA’s programs). The Board is comprised of representatives from its First Nation borrowing members.

Our Purpose:
The purposes of the FNFA are to help First Nations achieve economic development, build infrastructure capacity, and provide professional financial advice through its programs. Adequate infrastructure makes economic development possible for communities as well as attracts outside investors to reserve lands. This in turn creates jobs and further economic growth and opportunity.

Long Term Financing:

• By capitalizing on its investment grade credit rating, the FNFA provides long term financing to First Nation members, maximum term is 30 years, at rates achievable by other orders of government in Canada.
• First Nation members determine their loan repayment term, and the project itself. FNFA, then, raises the necessary funding.
  

Short Term Financing:

• The short term rate offered by the FNFA to its members will be below Prime.
• Short term loans provide cash flow for operating requirements, and for capital projects whose repayment term is of 5 years or less.
  

Investment and Cash Management:

• Two pooled investment funds, each with different term duration, that are professionally managed are offered to FNFA members.
• Each pool has ease of subscription and redemption.
• Investment monies are easily accessed by members- no withdrawal fees or penalties.
• Rates of return equal to those achieved by other orders of government in Canada.
  

Treasury Services/Advice:

• FNFA Staff has extensive experience regarding capital planning, banking arrangements, investment advice and day-to-day trading, financing options, advice on “leveraging your monies” to build infrastructure, etc.

• Understand the historical significance of Aboriginal people

• Review the milestones on contemporary Aboriginal history

• Increase the Awareness of the demographic make-up of    Aboriginal people

• Explore the meaning of culture

• Examine the definitions of Aboriginal people

• What is IFRS?

• Why First nations should care about IFRS - impact on GBE and GBTO stand alone financial statements and impact on First nation's financial statements

• Timeline

• Some very high level IFRS-Canadian GAAP differences.

• To be profitable, businesses must be run professionally and with multi-year consistency of strategy and management.

• Council's role needs to change from hands-on operational involvement in individual businesses, to oversight of economic and social policies that meet the needs of their membership.

• Separating politics from business will allow the Communities to minimize taxation of off-reserve revenue, and increase the Communities ability to access financing from external investors.

• Structuring businesses in a systematic way using limited partnerships, limited companies, a board of directors, and a board of trustees will protect the Communities assets from liability claims arising from business operations.

• The Harvard Study, states that once the political problem is solved, then economic assets begin to pay off.