That inability of nations and community members to utilize and leverage their most valuable assets in the way that other players in the Canadian economy are able to is a huge limitation.

It’s a hurdle for all First Nations communities that continue to be governed by the Indian Act, and other pieces of legislation as well.

But that prohibition creates the biggest hurdle for access to capital.

How can financial institutions do a better job?

Where we play a role as a financial institution, is in supporting and incentivizing, and rewarding that behaviour from our project proponent clients.

And recognizing that those companies that are entering into partnership, true partnership with indigenous communities, that we can play a role in how we prioritize that financing.

And in the terms of that financing.

What role can the private sector play to support economic reconciliation?

There is a really important role that all of us can play in the private sector, regardless of your industry.

And that is in increasing the indigenous voices around the table, and within our institutions.

There is a dramatic underrepresentation of indigenous voices in the business and finance space.

We need more and we need our communities to also support the pipeline that we’re trying to develop of young indigenous people that want to be in business and finance.

And we, our institutions, will all be better for that increased representation.

And it’s really a collective effort from government, private sector and the institutions, and the community to get our young people thinking about how they can play a role in business and finance and in wealth management for their own communities.