Ernie Daniels
CPA, CGA, CAFM Salt River First Nation, Northwest Territories
Across the world, Indigenous Nations are rebuilding their economies the same way our ancestors built trade routes, governance systems, and community networks—through collective strength, shared purpose, and long-term thinking. First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) is one of the clearest modern expressions of that legacy: an Indigenous built, Indigenous-governed financial model designed to generate intergenerational wealth on our own terms.
As we humbly reflect on another year of working alongside and supporting First Nation governments in their economic self-determination journeys, we recognize our important work exists because of the continued bold leadership of communities who choose to work with us.
FNFA is the only Indigenous-controlled institution in the world with an investment-grade credit rating and direct access to global capital markets. By pooling FNFA members’ own source revenues, and our strength, First Nations have unlocked more than $4.4 billion in community-driven projects, generated $9 billion in economic output, and supported 42,156 jobs creating the financial backbone for long-term prosperity.
Fiscal year 2025-26 brought several milestones for our membership of 195 Nations strong, our dedicated Board of Directors, and hard working FNFA team. By issuing our 15th debenture and surpassing over $4 billion in affordable financing for community priorities, to receiving Environmental Finance’s Sustainability Bond of the Year Award – agency, we continue to work together to replace and decolonize outdated structures with new, innovative approaches to level the playing field between Indigenous peoples and the rest of Canada.
Whether through innovative initiatives underway to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (2005) and allow FNFA to lend to Indigenous-owned Special Purpose Vehicles, or the increased demand from investors in the capital markets to buy FNFA bonds, our growth reflects development in communities across the country as First Nations pursue their self-determination.
Our why: to uphold and strengthen our Nations by financing projects that honour the land, our people, and the generations who will inherit both. Guided by the teachings of reciprocity and collective wellbeing, we continue to finance initiatives that directly improve quality of life in our communities. From renewable energy that sustains the land, to schools that nurture our youth and homes that shelter and honour our Elders, these investments reflect our shared responsibility to build a future rooted in prosperity, cultural resilience, and long-term security for all our relations across Canada.
As we move toward a more equitable and resilient future, the opportunity, and responsibility, to support Indigenous-led growth has never been clearer. In the year ahead, FNFA will remain steadfast in ensuring our members have access to affordable capital to advance their priorities and strengthen their Nations for generations to come.
Mahsi cho.