First Nations Economic Forums

The FMB is working with like-minded partners to establish a permanent consortium of national Indigenous organizations (NIOs) to support Indigenous economic development and trade. The Indigenous Economic Council (IEC) has and will continue to advance a shared vision for Indigenous economic growth and a strategy to guide federal policy and the activities of the NIOs. The IEC group has developed and shared an Economic Reconciliation Framework (ERF) - a prioritized and actionable suite of policy initiatives to guide federal actions related to Indigenous economic development.

Historical and current structural barriers are holding back the growth and development of First Nations economies across Canada. These barriers include legislation that undermines the factors of production that support other sectors of the Canadian economy. These challenges create a complex economic environment for First Nations governments, businesses, and individuals. These factors combine to produce risk and uncertainty for businesses, entrepreneurs, and financing institutions, stifling growth and segregating First Nations economies from mainstream economies.

There is no single organization driving the conditions for First Nations economic development. Instead, a wide array of Indigenous institutions and organizations currently provide capacity support, tools, capital, and training to First Nations individuals, businesses, and governments across Canada. These organizations are part of a new framework for nation-building.

By working together for a common purpose through a secretariat, these NIOs can combine their strengths and experience to better support First Nations economies.

As a forum for Indigenous thought-leadership, the IEC will accomplish the following objectives.

• Identify opportunities and facilitate working together 
• Support evidenced based decision making through research and statistics 
• Coordinate advocacy for policy that promotes trade and investment and the removal of barriers
• Align the policies and activities of its members towards a common strategy
• Support Indigenous private sector growth
• Empower the Indigenous public sector innovation 
• Support Indigenous businesses to engage with each other, external markets, and investors
• Promote efficiencies among member organizations

Upcoming Events

We invite you to attend one of our upcoming First Nations Economic Forums gatherings in your region, where Indigenous leaders, organizations, and partners will come together to discuss and prioritize Indigenous economic reconciliation options and the key drivers from rightsholders’ perspective. We need your voice to ensure the message we heard and shared from last year’s First Nations Economic Forum is updated and valid for our people today and the generations to come.

National Indigenous Organizations

CCIB
CANDO
FNFA
FNMPC
NACCA
NATOA
FNTC
FMB