Reclaiming Financial Well-Being Through Nation-Led Solutions
The Default Management Prevention Pilot Project (DMPPP) is a transformative initiative of the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB), developed to support First Nations in preventing and exiting financial default through culturally safe, capacity-focused services. Since 2016, DMPPP has grown from working with five communities to serving over 40 Nations across Canada, helping to build governance strength, restore financial autonomy, and uphold Nation-led decision-making.
What We Do
DMPPP delivers tailored, hands-on support designed to reflect each Nation’s unique priorities and cultural worldview. This includes:
- Financial management and policy development
- Strategic governance planning
- Leadership coaching and organizational development
- Empowering Your Workforce (Human Resource /People and Culture Management Support)
- Embedded financial mentorship and systems training
Rooted in the principle of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), FMB blends Indigenous knowledge systems with Western financial tools to create solutions that are practical, sustainable, and culturally aligned.
Our Impact
DMPPP has led to significant measurable outcomes, including substantial projected cost savings, smoother audit processes for participating Nations, and the successful transition of multiple communities out of default. In 2024–2025 alone, the program supported 141 engagements, which included more than 100 hands-on working sessions and strong participation from Chiefs, Councils, and senior administrators.
But the real success of DMPPP lies in what cannot be quantified: restored trust, empowered leadership, and communities equipped to lead their own financial futures—on their own terms.
Community Survey: Redefining "Default"
In 2025, FMB launched the DMPPP Community Survey, a national, trauma-informed initiative that invites Indigenous communities to redefine the concept of “default.” This is more than a survey—it is a movement to co-develop a new financial management framework grounded in Indigenous teachings, self-determination, and long-term well-being.
With input from up to 250 Nations, the survey explores:
- How communities understand and experience “default”
- Root causes of financial stress
- The cultural and emotional impacts of colonial financial policies
- Indigenous-led strategies for financial wellness and governance renewal
The survey results will inform a new community-based business plan—one that centres Indigenous voices and guides the evolution of future services.
Together, we are reclaiming financial narratives and building stronger paths forward for future generations.