VANCOUVER – We are pleased to announce that the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB) and Capacity Connect have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This will result in coordinated support for First Nation communities in Ontario, with the shared goal of assisting in the development of strong financial management practices.
With cooperation at the heart of this agreement, we look forward to sharing financial management and capacity development resources. These would include tools and information to best serve the Nations of Ontario.
“It is through collaborations such as these that we gain strength, greater understanding, and are able to improve services and programs for First Nations,” says FMB Executive Chair Harold Calla.
“This agreement will allow us all to share available resources for financial management and capacity growth including reports, studies, , and procedures,” added FMB CEO Geordie Hungerford. “Through this collaboration we will share best practices and learn from each other.”
“This MOU is warmly welcomed because collaborative supports optimize the benefits to the First Nations we service in Ontario,” says Jennifer Whiteye, Southern First Nations Secretariat (SFNS) Executive Director. “Through this partnership, we recognize and leverage the strengths of each entity and strive to build the financial capacity in First Nations where they’re needed most.”
“Capacity development tools and other training and resources are developed for the First Nations we engage with,” says Audrey Gilbeau, Nokiwin Tribal Council (NTC) Executive Director. “The pandemic exemplified how we can innovate and have a broader reach virtually, and we are confident that we will continue to reach more First Nations and partners across the province as a result.”
About Capacity Connect: Working Together to Achieve Financial Success
Established in 2021, the SFNS and NTC created Capacity Connect as a joint initiative. Capacity Connect assists managers and finance staff in Ontario First Nations. It was previously known as the ‘First Nations Finance Capacity Development Initiative’.
NTC and SFNS partnered with the vision to help build financial capacity within Ontario First Nation Managers and Finance personnel. Stakeholder engagement and participant feedback is key to develop long term sustainable financial capacity development within communities. Capacity Connect recognizes that each First Nation community may have unique needs and challenges and will assist in providing support.
About the FMB
The FMB is a First Nations-led Institution that supports First Nations in developing sound finance and administrative practices. The FMB was created under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act in 2006. Services are optional and offered at no cost to First Nations. More than 300 First Nations across Canada have signed letters of cooperation with the FMB. For more information on all products and services, visit fnfmb.com.