Indigenous-led investment vehicles are being created to generate significant financial returns, but they are also powerful vehicles for creating long-term economic and social impact. This session provides an exclusive look into the strategies of two innovative Indigenous-led investment funds: Seven Generations Capital and the Metis Settlements Development Corporation (MSDC).
Andrew Hungerford of Seven Generations Capital will share insights on innovative, sustainable investment strategies that integrate Gwich’in values into infrastructure and urban development. Barbara McKenzie of MSDC will highlight the organisation’s focus on impact-driven investments that generate wealth, create employment, and strengthen the Meis Settlements of Alberta.
Change Makers – English River First Nation & Denison Mines leading together in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Rewriting the Future of Uranium Mining Through Indigenous Equity and Technical Innovation
Overview
Denison Mines Corp. is advancing the Wheeler River Project, the largest undeveloped uranium project in the eastern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Comprising two high-grade uranium deposits, Phoenix and Gryphon, the project stands as a pioneering case in balancing technical innovation, financial robustness, and Indigenous partnership.
A Shared Prosperity Agreement (SPA) with English River First Nation (ERFN) underpins the project, securing social licence and increasing certainty for its development. This Agreement, coupled with in-situ recovery (ISR) mining at Phoenix, positions Wheeler River as a benchmark for sustainable and commercially competitive uranium production.
ERFN’s business development efforts are led by the Des Nëdhë Group of Companies (Des Nëdhë), which has direct or indirect investments in 23 companies with annual revenue of over $100M Canadian. ERFN and Des Nëdhë have become leaders when working with industry, through both their lands and resources department, and Des Nedhe. Impressively, ERFN’s vision for sustainable economic development within their Ancestral Lands and strong advocacy for the protection of the environment and the Nation’s interests has been consistently applied over a period of nearly 50-years, representing the collective will of the people of ERFN.
How MSDC prioritises investments that create tangible economic and social benefits for Metis Settlements, ensuring long-term sustainability and community prosperity.
Culturally Aligned Investment Strategies
How Seven Generations Capital integrates Indigenous values into real estate and infrastructure investments while ensuring environmental stewardship.
Community-Centric Development
The importance of Indigenous-led funds in driving projects that serve Indigenous communities first, fostering self-determination and long-term resilience.
Innovative Partnerships
Exploring how Indigenous funds collaborate with mainstream financial institutions, governments, and private investors to expand access to capital.
ESG and Indigenous Investment Principles
How these funds go beyond ESG to incorporate Indigenous perspectives, ensuring investments align with cultural values and sustainability goals.
Many Indigenous-led projects benefit from government partnerships, tax incentives, and policy support, enhancing investment security.
Reconciliation & Inclusive Growth
Investing in these funds contributes to economic reconciliation, supporting Indigenous leadership in capital markets while delivering meaningful social impact.
Cedar LNG: One of the largest Indigenous-Infrastruture Projects in Canada. Source: Canadian Energy Centre & Mining.com
Energy Projects with Indigenous Equity in Canada. Source: Fasken
Distribution of Canadian Energy Projects. Source: Fasken
Indigenous-led investment funds represent a new frontier in finance, where economic growth and social impact go hand in hand. Whether you’re an institutional investor, impact fund, or private investor, this session offers inside access to how these funds are shaping the future of sustainable investing. Join us to explore how capital can be deployed for long-term financial success while empowering Indigenous communities.
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