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The lack of access to sureties and bonding is a huge impediment to Indigenous construction companies.

 On the sixth episode of Season Two of the Let’s Bond podcast, host Jody Anderson explores possible solutions to these challenges with Tim Laronde, National Director of Indigenous Strategies at Chandos Construction, and Steve Berna, Chief Operating Officer of the FNFA.

Episode run time: 21:13
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tim Laronde, National Director of Indigenous Strategies, Chandos Construction
Website: Chandros Construction
Email: [email protected] 

Steve Berna, Chief Operating Officer, FNFA
Website: First Nations Finance Authority
Email: [email protected] 

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Chief Terry Paul joins host Jody Anderson on the third episode in Season Two of the Let’s Bond podcast to discuss the massive purchase of 50 per cent of Clearwater Seafoods, the largest seafood company in the world. He was head of the coalition of seven communities that became equity owners of Clearwater. The deal was made possible with support from FNFA.

Chief Terry Paul has been leading Membertou First Nation in Una'ma'ki (Cape Breton, NS) for more than 37 consecutive years. During this time, he has guided his Mi'kmaq community and administration into one of the most efficient and economically flourishing Indigenous communities in the country. Employment, once stagnant, now tops 80 per cent.

Episode run time: 16:46

CONTACT INFORMATION
Terry Paul, Chief, Membertou First Nation
Website: Membertou First Nation
Email: [email protected] 

Additional information:
Membertou Development Corporation
Every Loan Tells a Story (FNFA video)
Landmark Clearwater Seafood purchase (FNFA news release) 

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A powerful second episode of Season Two of the Let’s Bond podcast, as Dawn Madahbee-Leach joins host Jody Anderson to talk about the shifting and growing influence of women in finance leadership positions.

 Dawn joined Waubetech Business Development Corporation in 1988 and has gone to play a huge role as a national influencer. In 2018 she was chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She also chairs the National Indigenous Economic Board while sitting on numerous corporate boards and government advisory panels.

Episode run time: 25:46

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dawn Madahbee-Leach, General Manager, Waubetech Business Development Corporation
Website: Waubetech Business Development Corporation
Email: [email protected]

Additional Information:
National Indigenous Economic Development Board
NACCA Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneur Program 

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On this first episode of Season Two of the Let’s Bond podcast, Jason Calla talks with host Jody Anderson about a new  report released by the Assembly of First Nations, which estimates there is a shortfall of $349.2 billion dollars in First Nations infrastructure - the necessary buildings to support the health and prosperity of our communities.

 Jason has been leading the First Nations Infrastructure Institute, a small but remarkable team of project managers and engineers, who have been in 'development' mode while lobbying the government to be included in the First Nations Fiscal Management Act with its sister national organizations.

Episode run time: 29:11

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jason Calla, Technical Director, First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Website: First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Email: [email protected] 

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Host Jody Anderson, Director of Business Development for FNFA, speaks with Don Morin, Senior Business Analyst (FNFA) and Deputy Chief Derek Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou First Nation in Ontario on the sixth and final episode of season one of the Let’s Bond podcast.

 In the finance world, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is the umbrella
 that many investments fit under. FNFA’s bonds fit entirely into these SDG and ESG categories as members’ projects focus on green energy projects financing (environmental), communities (social), and administrative (governance).
 
Episode run time: 20:16

CONTACT INFORMATION:
 Derek Archibald, Deputy Chief, Taykwa Tagamou First Nation
Website: Taykwa Tagamou First Nation
Email: [email protected]

Don Morin, Senior Business Analyst , FNFA
Website: First Nations Finance Authority
Email: [email protected] 

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Chief Derek Epp of Tzeachten First Nation in B.C. joins host Jody Anderson on the fifth episode of the Let’s Bond podcast to share his community's housing upgrades and what they mean to members. He says it's not the size of the loan that matters, but what counts is the value it brings to the community.

 First Nations communities don’t have to start big. Many, such as Tzeachten, started small with sustainable housing developments. Over time, your community will grow and thrive. With FNFA borrowing capacity, communities can expand their housing developments in ways that truly meet their requirements.

Episode run time: 21:54
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
Derek Epp, Chief, Tzeachten First Nation
Website: Tzeachten First Nation 
Email: [email protected]

Additional information:
Every Loan Tells a Story: Tzeachten First Nation Housing Project(FNFA video) 

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Host Richard Perry is joined by Jody Anderson, Director of Business Development for FNFA and Annmarie Garby, National Practice Leader, Indigenous Services with BFL Canada in the fourth episode of the Let’s Bond podcast.

Together with BFL Insurance, FNFA is exploring the concept of a pooled insurance model, hoping that such an approach will be beneficial both in costs and in coverage to participating First Nations.

The severe challenges within the global insurance market over the past few years have highlighted how underserved, siloed, and excluded the Indigenous community is by the insurance industry, resulting in tremendous uncertainty and inequity. 

Episode run time: 22:46

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jody Anderson, Director of Business Development, FNFA
Website: First Nations Finance Authority
Email: [email protected]

Annmarie Garby, National Practice Leader, Indigenous Services with BFL Canada.
Website: BFL Canada
Email: [email protected] 

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This third episode of the Let’s Bond podcast discusses the people and significant events that led to the creation of First Nations Finance Authority, and the overarching First Nations Fiscal Management Act.

 Policy consultant Tim Raybould joins host Richard Perry for a look back at FNFA’s origin story and the legislation that made its existence possible. Raybould acted as a policy consultant, contractor and served as chief negotiator for Westbank First Nation in British Columbia from 1990–2002.

Episode run time: 28:37
 
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Tim Raybould, policy consultant, contractor and served as chief negotiator for Westbank First Nation from 1990–2002.
Email:  [email protected]

Additional information:
First Nations Fiscal Management Act 

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This episode of the Let’s Bond podcast discusses monetization as a solution to closing the $60 billion infrastructure gap that exists between First Nation communities and the rest of Canada. 

Host Jody Anderson is joined by Steve Berna, Chief Operating Officer of FNFA, and Steven Johnston, Councillor for Mistawasis Nehiyawak and Board Director for FNFA, for a discussion on the need for transformational change to close the infrastructure gap in First Nation communities.

Learn how leveraging annual cashflows (monetization) into long-term debt can unlock federal funds to build critical infrastructure in First Nation communities now. 

 
Episode Runs 25:15

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Councillor Steven Johnston (Mistawasis Nehiyawak)
Website: https://mistawasis.ca/

Steve Berna, Chief Operating Officer, FNFA
Website: First Nations Finance Authority
Email: [email protected]

Additional information:
Monetization: A solution to Close the Infrastructure Gap (FNFA video)
First Nations Fiscal Management Act 

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This inaugural episode of the Let’s Bond podcast explores the role and vision of the member-owned First Nations Finance Authority. 

FNFA provides financing, investment, and advisory services for First Nation governments under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, which mandates FNFA to raise short- and long-term funding for its borrowing members.

Ernie Daniels, President and CEO of FNFA, joins host Richard Perry to share his personal journey and philosophy of economic self-sufficiency and community prosperity. 

Episode runs 38:48

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ernie Daniels, President and CEO, FNFA
Website: First Nations Finance Authority
Email: [email protected]