Strategy

In 1992, FNDI started giving grants and loans to replicate in a faster and more efficient way, the models it had developed. As a result, currently 46 tribes are in the process of setting up loan funds with the support of FNDI. Other programs include the Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative to assist tribes in developing agriculture-related businesses. The initiative encourages organic farming as well as the preservation of seeds and food traditions. The Food Initiative has been able to reverse the diabetes rates in tribes where more than 80% of the population suffered from this life-threatening disease. In total, First Nations has given close to 300 grants through different funds and works on 19 long-term projects. It estimates that its programs have directly benefited 40,000 people in the last 10 years.

First Nations has set up a Native Assets Research Center dedicated to researching issues around Native assets and developing policy recommendations. A subsidiary of First Nations, the Oweesta Corporation focuses on financial assets and has taken over the development of community-based financial institutions and loan funds. It also runs the Financial Literacy Program.

In 1997, Rebecca Adamson also set up First Peoples Worldwide (FPW) to work with indigenous populations around the world. FPW seeks to further develop its corporate engagement strategy to bring indigenous groups and corporations around the table and negotiate on equal terms investments made on indigenous land.