Indigenous Institutional Investors and Market Engagement: Walking Forward

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May 2023

Indigenous peoples, Nations and Institutions have seen significant focus in Canada and around the world, with a rapid rise in attention in recent years driven both by organization and government attention as well as by growing public awareness and calls for action.

Many indigenous institutions are seeking to advance their capabilities as institutional investors and allocators. This is timely: as settlements and trusts endow communities with significant sums of financial investment, those institutions likewise face rapidly rising pressure to balance urgent short term needs against the importance of investing capital to support the needs of future generations.

This research paper builds on primary research into Canada’s asset owners, an array of client conversations, and on the foundation of Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

We summarize CIBC Mellon’s understanding of current themes, and seek feedback and engagement. Our goal is to support both Indigenous institutions seeking to advance their engagement with non-Indigenous firms, as well as to provide questions and context for non-Indigenous firms who wish to advance or evolve their efforts related to Truth and Reconciliation. Throughout the paper, we are also pleased to highlight an array of other relevant publications, resources and forums through which both Indigenous institutions and non-Indigenous institutional investors can learn and engage with this topic. Above all, our focus is on moving toward greater shared understanding.

We welcome input and feedback at research@cibcmellon.com.

For more information, read “Indigenous Institutional Investors and Market Engagement: Walking Forward.”




This article is provided for general information purposes only and CIBC Mellon and its affiliates make no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness, nor do any of them take any responsibility for third parties to which reference may be made. This article should not be regarded as legal, accounting, investment, financial or other professional advice nor is it intended for such use.

About CIBC Mellon

CIBC Mellon is a Canadian company exclusively focused on the investment servicing needs of Canadian institutional investors and international institutional investors into Canada. Founded in 1996, CIBC Mellon is 50-50 jointly owned by The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). CIBC Mellon's investment servicing solutions for institutions and corporations are provided in close collaboration with our parent companies, and include custody, multicurrency accounting, fund administration, recordkeeping, pension services, exchange-traded fund services, securities lending services, foreign exchange processing and settlement, and treasury services.

As at March 29, 2024, CIBC Mellon had more than C$2.8 trillion of assets under administration on behalf of banks, pension funds, investment funds, corporations, governments, insurance companies, foreign insurance trusts, foundations and global financial institutions whose clients invest in Canada. CIBC Mellon is part of the BNY Mellon network, which as at March 29, 2024 had US$48.8 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration. CIBC Mellon is a licensed user of the CIBC trade-mark and certain BNY Mellon trade-marks, is the corporate brand of CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, and may be used as a generic term to refer to either or both companies.

For more information – including CIBC Mellon's latest knowledge leadership on issues relevant to institutional investors active in Canada – visit www.cibcmellon.com