Investing in local projects with a priority on food security, clean water, clean energy and holistic health services. Access to funding to start or transform a business.
WHAT WE DO
Nation First is a trusted nation-building platform that connects investors with local projects that, while profitable, are not only about profit – ie IMPACT INVESTMENTS. We help Indigenous nations and local communities around the world ACCESS GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUNDS and then MANAGE DISBURSEMENT of funds to ensure PERFORMANCE and alignment with VALUES for the benefit of INVESTORS and PROJECTS. A fundamental requirement of ours is that all projects must make the world a better place.
Our current programs are in the areas of:
• Health and Wellness
• Clean Energy
• Infrastructure
• Cultural Tourism
• Leveraging existing assets (land, wood, contracts, precious metals etc)
WHO WE ARE
We are focused on connecting community projects with Investors. Our partners have years of experience and success in generating sustainable business and development opportunities on Indigenous lands.
Nation First has been partnering with Indigenous nations, industry partners and academic institutions to establish sustainable trade corridors that enable Indigenous nations to maximize returns. We represent indigenous land and/or business owners to ensure alignment of values and to protect the natural resources of the individual nations as well as the interests of investors. We provide support through the entire business process. Our passion is to support and protect the rights of Indigenous people and to provide them with sustainable economic opportunities for multiple generations.
We provide specific consulting services to assist communities and band owned companies in accessing capital and developing organizations structures for sustainable economic growth.
WHY WE DO IT
Indigenous communities around the world are constantly challenged by with bad business deals that extract natural resources in ways that are disrespectful and do not support the communities for the long term. We believe a healthy and sustainable economy is critical to the long term survival of indigenous culture, language and community.
This testimonial from an indigenous Chief in Canada, exemplifies the sort of things we are proud of;
Chief Chad Eneas, British Columbia – “Jonathan Baynes was highly conscientious in assessing our communities values and sought to find truly sustainable opportunities between the economic, social and environmental challenges, with requirements set out by the community and Aboriginal Affairs Canada. His vision for growth and transparency was underpinned with a depth of knowledge and experience of discrimination and marginalization within the context of indigenous autonomy. He successfully managed a major corporate restructuring, which allowed the band to assume ownership and management of a $320 million dollar project. “
Developing an economy on Indigenous reserve lands can be complex. The federal designation and leasing process in Canada combined with the commercial development of the asset requires a broad range of skills. In 2018 we completed Canada’s fastest land designation process are are confident in our ability to support and lead our clients through this process.
Government funding programs are only one of a number of routes to capital for indigenous projects. Our preference is to work creatively with our clients to access capital from non-governmental sources to develop opportunities and infrastructure.
We are passionate about projects that restore and protect our planet. We are heavily involved in various clean energy and environmental projects around the world and believe that the future lies in environmentally responsible development and economies.
What we mean by “Nation” First
“Nation First” captures a few ideas that are important to us, and came out of our working with Indigenous nations seeking energy, food, water and physical security.
• Wikipedia defines a nation as, “a body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.” Within Canada there are MANY NATIONS that meet the above definition, and all of these are individually important to us.
• Current shareholder and finance models reward companies for externalizing costs – THIS IS BAD. Externalized costs are costs generated by producers but carried by society as a whole. For example, a factory may pollute water by dumping waste in the river without paying for it. Fifty kilometers downstream, the local government has to clean the water to use it as drinking water. Those costs are caused by the factory, but the factory does not pay them; the local government does. That’s what we call externalized costs. Externalizing costs means companies show higher profits, but society is paying for them. Underpaying employees, leading to poverty and associated problems, is another example.
A “nation first” approach, is respectful to all people and the planet for multiple generations. We believe our approach to investment is more sustainable and beneficial to individual nations and the world as a whole.
Team projects and highlights
• Development of an asset base of $40million from $10million in 2 years.
• Major corporate restructuring.
• Fastest land designation in Canada.
• Organizational restructuring for high performing economic development and government organization
• Leadership development and coaching
• Financial systems implementation
• Managed major corporate restructuring, which allowed the indigenous band to assume ownership and management of a $320 million dollar project
• Monetizing existing assets (land, minerals, buildings, equipment, etc.)
• Corporate restructuring, which allowed the band to assume ownership and management of a $320 million dollar project
• Joint Venture and Partnership development
• Tourism, resort development strategies
• Change management, mergers and acquisitions
Contact Us
Need to get in touch? Send us a message!