The focus of this training program is on providing high quality financial literacy training, and to further strengthening the financial stewardship of land and buildings in Indigenous communities. Our goal is to provide an engaging and culturally appropriate training program that Indigenous peoples across remote/rural Ontario and Canada can use to develop patterns of financial health for both their personal lives and the land and buildings around their communities. We believe with interesting and engaging training, these skills can be built into the communities in such a manner that these financial habits can be spread around and passed down through family members, leading to healthier, more financially secure communities.
| Module Title | Brief Description | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Financial Literacy | • An overview of the building blocks of financial health, and why they are important for you and your community | • Introduction to money management: Needs vs. wants • Importance of financial literacy in community well-being • Traditional views of wealth and sharing in Indigenous culture • Building trust with financial institutions |
| Banking and Financial Services | • Learning the Everyday banking services available to us, what they do, and how they help us | • How to open and manage a bank account •Understanding chequing vs. savings accounts Interac e-Transfers, ATMs, online and mobile banking •Identifying and avoiding high-fee financial products (e.g., payday loans) •Working with credit unions and Indigenous-owned financial institutions |
| Budgeting and Cash Flow | • Managing the money you have to meet your obligations, setting budgets and learning tools to stay within them | • How to create a monthly/seasonal budget • Income sources (e.g., employment, social assistance, land claim payments, Treaty/settlement benefits) • Seasonal/irregular income budgeting strategies (e.g., hunting/fishing seasons, craft sales) • Tools for tracking spending |
| Credit and Debt Management | • How credit works, how it can help you, and how it can hurt you. We learn how maintaining a strong credit rating can help you and your family | • Understanding credit reports and scores • How to build and maintain good credit • Credit card usage and interest rates • Managing debt: personal loans, student loans, payday loans • Debt repayment strategies and resources for assistance |
| Income Tax Awareness | • An explanation of how taxes work, why it is important to file them, and how special considerations and accountants/tax services can help you through the process | • Why and how to file income taxes • Eligible benefits and credits (e.g., GST/HST, CCB, climate action incentive) • Special tax considerations for Indigenous Peoples (Section 87 of the Indian Act) • Use of tax clinics and free services |
| Saving and Investing | • Learn the tools used to save money for goals/retirement, how different account types and investments can help you, and unique ways to save and invest that work for your income level | • Setting savings goals: emergency fund, education, retirement • Registered accounts: TFSA, RRSP, RESP • Investment basics: GICs, mutual funds, ETFs • Community-based savings strategies (e.g., group saving circles) • Indigenous values and long-term wealth creation |
| Financial Rights and Consumer Protection | • Protecting yourself from fraud by understanding your financial rights in Canada as well as the role played by regulators that monitor financial matters | • How to recognize and avoid fraud and scams • Understanding financial contracts and disclosure • The role of regulators: FSRA, FCAC, CIRO • Complaint and dispute resolution channels (e.g., OBSI) • Protecting personal financial information |
| Housing and Homeownership | • The financial implications of the various types of home ownership, how buying and renting work (financially speaking), and programs/budgeting tools to accomplish these goals | • Renting vs. Owning • On-reserve vs. Off-reserve housing options • How mortgages work (including BMO Indigenous Banking, Peace Hills Trust) • Budgeting for homeownership • Government housing programs (CMHC, INAC) |
| Entrepreneurship and Economic Development | • The keys to starting a small business, including programs designed to help, how to plan for your success and how to develop relationships to help realize your dreams | • Starting a small business in Indigenous communities • Understanding business planning, budgeting, and financing • Navigating Indigenous-specific funding and grant programs • Working with Indigenous economic development corporations • Marketing and pricing strategies for artisans and vendors |
| Legacy, Land, and Wealth Transfer | • Details of how land can be inherited, handed down and transferred, and what that can mean for your family. | • Estate planning and wills (on-reserve vs. off-reserve considerations) • Intergenerational wealth transfer and community responsibility • Financial implications of land claim settlements and trust funds • Financial guardianship and support for elders |
| Youth and Financial Empowerment | • Teaching the tools of starting with strong financial basics, allowing youth to steer clear of young adult financial hardships | • Early financial education (ages 12–18) • Financial decision-making and post-secondary planning • Scholarships, bursaries, and student loans • Avoiding credit traps and payday lenders • Career and financial goal setting |
| Elders and Financial Well-Being | • Learning the services designed to help older people, including financial safety are various forms of fraud targeting the elderly | • Understanding pensions (OAS, CPP) • Budgeting on a fixed income • Avoiding financial exploitation • Accessing community support services |
| Increase Stability of Community Buildings and Space | Advancing Financial Literacy Through better building and land management and planning and accessibility enhancements We are proposing 4 building and land core competencies that would help support financial literacy in indigenous communities. • Essential Budget Tools • Procurement Practices and Supply Chain Management • Capital Planning • Accessibility Funding Needs • Building and Land Standards for Efficiency and Accountability | • By linking building stability to financial literacy concepts such as cost forecasting and resource allocation, participants will gain the ability to align community infrastructure priorities with sustainable financial practices. |
| Essential Budget Tools | Build smarter budgets to improve maintenance needs with long-term financial planning. This session will equip participants with practical tools to develop and manage both operational and capital budgets related to community buildings and space. By introducing concepts such as lifecycle costing, forecasting, and budget prioritization, we help communities create financially sustainable plans that reduce emergency repairs and unexpected costs. • Managing budgets • Lifecycle costing • Developing sustainable plans | • Understanding how to read, interpret, and apply budgets builds financial literacy skills that help leaders make informed spending decisions that extend beyond infrastructure into broader community finances. |
| Procurement Practices and Supply Chain Management | Make every dollar count by implementing transparent, cost-effective procurement strategies. Participants will learn how to evaluate vendors, interpret bids, and manage procurement decisions through a financial literacy lens. This includes training on best practices in procurement to improve transparency, reduce overpayment, and support local Indigenous suppliers wherever possible. • Using financial knowledge to evaluate vendors, bids and procurement • Reducing overpayments | • Applying financial literacy principles—like cost-benefit analysis and contract evaluation—ensures procurement decisions strengthen both community infrastructure and overall financial health. |
| Capital Planning | Protect community assets—and your budget—through strategic long-term capital planning. This workshop introduces participants to asset management fundamentals, including how to assess asset conditions, track inventory, and tie asset performance to financial decision-making. Linking these practices to budget planning ensures communities can plan for capital investments, reduce deferred maintenance, and make financially informed infrastructure decisions. • Asset management • Budget planning • Assessing conditions, and inventory | • Capital planning reinforces financial literacy by teaching participants how to connect asset management with long-term financial forecasting, enabling smarter investment choices for community growth. |
| Accessibility Funding Needs | Invest in accessible enhancements that meets community needs This session explores the financial considerations involved in accessible built environments enhancements—such as roads, public buildings, and gathering spaces. Participants will learn how to assess accessibility gaps, understand cost implications, and incorporate accessibility upgrades into operating and capital budgets and funding applications. By planning proactively, communities can avoid costly retrofits and ensure inclusive access for all members, including Elders and those with mobility challenges. • Making accessibility affordable • Planning for inclusivity to reduce future costs | • Incorporating financial literacy into accessibility planning empowers participants to evaluate funding options, prepare accurate cost assessments, and make financially responsible upgrades that meet community needs. |
| Building and Land Standards for Efficiency and Accountability | Establish building and land standards that save money, increase impact, and build trust. This session supports the development of operational standards to ensure consistency, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency in day-to-day facility management. Participants will learn how clear systems contribute to better financial oversight, improved service delivery, and enhanced accountability to community members and funding partners. | • Developing clear standards not only enhances accountability but also strengthens financial literacy by helping participants track costs, measure efficiency, and link operational practices to fiscal responsibility. |
BMG Training Institute 