Advancing Economic Reconciliation Through Inclusive Financial Services
Financial services providers have a critical role to play in advancing Truth and Reconciliation and supporting Indigenous economic prosperity.
Why this work matters
Indigenous peoples are leaders in economic development, entrepreneurship, and community innovation. Yet systemic barriers, colonial policies, and long-standing mistrust continue to limit access to financial services and capital. Financial services providers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to help close these gaps.
Our Indigenous Financial Services Advisory teams helps institutions build trust, strengthen relationships, and create financial solutions that empower Indigenous peoples, communities, and businesses.
We help financial institutions strengthen relationships with Indigenous peoples, communities, and businesses through reconciliation-focused strategies, evidence-based insights, and culturally grounded solutions.
What we offer
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Understanding Indigenous clients begins with listening and learning. We help financial services providers build a clear, evidence-based picture of Indigenous financial needs, opportunities, and systemic barriers.
Our services include:
Indigenous economic landscape analysis
Market segmentation across First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations
Community-led research, listening circles, and interviews
Analysis of Indigenous business ecosystems and priority sectors
Assessment of access-to-capital barriers and financial inclusion gaps
Outcome: Insight-driven strategies that reflect the realities and aspirations of Indigenous peoples.
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We help institutions embed reconciliation into the core of their business strategy—guiding alignment with TRC Call to Action 92 and UNDRIP principles.
Our services include:
Indigenous banking strategy development
Economic reconciliation roadmaps
Business case development and growth modeling
Integration across retail, commercial, wealth, and ESG portfolios
Governance models that incorporate Indigenous voices
Outcome: A strategy that is socially responsible, scalable, and grounded in reconciliation commitments
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Strong relationships are the foundation of Indigenous banking and financial services. We support respectful, culturally aligned engagement with First Nations, communities and Indigenous organizations.
Our services include:
Community engagement strategy and protocols
Nation-to-Nation relationship guidance
Partnership development with Indigenous governments, Economic Development Corporations, and organizations
Advisory on long-term relationship management
Outcome: Trust, credibility, and meaningful partnerships that extend beyond transactions.
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Indigenous clients face unique financial barriers—many rooted in colonial policies. We help financial services providers build solutions that remove barriers and enable growth.
Our services include:
Lending and credit policy review through a reconciliation lens
Indigenous-specific product design
Financial solutions for Indigenous businesses and EDCs
On-reserve banking approaches
Experience redesign to improve accessibility
Outcome: Products and services that support Indigenous financial success.
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To serve Indigenous clients well, internal teams must develop cultural competency and historical awareness.
Our services include:
Indigenous cultural awareness and history training
TRC and reconciliation education for leadership and front-line staff
Indigenous client advisory and relationship training
Outcome: A more knowledgeable, respectful, and empowered workforce.
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Economic reconciliation begins at home. We help financial services providers strengthen internal practices that support Indigenous inclusion.
Our services include:
Indigenous recruitment and retention strategies
Internal inclusion policies and cultural supports
ERG development and advisory councils
Outcome: An institution that reflects and respects Indigenous talent.
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We help financial services providers invest in Indigenous prosperity in ways that are collaborative and community-led.
Our services include:
Partnership strategy with Indigenous organizations
Co-created financial education and entrepreneurship programs
Scholarship, bursary, and capacity-building initiatives
Social impact and community investment frameworks
Outcome: Visible, lasting contributions to Indigenous economic prosperity.
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We ensure your Indigenous strategy becomes a sustainable, operationalized program.
Our services include:
Program design and rollout support
Change management and communications
Cross-functional coordination
Ongoing advisory and governance
Outcome: A strategy that moves from intention to action—and delivers measurable outcomes
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Demonstrate progress and accountability in reconciliation work.
Our services include:
Indigenous data strategy and segmentation
KPI and reconciliation scorecard development
ESG-aligned reporting frameworks
Annual reconciliation and impact reports
Outcome: Transparent, credible reporting that builds accountability and trust.
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Financial services providers play a powerful role in shaping economic participation in Canada. Expanding procurement and supplier diversity to include Indigenous businesses is not only a reconciliation commitment it is a strategic, operational, and economic opportunity.
Our services include:
Indigenous supplier and procurement program development
Who we serve
Our work supports banks, credit unions, insurers, fintechs, investment firms, and other financial services providers in strengthening Indigenous employment pathways, expanding access to financial services for Indigenous peoples, businesses, and communities.
Why work with us
As an Indigenous owned and led advisory firm, we believe that truly inclusive financial systems are built through understanding, partnership, and a commitment to reconciliation. Our work supports banks, credit unions, insurers, fintechs, investment firms, and other financial services providers in strengthening Indigenous employment pathways, expanding access to financial services for Indigenous peoples, businesses, and communities, and fulfilling their responsibilities under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
We help the financial sector deepen its understanding of the historical and systemic barriers that shape Indigenous experiences with employment, banking, insurance, investing, and capital access. By blending Indigenous knowledge, economic expertise, and relational leadership, we guide institutions in identifying gaps within their policies, practices, and products revealing opportunities to improve representation, expand inclusion, and build trust with Indigenous clients and communities.
Our advisory work equips financial services providers to design culturally informed strategies that improve Indigenous recruitment and retention, modernize products, services, and digital experiences, and remove long-standing access barriers—particularly those created by colonial policies, jurisdictional complexities, and industry practices that disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples and businesses.
But this work extends beyond systems and structures. It is fundamentally about relationships.
Through an approach grounded in respect, accountability, and a commitment to reconciliation, we help institutions build meaningful, long-term relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. These relationships create the foundation for shared economic prosperity and guide financial providers in understanding and acting on their obligations as leaders in advancing economic reconciliation.
With Acote, financial services organizations gain a partner committed to helping them uphold their role in reconciliation, strengthen Indigenous employment, expand financial access, and design strategies that create positive and lasting impact.
Our work is guided by values of respect, reciprocity, transparency, and partnership. We listen first. We co-create solutions. We honour Indigenous sovereignty, rights, and knowledge. And we support financial institutions in building trust that lasts.