Business loans and equity contributions for First Nations and Métis businesses in the BC interior.
The Capital Ecosystem
Indigenous business lenders in Canada
A working map of 40+ Indigenous and mainstream lenders financing businesses in every province and territory. Search and filter by region, type, and cheque size to find the routes that fit.
Business financing and support across Vancouver Island communities.
Developmental lending for Coast Salish entrepreneurs.
Vessel, licence and marine sector financing.
Term debt for on- and off-reserve First Nations businesses in Alberta.
Business, agriculture and housing lending for Treaty members.
Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Inc.
Métis FundLoans and business support for Métis entrepreneurs in Alberta.
Start-up and expansion lending within Treaty 7 territory.
Term loans and equity support for First Nations businesses.
Clarence Campeau Development Fund
Métis FundEquity, management support and business development for Métis-owned firms.
Developmental lending for Métis entrepreneurs.
Louis Riel Capital Corporation
Métis FundBusiness loans for Métis citizens across Manitoba.
Commercial lending to First Nations businesses in Manitoba.
Rural and northern business financing.
Business loans, aquaculture and mining supply chain financing in northeastern Ontario.
Financing and advisory across NAN territory.
Six Nations and surrounding community business lending.
Agricultural and agri-food lending for Indigenous producers.
Commercial credit for First Nations businesses in Quebec.
Business financing and development services in Eeyou Istchee.
Lending and business services for Indigenous entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada.
Business lending in the Northwest Territories.
Debt and equity investment in Inuit-owned businesses in Nunavut.
Business loans and support for Yukon First Nations entrepreneurs.
Indigenous Growth Fund (NACCA)
Crown / ProgramCapital pool that resources IFIs nationally, increasing available loan capacity.
BDC, Indigenous Entrepreneur financing
Crown / ProgramTerm financing and advisory for Indigenous-owned businesses.
Farm Credit Canada, Indigenous lending
Crown / ProgramAgriculture, agribusiness and food processing financing.
Export Development Canada
Crown / ProgramWorking capital and risk coverage for exporters and contract mobilization.
First Nations Finance Authority
Crown / ProgramLong-term debenture financing for First Nations governments and their entities.
Chartered bank Indigenous banking groups
BankSyndicated and bilateral commercial facilities for larger Indigenous enterprises.
Credit union commercial lending
BankRegional operating lines, equipment and real property facilities.
Indigenous-focused private credit and impact funds
Private CapitalMezzanine, growth debt and impact capital for scaling enterprises.
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners
Venture / EquityImpact venture capital backing Indigenous-led businesses across Canada, with a second fund closed at $100M.
Flowing River Capital
Venture / EquityIndigenous-owned private equity acquiring stakes in mid-market companies on behalf of First Nations and Métis investors.
First Nations Venture Capital of Québec
Venture / Equity$45M venture fund launched with Fonds FTQ to back First Nations and Inuit entrepreneurs in Quebec.
Sinew Impact Fund (EntrepreNorth)
Venture / EquityEarly-stage impact investment in Indigenous-owned and led businesses across Northern Canada.
Raven Indigenous Outcomes Funds
Venture / EquityOutcomes-based social finance for Indigenous-led community wellbeing solutions.
Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
Venture / EquityLoan guarantees enabling Indigenous Nations to take equity in resource, energy, infrastructure and telecom projects.
Nch'ḵaỷ Development Corporation
Venture / EquitySquamish Nation development arm delivering major real estate and infrastructure partnerships. An internal Nation vehicle, not an external fund.
Canada's Indigenous-owned chartered bank, with commercial lending and equity participation from Nations and Indigenous groups.
Guide
Indigenous business financing in Canada: how lending works
How Indigenous Financial Institutions, Crown lenders, banks and investors fit together, and how to approach them in the right order.
Where can an Indigenous business get a loan in Canada?
Indigenous businesses can borrow from Indigenous Financial Institutions, Métis capital corporations, Crown lenders such as BDC, Farm Credit Canada and Export Development Canada, First Nations Bank of Canada, chartered banks, credit unions, and private credit funds.
Each has a different appetite for risk, deal size and security. Larger or more complex financings often combine two or more of them, for example an IFI loan alongside a bank facility.
What is an Indigenous Financial Institution?
An Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI), also called an Aboriginal Financial Institution, is an Indigenous-controlled lender that provides developmental business loans to First Nations, Métis and Inuit entrepreneurs.
IFIs often finance businesses that a bank would decline, such as start-ups or businesses with limited security, and many also deliver federal equity contribution programs. The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) supports the national network.
Why is financing on reserve different?
Section 89 of the Indian Act generally prevents property of a First Nation or its members located on reserve from being seized by anyone other than a First Nation or its members. That protects community assets, but it also means many conventional lenders cannot take on-reserve property as security.
Lenders work around this with other structures, such as security on off-reserve assets, leasehold interests, guarantees and IFI financing. Knowing which lenders are set up for on-reserve files saves months.
What do lenders look for in a business loan application?
Lenders look for four things: cash flow that comfortably covers the payments, current and accurate financial statements, an owner's equity contribution in the project, and security plus a management team that can deliver the plan.
Late or inconsistent financial statements are the most common reason a file stalls. Fixing the books before approaching lenders is often the fastest way to a yes.
Should you go to a bank or an IFI first?
It depends on the business. Established businesses with strong statements and security will usually get the lowest rates from a bank or credit union. Newer businesses, smaller loans and on-reserve projects are often a better fit for an IFI or Métis capital corporation.
Many good financings use both, with the IFI or a Crown lender covering the portion a bank will not. Approaching lenders in the right order, with a complete package, avoids collecting declines.
Is equity investment a better option than debt?
Not usually as a first step. Equity gives an investor part of the ownership, so it is the most expensive capital in the long run and can affect community control.
It makes sense for high-growth ventures and large projects where debt alone will not cover the need. The usual order is non-repayable funding first, then debt, then equity only for what remains.