Native American Leaders

for SRI 2009

Building Bridges:

Native Communities, Native Peoples & SRI

The Indigenous Peoples Working Group (IPWG) of the Social Investment Forum hosted a one-day preconference event that brought together Native American leaders and SRI practitioners to share and learn from one another on socially responsible investment (SRI) issues in their communities. The conference is designed for treasurers, chief financial officers, tribal leaders, portfolio managers and others in the responsible investment field.

The purpose of the event is to:

• Provide an orientation for participants new to Indigenous Peoples issues and to SRI, before the premier annual SRI in the Rockies Conference.
• Introduce key issues in the area of Native American investments and rights; the field of SRI, including: social research, shareholder advocacy, community investing, and social venture capital.
• Encourage dialogue and networking between practitioners (tribal officers, money managers, community investors, and social researchers) to share ideas on how to address Indigenous Peoples issues through SRI.

AGENDA

12:00 - 1:00    Lunch – Opening, Welcome and Introductions

History of Indigenous Peoples and SRI

Susan White, Trust Director, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin
Lisa Woll, CEO, Social Investment Forum

1:00 - 1:30      Investing in American Indians Today

Sherry Salway Black, National Congress of American Indians

1:30 - 2:00      Overview of Socially Responsible Investing

Tim Smith, SVP, Walden Asset Management

       
2:15 - 3:00      
Indigenous Peoples Rights – What Corporations Hurt/Help Tribes?

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the importance of an indigenous population’s rights to their own culture and ancestral lands. Are tribal funds unknowingly supporting companies with poor records in Native American and other indigenous communities? And what corporations are taking appropriate measures to mitigate negative impacts and incorporate Native issues into their operations? Take a look at how money managers should incorporate these added risks in their analysis.

Speakers:
Andrea Carmen, International Indian Treaty Council
Jonny Bearcub Stiffarm, NativeEnergy  

3:00 - 3:45     
Native Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development

Climate change and environmental sustainability have become internationally recognized concerns, which North America’s governments are coming to realize. This panel will discuss how financial resources can be used to improve the economic infrastructure of Native reservations while encouraging environmental preservation.

Speakers:
Ron Solimon, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Phil Glynn, Travois New Markets, LLC
 

4:00 - 4:45    
Intertribal Enterprise – Native Community Development Institutions

Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) have the capacity to build local economies through loan funds and other investment vehicles. Take a closer look at how investment dollars in current Native CDFIs are changing and empowering communities across the nation.

Speakers:
Fernando Valentine, Tohono O’odham CDFI
Sherry Salway Black, National Congress of American Indians

4:45 - 5:00      Closing

Representative, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
                  

5:00 - 7:00      Reception

Sponsors

Thank you to supporters of our event