Sagamok Anishnawbek Achieves Financial Management System Certification!

Sagamok Anishnawbek Achieves Financial Management System Certification!

On April 29, 2021, Sagamok Anishnawbek (the “Nation”) received a Financial Management System (FMS) Certificate from the First Nations Financial Management Board (“FMB”). This means their finance and administrative governance practices now meet FMB Standards, which are based on internationally recognized standards of financial management.

About Sagamok Anishnawbek:

Sagamok First Nation is located on the north shore of Lake Huron. It is a beautiful community whose name means ‘two points joining’. Sagamok’s culture and language is Anishinabek and is made up of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi tribes. Also known as the Three Fires Peoples, the community members of Sagamok number well over 2000. Sagamok is a place of rich stories, legends and history that derive from time immemorial. Once the summer camps of the original peoples who came down from Biscotasing, it is now the permanent home to many of those descendants. Sagamok is an ancestor-based village that is known for its diversity, prosperity and growth.

On their journey towards FMS Certification, the Nation developed a Financial Administration Law (FAL) and also received a Financial Performance Certificate making the Nation eligible to apply for long term affordable financing from the First Nations Finance Authority. To achieve FMS certification, the Nation began working closely with the FMB staff to bring their FAL to life.

Chief Alan Ozawanimke acknowledges and commends the perseverance of all involved in pursuit of enhanced financial accountability and responsibility for the benefit of members of Sagamok Anishnawbek.

“This certification, coupled with our community government’s accreditation of ISO Quality Management System, will provide the accountability framework as we move toward autonomy with our financial resources as well as own source revenue. We are in a stronger position to meet the needs of our members and do so in a responsible and astute manner.

We are engaged in a number of initiatives with the economic base in our traditional territory and look forward to being increasingly involved in the decisions that affect Sagamok Anishnawbek. We are not just stakeholders in our territory, having a strong position allows us to promote opportunity in a manner consistent with Anishnawbe Adziwin, who we are as people, in a culturally and responsible way”.                   Chief Alan Ozawanimke

The FMB acknowledges the strong leadership of Sagamok Anishnawbek Chief and Council and the dedication of their staff that were key into achieving FMS Certification.

The FMB recognizes Sagamok Anishnawbek on this major accomplishment!

About FMB: The FMB is a First Nations-led nonprofit organization that supports First Nations in developing sound finance and administrative governance practices. The FMB was created under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (“FMA”) in 2006. Services offered are at no cost to First Nations. For more information on all products and services, visit www.fnfmb.com

Working with FMB and seeking FMS certification provides several benefits including:

• Increased transparency and accountability to members and future business partners
• Building skillset and reputation for strong finance and administrative governance practices
• Provides council members and staff the tools they need to better manage the Nation’s finances
• Increased stability and continuity through finance and governance practices
• Improved risk management

Media Contacts:

First Nations Financial Management Board
Harold Calla, Executive Chair
P: (604) 925-6665

Sagamok Anishnawbek
Ryan McLeod, Director of Finance
P: (705) 865-2421