Settlement fund will support the revitalization of language, culture, heritage, and well-being for Indigenous communities over the long term
The Four Pillars Society, a not-for-profit organization representing 325 First Nations across Canada, has selected British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), one of Canada’s largest institutional investors, as an investment manager to support its nationwide mandate.
Established through a class-action lawsuit settlement by the Canadian Government for the loss of culture and language rights of Indigenous communities due to Residential Schools, The Four Pillars Society is responsible for administering the funds to advance the revitalization and protection of the four pillars of Indigenous language, culture, heritage, and well-being.
“This marks a momentous milestone in the stewardship of these settlement funds and the management of Indigenous capital in Canada,” said Cliff Fregin, Executive Director, The Four Pillars Society. “Through this unprecedented partnership, we have entrusted BCI as an investment manager to help to grow and safeguard our collective assets, ensuring that we can continue to empower Indigenous communities to preserve what matters most.”
Following a competitive review, The Four Pillars Society chose BCI to manage the majority of the funds based on its total portfolio approach, in-house asset management capabilities, responsible investment leadership, and cost recovery model emphasizing equity, accuracy, and transparency, among other factors.
“We are deeply honoured to be awarded this significant investment mandate, and for the trust placed in us by The Four Pillars Society to manage these settlement funds, which will have a lasting, positive impact on Indigenous people and communities for many generations. With gratitude, we look forward to building a strong partnership with The Four Pillars Society, working together to achieve their goals,” said Gordon J. Fyfe, Chief Executive Officer/Chief Investment Officer, BCI.
With $250 billion in gross assets under management, BCI has a proven track record as a leading global investor serving a range of British Columbia pension fund and institutional clients. The partnership with The Four Pillars Society represents BCI’s first client mandate extending beyond British Columbia.
ABOUT THE FOUR PILLARS SOCIETY
The Four Pillars Society is a not-for-profit organization created for the sole purpose of investing and distributing a $2.8 billion settlement fund granted by the Government of Canada to 325 Band Class members that signed onto the class action lawsuit. The settlement fund is governed by The Four Pillars Society Board of Directors and focuses on building the language, culture, heritage, and well-being of Indigenous communities. For more information, visit FPS-LCHW.ca.
ABOUT BCI
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is amongst the largest institutional investors in Canada with C$250.4 billion in gross assets under management, as of March 31, 2024. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, with offices in Vancouver, New York City, and London, U.K., BCI manages a portfolio of diversified public and private market investments on behalf of its British Columbia pension fund and institutional clients. With a global outlook, BCI integrates ESG factors into investment decisions and activities that convert savings into productive capital to meet clients’ risk and return requirements over time. For more information, visit BCI.ca.