Nov 29– Dec 1, 2026 | The Ritz Carlton Toronto
A national platform created to accelerate Indigenous investment, ownership, and economic sovereignty. Proudly co-presented with First Nation partners at Horizon Seven and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, FNIF brings together Indigenous governments, economic development corporations, major project proponents, institutional investors, investment management firms, and policymakers to build the partnerships and policy momentum that will shape Canada’s financial future.
As Deputy Executive Director for Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation (LDMLFN), President of Horizon Seven, and Founder of the First Nations Investment Forum, Tony Maunula has been at the forefront of building partnerships, advancing large-scale projects, and designing new financial pathways for his Nation and others.
The First Nations Investment Forum (FNIF) was created in response to a critical reality within Indigenous economic development and institutional investing: meaningful participation in major investments is not driven solely by access to capital or the presentation of opportunities. It is driven by relationships, trust, positioning, and the ability to consistently participate in high-quality deal flow over time.
Over the past decade, Indigenous Nations have increasingly entered major projects as partners, equity participants, and rights holders. At the same time, institutional investors, developers, and governments have recognized that long-term project success increasingly depends on strong Indigenous partnerships.
More than an advisory and strategy firm, Horizon Seven is a catalyst for Indigenous-led economic growth with the vision of becoming a driving force in innovative First Nations development.
Through its brands like FNIF, Horizon Seven creates premier platforms where investment, innovation, and Indigenous leadership converge. Its mission is to elevate Indigenous economic development into boardrooms, deal tables, and markets where First Nations have historically been underrepresented.
In short, Horizon Seven is where strategy meets opportunity—building bridges that deliver impact for the next seven generations.
Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation is a proud Treaty #3 Nation with a forward-looking vision—one that balances cultural roots with bold economic leadership. From infrastructure and energy to education and investment, LDMLFN is working to create models that not only benefit its members but also set benchmarks for First Nations across Canada.
Find key information about the conference, including dates, location, accommodations, speaking opportunities, and how to become a sponsor or exhibitor.
The event will take place at the The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, a luxury hotel and conference facility in downtown Toronto, ON.
Yes — discounted rates are available for registered attendees. A booking link will be provided after registration.
The forum will take place from November 29 to 1 December, 2026—full agenda to be released shortly.
Contact our sponsorship lead at connect@firstnationsinvestmentforum.ca
Contact us using the form below.
Yet despite this shift, there are still very few spaces designed around how investment relationships are actually formed and sustained at the highest levels of the market.
FNIF was built to help address that gap.
Rather than functioning as a traditional conference centered on presentations or transactional networking, FNIF is designed as a relationship-driven platform that reflects how deals actually originate, evolve, and close in practice. The Forum brings together Indigenous leaders, institutional investors, developers, operators, advisors, and capital partners in a setting intentionally structured around strategic dialogue, long-term relationship building, and the development of repeat investment partnerships.
The focus is not simply on showcasing opportunities. It is on understanding where quality deal flow comes from, how institutional partnerships are formed, how trust is built between parties, and what it takes to move from initial conversations to long-term participation and ownership.
FNIF reflects a broader transition taking place across Canada’s economy: Indigenous Nations are increasingly moving from project stakeholders to capital partners and asset owners. Supporting that transition requires more than access. It requires relationships, execution capability, governance sophistication, and proximity to the networks where opportunities are generated and advanced.
Ultimately, FNIF exists to help build those networks — and to create a space where Indigenous capital, institutional capital, and industry leadership can engage in a way that supports long-term economic growth, scalable partnerships, and sustained participation in Canada’s investment economy
