- Founded in 1992, BMO's Indigenous Banking Unit serves
Indigenous Peoples and communities across Canada
- Three organizations that focus on education and
cultural reclamation will receive donations
TORONTO, Nov. 16,
2022 /CNW/ - BMO today marks the 30th
anniversary of its Indigenous Banking Unit (IBU) with contributions
to Indigenous cultural and educational initiatives at three
organizations.
"We're honoured to celebrate such an important milestone.
Indigenous Banking is more than a business at BMO," said
Mike Bonner, Head, Canadian Business
Banking, and Co-Chair, BMO Indigenous Advisory Council. "Since
1992, we've built a strong presence with deep roots in hundreds of
Indigenous communities across Canada and we value the tremendous trust
placed in us as we make progress together toward a brighter future.
Today we're marking the last thirty years, but we're even more
excited about the future and the opportunity to continue to
innovate to serve Indigenous customers, communities and
enterprises."
BMO established its IBU 30 years ago when it made the commitment
to do more to serve Indigenous communities. Since then, through a
network of branches and business banking offices both on and off
reserve, BMO has offered financial products and services, including
housing and renovation financing, trust services, investment
management solutions, and long-term financing for on-reserve
infrastructure and economic development.
To mark the anniversary, BMO is donating more than $560,000 among three organizations that focus on
education and cultural reclamation, including language and
traditional land-based learning, the return of cultural artifacts,
and the creation of safe spaces for Indigenous students.
Recipients are chosen through consultation with organizations we
partner with, communities we serve and BMO's Indigenous Advisory
Council, and include:
- The University of Toronto
Scarborough, to build Indigenous House, which will open doorways
for Indigenous learners, teachers and support workers to thrive on
campus, and foster opportunities to put Indigenous inclusion into
daily practice
- Newo Wellness in Saskatoon, a
day camp that, through a comprehensive and decolonized approach
with a focus on Indigenous Worldview, will deliver long term youth
programming aimed at teaching wellness tools to influence lifelong
healthy habits
- Manitou Asiniy-Iniskim-Tsa Xani, to build a learning centre
designed by Douglas Cardinal to
house the Manitou Stone, Canada's
largest meteorite. Deeply embedded in the culture of Plains Bison
Tribes, the artifact will finally be returned to the location where
it first landed in the Iron Creek Alberta area
"We're honoured to support inspiring and culturally relevant
initiatives that reflect BMO's commitment to advancing Truth and
Reconciliation through education, employment and economic
empowerment." said Clio Straram, Head, BMO Indigenous Banking
Unit.
For more information about how BMO works with Indigenous
communities in Canada, click here
to view our annual Indigenous Partnerships and Progress Report.
About BMO Financial
Group
Serving customers for more than 200 years and counting, BMO is a
highly diversified financial services provider and the 8th largest
bank in North America, by assets.
With total assets of $1.07 trillion
as of July 31, 2022, and a team of
diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of
personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment
banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and
conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and
Business Banking, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital
Markets.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group