About The Economic Development Trust
The Six Nations of the Grand River Economic Development Trust (EDT) is an application-based community investment trust available to groups who address community priorities within Six Nations. The EDT is the mechanism by which surplus profits generated by Six Nations Group (formerly Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation), are invested into the Six Nations community for the collective benefit of its members. This model of community investment was a direct result of the 2011 community engagement study, “We Gather Our Voices.”
The EDT Committee is responsible for reviewing, scoring and prioritizing applications for community investment. The committee consists of Audrey Hill (Chair), Rachel Martin, and Erica Martisius.
The EDT Committee is a function of the Six Nations Group (SNG) Board of Directors. For more information on the SNG Board of Directors, please click below.
History of the Economic Development Trust
In 2016, after three public calls for applications, an Interim Board of Trustees was appointed with a specific mandate to develop a process to invest the Economic Development Trust community investment funds.
The Interim Trust was comprised of Jill Hill, Amy Lickers, Dr. Sabrina Saunders, and Claudine VanEvery-Albert. The Interim Trust began work in March 2016 and had approximately 8 weeks to complete its mandate.
The first ever EDT application was released on June 6, 2016 with a deadline of July 5, 2016. In its inaugural year, the EDT received 46 applications with a total request of over $8.8 million. 31 applications were approved with a total community investment of $3,537,257.95. To view a list of 2016 recipients, click here.
This model of community investment was a direct result of the Tewawennaró:roks – “We Gather Our Voices” community engagement project which gathered insight from the community regarding the creation of the Development Corporation (now Six Nations Group).
About Six Nations Group
The Six Nations of the Grand River Economic Development Trust is the mechanism in which surplus profits generated by Six Nations Group are invested back into Six Nations for the collective benefit of the community.
Six Nations Group (SNG) manages the Six Nations’ economic interests in 28 energy projects and numerous economic development opportunities in and around the Six Nations territory. SNG’s current energy portfolio boasts 2.5 GW of capacity through its direct or indirect involvement in five battery storage, seven solar, and 14 wind project(s). SNG is located on the Six Nations Reserve and employs an average of 110 employees through its Wholly-Owned Operations or the administration of its Investment Portfolio projects.
For more information about SNG please click here.
