Who We Are
About the First Nations Business Development Association of BC
Background Information
First Nations across BC have expanded their business and economic activities in all industry sectors, and in many regions are lead economic players creating wealth and employment for their community members as well as others.
While there are many Indigenous organizations both provincially and nationally that represent a variety of First Nation interests, there has not been an organization that represents and advocates for First Nation owned Development Corporations.
A new organization has been formed to address this gap; The BC First Nations Development Corporation Association has been established as a BC Society and is comprised of the founding Nation owned Development Corporations and led by its Managing Director, Michael Bonshor, CPA of Visions First Nations Financial Service and the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation.
The mandate of the FNBDA is to lift the collective strength and influence of BC First Nations owned Development Corporations, for the benefit of their community. Specifically, a number of purposes and approaches have been identified.
Michael Bonshor
Michael Bonshor, CPA, CMA is a member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet and has worked with First Nations and Indigenous organizations for the past 20 years. He is President and CEO of Visions First Nations Financial Services/Ki’mola Indigenous Capital and Managing Director of First Nations Business Development Association. In 2020 Michael was appointed to the National Indigenous Economic Development Board and is the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and Board Member of the BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc., the BC Crown Corporation. He is also the Co-Chair of the BC First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing General Partnership.