Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation and Nibinamik First Nation purchase shares in NativeOne Financial Holdings

Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation and Nibinamik First Nation have purchased shares in NativeOne Financial Holdings LLC, and gained a presence on Wall Street’s New York Stock Exchange. NativeOne is the only Native-owned broker-dealer with such a seat. It gives the nations a major voice in mining developments in Canada, reports Associated Press.

“This gives them a lot more leverage,” said Dennis Smith, co-founder of NativeOne. “That has not happened on behalf of many First Nations of Canada. They’ve been pushed around, pushed out of the way. Now as owners of a broker-dealer on the NYSE, they can demand a seat at the table and level the playing field.”