Impact United Academy is partnering with The Fireweed Institute to offer a Peer Learning Circle on Investing in Indigenous Communities and Economies.

This series follows our first Peer Learning Circle in Spring 2026 on Gender Lens Investing, and is similarly designed for institutional and individual investors, asset owners, and capital allocators who wish to deepen their understanding and practice of advancing economic reconciliation, and who seek to move from intention to informed action.

This learning circle is generously supported by Forum for Impact and the Real Estate Foundation of BC, and builds on the work of Impact United’s Taking Steps and Pathways Forward initiatives to break down barriers and unlock more capital for Indigenous-led enterprises.

Investing in Indigenous enterprises, communities and economies is a tangible and meaningful way to advance reconciliation as well as equitable economic growth and prosperity, at a time when both are increasingly important.

Many asset owners and capital allocators have made a commitment to reconciliation in their strategic plans, Investment Policy Statements, or public pledges such as The Philanthropic Community’s Declaration of Action or New Power Labs’ Fund Canada.

Doing the right thing is important, and so is doing it the right way. Join a learning circle of peers who are striving to do both.

This Peer Learning Circle is intended for Impact United’s community of individual and institutional asset owners, as well as capital allocators and intermediaries:

• Philanthropic foundations and other endowments (e.g. educational institutions, faith-based organizations, labour unions)
• Family offices and HNWIs
• Angel investors and other individual Accredited Investors
• Fund managers, intermediaries, and financial institutions
• Other values-aligned asset owners and capital allocators who are stewarding investment portfolios and mandates

Types of roles:

• Senior executives, management, or other decision-makers
• Wealth holder or family principal
• Investment staff, advisors, and consultants
• Board and Committee members

This Learning Circle consists of six sessions that blend peer learning, reflection, and accountability:

• Monday October 26th, 10:00am-11:00am PT / 1:00-2:00pm ET 
• Introduction: meet-and-greet, set context and expectations
• Tuesday November 3rd, 10:00am-12:00pm PT / 1:00-3:00pm ET
• Learning session led by Jacqueline Jennings
• Learn from and with Indigenous entrepreneurs
• Tuesday November 10th, 10:00am-11:30am PT / 1:00-2:30pm ET
• Reflection Session facilitated by Kim Hardy
• Safe space for deeper dialogue
• Tuesday November 17th, 10:00am-12:00pm PT / 1:00-3:00pm ET
• Learning session led by Jacqueline Jennings
• Learn from and with Indigenous entrepreneurs
• Tuesday November 24th, 10:00am-11:30am PT / 1:00-2:30pm ET
• Reflection Session facilitated by Kim Hardy
• Safe space for deeper dialogue
• Tuesday December 1st, 10:00am-11:30am PT / 1:00-2:30pm ET
• Accountability Session facilitated by Kim Hardy
• Reconnecting and sharing back to Indigenous entrepreneurs

The Peer Learning Circle is purposefully designed as a participatory learning journey with a cohort of committed peers that prioritizes accountability and action. As a result, space is limited to 15 participants who are available and committed to being fully present and engaged for the entire series – this is not meant to be a passive, camera-off webinar!

This Peer Learning Circle is designed to build trust and deepen learning amongst the cohort of participants. 

The Fireweed Institute will draw from their expertise in supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and founders, and provide curriculum on:

• Trauma-informed investing process
• Safety-centered due diligence
• Values-aligned term sheets and negotiations
• Post-investment relationships (the “circle of continuity”)

Participants will learn about:

• A deeper understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being in the context of entrepreneurship, capital, and community wealth-building
• A more culturally-informed approach in their due diligence and decision-making process
• How to shift capital, power, and agency to Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities

Facilitated Reflection Sessions will provide a safe space for deeper dialogue and accountability in between the Learning Sessions.

Jacqueline Jennings (she/her) is an Indigenous investment strategist and systems change leader with over a decade of experience in capital design, entrepreneurship, and economic justice. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Fireweed Institute, which runs Canada’s only Indigenous venture accelerator and is developing a Community Wealth Fund using flexible, non-extractive finance rooted in Indigenous values. Previously, she was a Venture Partner at Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, supporting the raise of $125M, and an Investor in Residence for the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship. Her work advances Indigenous economic self-determination through relational, trauma-informed finance.

The Fireweed Institute supports Indigenous entrepreneurs and elevates the innovation ecosystem by delivering education, storytelling, research, land-based placemaking and funding. Fireweed centres the well-being and success of entrepreneurs by advancing economic liberation and sovereignty through leading participation in the global economy. Through power building and collaboration, we envision a future where Indigenous entrepreneurs lead and thrive, creating a legacy of well-being, success, and liberation.

Kim Hardy (she/her) is a settler organizer, community economic development practitioner, and integrated capital strategist working at the intersection of equity, finance, and systems change. For more than 15 years, she has partnered with Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, communities, and capital holders across the homelands now known as British Columbia and Yukon to strengthen community-led economies and advance more equitable approaches to capital.

As Co-Founder and Co-Lead of the Right Relations Collaborative, an Indigenous philanthropic organization and pathway towards accountable and reciprocal relationships, Kim supports foundations, family offices, investors, and asset owners to navigate power, accountability, and relationships grounded in trust, reciprocity, and long-term impact.