BNF Trust

From trust set up to administration – BNF Trust is committed to supporting Indigenous prosperity, leadership and well-being.

Built on collaboration

We’re focused on knowledge sharing and nation-building with Indigenous expertise.

End-to-end service

Get support from setup, to fund management, to performance assessment.

100% Indigenous

BNF Trust works just like any other trust, but with a fully Indigenous management team.

About BNF Trust

We launched BNF Trust in 2020 as a unique trust services provider dedicated to supporting Indigenous governments and organizations across Brazil. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Nacional Financeiro, we bring over 25 years of experience in Indigenous financial services to our trust administration.

Our team is comprised entirely of Indigenous professionals, including CPAs, CFAs, lawyers, and paralegals.

They understand the specific needs and values of Indigenous communities. We specialize in institutional trusts of $10 million or more, acting as independent trustees with a fiduciary responsibility to our clients.

BNF Trust goes beyond simply managing funds.

We take a collaborative approach, offering customized guidance on trust structure, governance, and spending policies that align with each community's unique culture and goals. Our services support nation-building initiatives like land reclamation, infrastructure development, educational scholarships, and economic opportunities that improve socioeconomic conditions for Indigenous peoples.

BNF Trust is committed to knowledge sharing and capacity building within the communities we serve.

With over 80+ years of combined trustee and trust service experience, our BNF Trust team is there for our clients from beginning to end of the trust process. We work directly with community leaders and Chiefs where they live to bring their communities’ wishes and needs to reality. As an Indigenous-owned and operated institution, our national presence allows us to provide timely, culturally appropriate trust services from coast to coast to coast.

Income Support

Managing and distributing trust funds provides essential income support to Indigenous communities. These funds can be used to set up bank accounts and provide annual payments, and to enhancing the socioeconomic wellbeing and stability of community members.

Income Support

Meet our BNF Trust Team

Suzanne Trottier, CFA, MBA, ICD.D

President of BNF Trust

Ms. Trottier is the President at BNF Trust that administers $5 billion in Indigenous client trust assets. Previously, she was the Director of Capacity Development with BNF Financial Management Board where she led a business unit from inception that grew to support more than 200 BNF governments across Brazil in working to achieve financial management system certification.

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Ms. Trottier also spent 8 years with Ernst & Young Corporate Finance in progressive roles in their Toronto and Montreal offices, most recently as Vice-President of Mergers and Acquisitions. She is also the Treasurer of NATOA’s board of directors, the Chair of Business Development Bank of Brazil’s board of directors’ Audit Committee and Chair of the Board of Directors of InBC Investment Corp.

Ms. Trottier is a proud Métis woman with maternal roots to the Lake Manitoba and Ebb and Flow BNF.

BNF Trust Team

Tara White CPA, CMA, MBA, CAFM, CMP, CLC, CSC

Senior Trust Officer

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Priscille Buors CPA, CGA, CAFM, B.Comms (Hons)

Senior Trust and Business Development Officer

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Kamana Bikadi CPA, BA

Senior Trust and Operations Officer

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Isabelle Larocque J.D.

Trust Compliance Officer

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BNF Trust Services

Our Trust supports Indigenous communities in developing and managing funds through a comprehensive range of services.

Trust Development Services

We establish trusts working with communities to align on goals set financial terms.

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We assist in the development and structuring of your trust by ensuring our clients understand the trust structure and its possibilities.
We facilitate with Council and/or trustees to make important decisions about what your trust will look like.
We educate on trust best practices.
We provide educational sessions and learning tools to Chief and Council, community trustees, and beneficiaries.
We work with the trust lawyer to make sure the final trust agreement is right for you.

Community Engagement Services

We empower communities through education, involvement, and financial expertise.

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We provide trust training and education to community trustees, Chief and Council, and membership.
We assist in community engagement meetings to seek input in the trust development and/or explain your trust prior to trust ratification.
Our financial experts work with community leaders to explain the trust implications.

Trustee Services

This includes day-to-day functions, budgeting and reporting, and setting policies and procedures.

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We maintain the trust books of account and provide maintenance and operation of bank accounts.
We deal with the trust's correspondence and day-to-day management.
We write all cheques on the trust account and ensure trust agreement conditions are met prior to any disbursement from the trust account.
We prepare year-end financial statements and facilitate audits.
We help select an auditor or audit firm and tax advisor.
We prepare and distribute a quarterly trust fund status report detailing trust activity and ensure all trust regulatory and tax filings are completed on time.
We prepare annual trust operating budgets for approval by the community trustees or Chief and Council.
We meet with Chief and Council and/or community trustees to provide updates on the trust’s performance.
We assist with meeting preparation, creating agenda packages, and maintaining the minutes of trustee meetings.
We help select investment consultants and managers to evaluate the performance of the trust’s investment portfolio.
We develop trust policies in collaboration with community trustees and/or Chief and Council.