Directing capital toward Indigenous priorities and using investment influence to advance economic reconciliation.
MONTREAL, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- "The next evolution of economic reconciliation is not only about First Nations accessing capital, but also about influencing where capital flows and who benefits from those investments," says Chief Derek Epp of Ch'íyáqtel First Nation, Chair of the First Nations Finance Authority and a member of the Fund's Indigenous Advisory Committee.
AlphaFixe Capital announced today the launch of its Reconciliation Fund, a first-of-its-kind fixed-income fund combining financing that benefits Indigenous Peoples with investment in companies and governments demonstrating stronger reconciliation practices. Ongoing engagement encourages borrowers to improve and develop financing opportunities aligned with Indigenous priorities.
"My hope is the Fund helps move reconciliation from a statement into a balance sheet," says Wade Griffin, a Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River and a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee. Griffin is Vice President and Partner at K'ĀN Partners, an Indigenous-owned investment and advisory firm operating across Canada and the United States.
A co-created approach to reconciliation investing
The Fund grew out of AlphaFixe's green bond investing, which prompted questions about how projects on Indigenous Lands impact Indigenous Peoples. The firm worked with Indigenous representatives to co-create a reconciliation scoring methodology. Now, an Indigenous Advisory Committee provides independent, ongoing advice and guidance to the Fund.
The Committee includes Alexandre Bacon, Amanda Calla, Chief Derek Epp, Wade Griffin, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, and Raylene Whitford.
Connecting investment decisions with Indigenous priorities
The Fund combines two approaches: financing eligible investments that directly benefit Indigenous Peoples, and using its Reconciliation Score to select companies and government borrowers demonstrating stronger reconciliation performance relative to their peers. Direct financing opportunities include Indigenous equity ownership, equitable partnerships, infrastructures, essential services and economic development.
Ongoing engagement with companies and governments helps AlphaFixe assess their disclosures, track progress and encourage stronger practices, including action in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92.
For First Nations, trusts and Indigenous organizations, the Fund connects financial objectives with community priorities. For other investors, it offers a concrete way to support reconciliation through professional fixed-income management. A revenue-sharing arrangement provides benefits to eligible Indigenous investors, subject to the Fund's terms.
"The Reconciliation Fund would not exist without the wisdom, candour and generosity of the Indigenous people who have shared their knowledge with us over the past three years," says Sébastien Rhéaume, Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of AlphaFixe Capital. "Their contributions have shaped the Fund and transformed our understanding of how capital can advance reconciliation. We hope to honour that learning by supporting Indigenous priorities and raising the bar for reconciliation across capital markets."
Sunlife brings the strategy to its Group Retirement investment platform
As a first adopter in the Capital Accumulation Plans space, Sunlife is adding the AlphaFixe ESG+I – Reconciliation Bond Fund to its Group Retirement Savings Core investment platform. The addition expands the investment options that plan sponsors can offer their plan members and supports Sunlife's commitment to advancing reconciliation through its business practices.
"By making the AlphaFixe ESG+I – Reconciliation Fund available, we have an opportunity to use the scale and reach of workplace savings to support meaningful action toward reconciliation. The fund invests in issuers demonstrating leadership in reconciliation and in projects that support equitable partnerships with Indigenous Peoples. It's an important step, and one we're proud to take together with Indigenous Peoples and AlphaFixe," says Michael Van Alphen, Senior Vice-President, Group Retirement Services, Sunlife.
Investors and consultants can contact Jonathan Lapointe, co-chair of the Advisory Committee and leader of this initiative at AlphaFixe.
Jonathan Lapointe, FSA, FICA
Vice-President, Business Development, Partner
514-861-3493
About AlphaFixe
Founded in 2008, AlphaFixe is a Montreal-based independent investment firm. They are 100% privately owned by their investment professionals. The firm exclusively manages fixed income assets. As of September 30, 2026, AlphaFixe's assets under management were $20.3 billion.
About Sunlife
Sunlife is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sunlife has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2026, Sunlife had total assets under management of $1.68 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Media contacts:
Brett Bradshaw
bbradshaw@creative-fire.com
Kelsey Rutherford
media.relations@sunlife.com
SOURCE AlphaFixe
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