The Four Pillars Society is a trust fund society that manages and distributes a $2.8 billion settlement from the Government of Canada to 325 First Nation Band Class members. The settlement fund supports Indigenous communities across Canada in revitalizing language, culture, heritage, and community well-being through annual disbursements over a 20-year period. View The Four Pillars Society (TFPS)'s website for more information.
The Four Pillars Society is a unique Indigenous-led trust fund organization established to manage the Gottfriedson Band Class Action settlement. It serves as the primary funding mechanism for 325 First Nations communities across Canada that were part of the landmark residential school settlement.
The organization distributes funds based on four pillars: Language revitalization, Culture preservation, Heritage protection, and Community Well-being. Each recipient First Nation develops a 5-10 year community plan outlining how they will allocate funds across these four areas.
In 2024, the society began disbursing $200,000 in planning funds to each Band Class Member to prepare their community plans. Additional "Kick Start" funds have been distributed to approved communities. The 2024 Annual Report shows $56 million in total funds distributed with 20 community plans approved.
The society is governed by a Board of Directors representing different regions across Canada. They work with the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) to manage $2.0 billion in capital. Investment policies and disbursement formulas are publicly available on their website.