The Financial Capability Workbook for Indigenous Women series is a financial literacy resource. The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) Be the Drum program and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) partnered to produce three workbooks.

The series was developed for Indigenous women to:

• improve their financial skills and abilities to manage their money
• make choices that can benefit their lives and the lives of their family and community
• build confidence so they can apply their personal financial skills in their businesses

The three workbooks in the series are:

1. Money behaviour and savings: The first workbook provides an introduction to entrepreneurship and financial capability. It covers goal setting, attitude about money, savings and setting a savings goal.
2. Personal budgeting: The second workbook covers the foundations of money management. It covers understanding income and expenses, setting goals, identifying needs vs. wants, creating a monthly budget and making your spending plan work.
3. Banking and credit: The third workbook covers financial institutions, how to manage your bank account and understanding how to use credit wisely.

Along with information and practical exercises, the workbooks provide opportunities for self-reflection. The workbooks are available to download for free. Participants of Be the Drum program who signed up by email can also receive a free hard copy of all three workbooks by mail.

This video speaking about the Money Moccasins program by Momentum and the impact it has had in Alberta is an expiring example of the impact of learning financial literacy skills.

Other Online Financial Literacy Resources

The Women’s Collection is a financial literacy website designed for women. This company is based in Oakville, Ontario and their mission is to deliver a female focused, comprehensive financial program designed to empower and engage women who want to achieve financial freedom and independence. This free platform offers podcasts, webinars, articles, online forums, networking opportunities and educational events to bring women together to share their financial knowledge and experiences.

The Government of Canada offers a free comprehensive financial learning program designed for adults living in Canada. There are 12 modules with various financial topics such as investing, credit and debt management, retirement and pensions, financial planning, mortgages and fraud protection. These modules can be taken at your own pace and provides useful financial knowledge that you can apply in your daily life.

Library Resources

• Raising Money-smart Kids: How to Teach Your Kids about Money While Learning a Few Things Yourself
• The Debt-free Graduate: How to Survive College or University Without Going Broke
• The Money Book: A survival Strategy for Canadians Under 35