The Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin recently won an Honoring Nations award from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for their management of tribal assets using a socially responsible investment (SRI) strategy. Awarded by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, the annual Honoring Nations Award is bestowed to tribes who demonstrate "governmental excellence" and effective programs in building Native communities.
Social Investment Forum CEO Lisa Woll said, "The Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin has led Indian Country in adopting socially responsible and sustainable investing strategies for its trust funds. Oneida also has been a leader within SIF in championing Indigenous Peoples' rights and educating the broader investment community on these important issues. We are delighted to see the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and its trust committee recognized for its leadership and groundbreaking efforts in the field of SRI."
Susan White, director of the Oneida Trust and Co-chair of SIF's Indigenous Peoples Working Group (IPWG) said, "This award tells us we are on the right path. We hope that more tribes will use the power of their investment dollars to open doors for greater advocacy for Indian Country."
Oneida's winning submission to Harvard, titled "Oneida Advocacy through Investment Holdings," described the tribe's formal adoption of a socially responsible investment strategy as part of its investment policy guidelines in the 1990's and subsequent implementation of shareholder advocacy, portfolio screening and inter-tribal community investment strategies and initiatives. During several months, the Honoring Nations Board of Governors evaluated and interviewed several of the Oneida's stakeholders to assess the investment program and the constructive changes the program's related activities brought to the community since inception.
On November 16, at the Honoring Nations Ceremony, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin was awarded, along with four other recipients, a $10,000 Honors Award out of almost one hundred applicants for the prize.
Carole Liggins, Chairwoman of the Oneida Trust Committee said, "To receive the esteemed Harvard Project's Honoring Nations Award for our work with socially responsible investing is extremely gratifying. It not only acknowledges the Oneida Trust Department and Oneida Trust Committee's hard work but also delivers the message of SRI to Indian County."
