Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs

What it reported doing in 2024

1. BREATHING LANDS (Expenses - $82,374): The names given to the vast peatlands of Ontario's north are "Yehewin Aski and "Bakitanaamowin Aki", meaning the Breathing Lands. It's an incredibly powerful evocation of the life-giving role of a vital ecosystem that has sustained Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Successive settler governments have run roughshod over Indigenous Peoples' Treaty No. 9 rights for over a century. A coalition of several Nations have taken Canada and Ontario to court to press for co-jurisdiction in Treaty No. 9 territory, giving them greater decision-making power over resource extraction projects on their lands. They expect Canada and Ontario to file their Statement of Defence soon. This case has the potential to set a precedent on the interpretation of Treaty No. 9. It focuses on the role of oral promises in the agreements enshrined with the Treaty. 2. GITXAALA NATION (Gitxaala) (Expenses - $61,966): In September 2023, Gitxaala Nation received a favourable decision in their case over British Columbia's (BC's) archaic Mineral Tenure Act. The case initiated an overhaul of B.C.'s online mineral tenure system, giving over 200 First Nations more say over how and where their lands are used for mining. Although Gitxaala celebrates this victory for mining justice, the B.C. Supreme Court also found that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has no force under law in B.C. Gitxaala is appealing this aspect of the judgement to ensure that B.C. courts interpret the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) as creating justiciable rights. 3. KABAOWEK FIRST NATION (Kabaowek) (Expenses - $58,372): Kebaowek First Nation is challenging a decision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in court to protect the sacred Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) from a nuclear waste disposal facility proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). In February 2025, Kebaowek First Nation received a decision from the Federal Court that was overwhelmingly positive for protecting the Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) and advancing UNDRIP in Canadian law. CNL has appealed this decision and Kebaowek is preparing for another hearing. 4. WET'SUWET'EN NATION (Wet'suwet'en) (Expenses - $32,288): Two Houses of the Likhts'amisyu (Fireweed) Clan are pressing ahead with their case that aims to confront Canada's inaction to address the ongoing threat of climate disaster. However, Canada filed its second motion to strike the claim, which, if successful, would prevent the case from being heard in court. Likhts'amisyu members and leadership are opposing this motion to strike, enacting their own responsibility, under Wet'suwet'en law, to protect future generations from the effects of climate change. Currently, their next court date is scheduled for August 21, 2025, in Vancouver, BC. 5. INTERVENOR FUND (Expenses - $26,594)In 2022 RAVEN launched a new "Intervenor Fund" to allow Nations and Indigenous organizations to participate in and influence litigation without bearing the full cost of legal challenges. 6. OTHER PROGRAMS (Expenses - $31,256)RAVEN continued to work with various Indigenous nations on smaller legal projects.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 41.8%; rating input score 42
• Program expense ratio: 46.2%; rating input score 46
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 17.6%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.87; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.5%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.6% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings