Opening of the first Indigenous branch in Quebec
This June, we honour the histories, achievements, and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, who have cared for this land since time immemorial. Since 1992, the bank has served the Indigenous community with a unit dedicated to Indigenous customers.
In October of 1994, BMO opened a branch in Waskaganish, a Cree community located on the southern tip of James Bay. The event was a landmark for the bank, as it represented the first time that BMO established a presence on Indigenous land in Quebec. To properly serve the community, BMO translated key banking forms and product brochures into Cree and recruited personnel from Waskaganish.
To commemorate the occasion, and as a gesture of friendship, the community presented the bank with a leather belt stitched with the following inscription: “Bank of Montreal Waskaganish, Que., Oct. 13, 1994. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper…3 John 1:2” This belt was cut in half, with BMO and the Cree Nation of Waskaganish each keeping a piece.
In 2022, BMO commissioned an Indigenous conservator to restore the belt. It is currently on display at the Waskaganish branch, an enduring symbol of our partnership with Indigenous Peoples.