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Seven Generations

Settlement Simulator

Your nation just received a settlement. How you manage it today shapes the next seven generations.

$ million

Drag to decide the split between immediate per-capita distribution and long-term trust investment.

30%
Invest for the future Distribute now

Distributed today

$15.0M

$7,500 per member

Invested in trust

$35.0M

For 7 generations

Total community benefit over 7 generations

$674M

13.5x the original settlement

Seven generation projection

Today Year 0

Per-capita distribution: $7,500 per member

Trust starting balance: $35.0M

Gen 2 Year 25 2,902 members
Trust balance $44.9M
Annual per member $619

Cumulative distributed: $54.5M

Gen 3 Year 50 4,210 members
Trust balance $57.6M
Annual per member $547

Cumulative distributed: $105M

Gen 4 Year 75 6,109 members
Trust balance $73.8M
Annual per member $483

Cumulative distributed: $170M

Gen 5 Year 100 8,864 members
Trust balance $94.7M
Annual per member $427

Cumulative distributed: $254M

Gen 6 Year 125 12,861 members
Trust balance $121M
Annual per member $378

Cumulative distributed: $361M

Gen 7 Year 150 18,661 members
Trust balance $156M
Annual per member $334

Cumulative distributed: $498M

Gen 8 Year 175 27,076 members
Trust balance $200M
Annual per member $295

Cumulative distributed: $674M

What the numbers say

Each member receives $7,500 today. The remaining $35.0M goes into the trust.

Over 175 years, the trust generates $674M in total community benefit — 13.5x the original settlement.

What does this mean?

The endowment model — investing the principal and spending only a portion of returns each year — is how the world's most successful institutions preserve wealth across generations. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the Canada Pension Plan, and every major university endowment use this approach.

The spending rate is the key variable. At 4%, a well-invested fund can sustain payouts indefinitely while the principal continues to grow. The trade-off is real: a lower spending rate means less money today but more money for every generation that follows.

Indigenous communities have practised long-term economic thinking for millennia. This tool translates that wisdom into modern financial terms — so communities can see the full picture when making decisions about settlement funds.

Seven Generations

The philosophy behind long-term community wealth

Band Finances

Understanding how your nation's money works

This is a simplified model for educational purposes. Actual investment returns, management costs, inflation, tax implications, and governance structures vary significantly. This tool does not constitute financial advice. Your data stays on this device.