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Ground Up By Brandy Lynn
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After several years working for other insurance brokers Joan Barmby-Halcro decided the only way to effectively deal with First Nation’s insurance needs was to form a First Nation’s owned and operated brokerage which she did with IMI
16 DECEMBER 2010 • NATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE
hen she’s not at home on her 342-acre country ranch riding one of her gorgeous appaloosa horses, Joan Barmby-Halcro is at the helm of the 100% aboriginalowned IMI Brokerage Company in Saskatchewan. As the founder, president, and an equal shareholder, she built IMI Brokerage from the ground up. The company specializes in aboriginal employee benefits with programs that supplement the client’s treaty rights, but do not duplicate or create the potential for losing those same benefits. Anyone with an understanding of the labyrinth of complicated rules and laws governing benefits or the lack thereof for First Nations will have an idea of just how complicated a task that can be. Pinpointing a need in the aboriginal community for a better understanding of group insurance and pension plans, Barmby-Halcro set out to in 1993 to engage First Nations in a better path to family stability through solid benefits. She says while INAC is mandated to look after the best interests of the Indian people and, although they are effective in other areas, the educational support for insurance programs was lacking. “There were a lot of First Nations clients paying for programs they did not understand,” says BarmbyHalcro. “At IMI we are in the business of protecting families and it’s very rewarding to know you can help First Nations make that kind of difference.”
IMI Brokerage Company Ltd. is named for its target market - Indian, Metis, and Inuit people. “It is important to understand that First Nations are not just given everything like the public seems to think,” insists Barmby-Halcro. “These pension plans and group life and health insurance programs are equally as important for First Nations families as they are to anyone else.” The majority of First Nations do not pay CPP. That makes for bigger paycheques today, but leaves retirees in a tough position later in life. Barmby-Halcro says education is the key. IMI Brokerage works to educate the band, institution or employer on establishing suitable plans and coverage for both status and non-status employees with provisions so that non-status employees understand the differences as well. After having worked for others as a licensed insurance broker, BarmbyHalcro felt that ownership of an aboriginal-owned insurance brokerage was the foremost issue to address. She was highly motivated to gather band support and make a solid case for an all-aboriginal firm. “There were two men who really made a difference,” she says. Chief Rick Gamble of Beardy’s - Okemasis First Nation and Chief Cy Standing of Wahpeton Dakota Nation have been deeply involved since early on. They have grown to become chiefs in their own communities while still maintaining full support of the brokerage as standing board members. “Not only have they believed