Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) each year are calculated by: the income earned in the previous year, minus expenses in the previous year, minus the inflation index (2% of trust fund). Income is earned from various sources, including interest and returns on investment.
The 2020 and 2021 distributions mark the fifth and sixth in the history of the Tahltan Heritage Trust. There were limited distributions during the first 11 years because the Trust fund was small and earned very little income, as well as to help foster growth of the Trust fund. The first distribution of $100,000 was made in 2016 to establish a Tahltan Education Fund (to be managed by the Tahltan Central Government) for Tahltan members to access. Subsequent distributions were made of $100,000 in 2017, $100,000 in 2018 and $200,000 in 2019 to the Tahltan Education Fund.