First Nations Infrastructure Institute

Building Futures: Infrastructure Strategies and Support for Community Development

Juli Holloway — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:43:00 +0000

In November 2024, the First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII) was honoured to attend the First Nations Leading the Way conference in Treaty 6 Territory (Edmonton, AB).

FNII was proud to have collaborated with our conference partners — the First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB), First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC), First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, and First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) — in organizing the event.

FNII’s work in supporting community-led infrastructure was discussed in a plenary session that featured community powerhouses Alanea Holmstrom (Osoyoos Indian Band) and Evan Roberts (Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation).

In a breakout session, Evan Roberts was joined by Jesse James (FNTC), Kathleen Stone (FNFMB), and Ian Bear (FNFA). The sessions focused on the importance of infrastructure to support activities on First Nation lands. There was also discussion about how working with FNII and using other FMA tools supports improved infrastructure outcomes.

Alanea Holmstrom spoke about how she invited FNII to work with Osoyoos. “I invited FNII to come down and meet with Chief and Council and we talked about our different developments and where they are at. The big discussion that came out of this was our need for water and how to develop a system that will service everybody and improve the lives of our community members.”

Evan Roberts spoke about how infrastructure will support Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation to take advantage of opportunities: “Well, I know the challenges a lot of our communities face and my community is no different. Just understanding how critical it is to have the proper infrastructure in place to be able to meet the needs and demands of our growing community and the people. And for us to move forward on a lot of the economic but also social development things that we want to do and provide for our communities, that it’s the infrastructure that lays that foundation for us to be able to develop our lands and generate that revenue from our lands.”

Jesse James spoke to how FNTC can support infrastructure: “What the FNTC does is support the capturing of fiscal benefits – things like property taxation or other fiscal tools or fees. These revenues flow to a First Nation so that the First Nation can provide local services including infrastructure.”

Ian Bear discussed how costs of infrastructure projects can be financed through the FNFA: “One of the benefits of FNFA’s approach to these infrastructure projects is Nations using their own local or other revenues to finance that project. FNFA allow terms up to 30 years. This is very useful because a lot of times this is going to match the useful life of the project.”

Kathleen Stone discussed how the FMB supports Nations to strengthen their financial management systems. She commented on how strong financial management is key for an infrastructure project to operate successfully throughout its expected lifecycle: “Being able to plan for all of the repairs and maintenance of that asset, whether it’s a vehicle, whether it’s a building, whether it’s a road, and also to know how long is it going to last, when are we going to have to replace it, and to be able to plan for that, and hopefully save up for that. Having those numbers will really help with planning.”

FNII would like to thank all the panelists for joining us to talk about improving infrastructure outcomes. The FNII team is working with First Nations across the country to advance infrastructure projects. If invited, FNII can join your project team, add some bench strength and work to optimize your infrastructure project business case. Developing infrastructure projects that meet best practices in planning, procurement, operations and maintenance can help your Nation to take advantage of opportunities.

If your First Nation is interested in learning more about FNII, email info@fnii.ca.

FNII Goes to “Land of the Long White Cloud” to Share Info on Indigenous Infrastructure

Taran Singh — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:15:36 +0000

Professor Te Maire Tau (right) is the director of the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre. He has been instrumental in creating the partnership between the centre and The Tulo Centre

A program that brought together Indigenous leaders from Canada and New Zealand explored the Canadian approach to Indigenous infrastructure as modeled by the First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII). The exploration was part of a two-week course called Comparative Indigenous Economic Systems that was offered earlier this year at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics jointly offered the course, which brought together approximately 20 participants who work in Indigenous administrations in their respective countries.

The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre was founded to be a leader in Indigenous scholarship and provide a centre for the intellectual capital and development of Ngāi Tahu, the principal Māori iwi (people) of the southern region of Aotearoa. (The Maori name for New Zealand means ‘land of the long white cloud.’)

The Tulo Centre offers University-accredited certificate programs in First Nations Tax Administration, First Nations Applied Economics and First Nations Land Management. FNII has been collaborating with the Tulo Centre for the past three years talking to students about best practices in developing Indigenous infrastructure projects.

Students from the Tulo Centre and Māori students from the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) have been studying Indigenous economics together since 2020 in what began as an informal pilot arrangement.

FNII Technical Advisor Jason Calla attended the class, during which time he took the participants through FNII’s approach to building a business case for an infrastructure project. “We think the FNII process could be equally applied to a project in Canada on First Nation lands or a Ngāi Tahu project in New Zealand,” said Jason.

The Ngāi Tahu have a successful real estate portfolio, the result of strategic property investments. Ngai Tahu settled a claim in 1998 and received an apology from the Crown and $170 million. Ngai Tahu Holdings are now worth more than $1 billion and include a large shopping centre, housing, parkades, and office buildings.

“There is tremendous experience with property development, but Ngai Tahu do not currently collect what they call the rates – what we call property taxes,” said Jason, who says the Ngāi Tahu are exploring what it would mean to assert that jurisdiction over their lands.

“Whereas in Canada, some First Nations governments are choosing to assume jurisdiction on their lands and the ability to levy property tax, for example, and to administer financial management and administration laws. And now – most recently – to assume jurisdiction over their infrastructure assets, which is where FNII comes in.”

The Ngāi Tahu have a keen interest in learning how the FMA institutes work and how they might apply in their situation.

“Their question is ‘how can we collect the rates and then how can we provide the infrastructure and have more of a say in the infrastructure – not only for the buildings we have in the urban areas but also in communities in rural areas,” said Jason. “They want the ability to improve the infrastructure in their communities.”

FNII Technical Advisory Jason Calla describes FNII’s approach to First Nations infrastructure during the Comparative Indigenous Economic Systems course.

Jason says he learned a lot from the course. One discovery that impressed him is the long-term nature of Ngāi Tahu planning. For example, one research project is studying infrastructure resilience with an outlook for 500 years. He recalls Chief Mike LeBourdais (Tulo Centre Chair) saying, “That puts our ‘seven generations’ view in perspective!”

Jason was also struck by the strength of the Ngāi Tahu culture and how successful they’ve been in incorporating it – not just into the architectural design of all their developments but into those of other buildings as well. A number of factors account for this. One is the large tribal membership (about 70,000 people) that speaks one language, giving the Ngāi Tahu a strong presence in the region. The other was the need to re-build many facilities following the devastating earthquake of 2011.

“You can see the influence in the city, including a conference centre and a new stadium that will be the second largest in New Zealand,” said Jason. “The influence makes their culture visible in their territory.”

The Tulo Centre and the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre will continue to work together. The two centres and their host universities (Thompson Rivers University and the University of Canterbury) renewed their existing memorandum of understanding in August, 2023. The agreement commits them to continue to deliver accredited certificate programs in First Nation tax administration, applied economics and lands governance.

FNII is already seeing a development from the New Zealand experience. Jason has recently met with representatives of the Osoyoos First Nation in southern B.C. after one of its members participated in the March program.

If your First Nation is interested in learning more about FNII, email info@fnii.ca

AFN Report Says Billions Needed for Infrastructure

Taran Singh — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:13:39 +0000

A report from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) says $349.2 billion is needed to address the infrastructure gap. The report also says actions to close the gap will improve the socioeconomic wellbeing of First Nations people and boost the Canadian economy as a whole.

The report – Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030 – was commissioned by the AFN in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). Research took place in 2022 and 2023 with the participation of 401 First Nations across Canada. The report also used years of AFN technical studies and records from ISC.

The Report says that closing the First Nations infrastructure gap will contribute to improved health and safety for people living on reserves. Inadequate infrastructure for emergency, health or education services leads to troubling conditions such as limited access to water and fire protection.

The AFN says federal investment to close the infrastructure gap will help the Government of Canada fulfill its existing fiduciary, legal, and public commitments to First Nations. It will also create economic opportunities for First Nations and non-Indigenous workers and businesses by boosting GDP and creating jobs.

The report provides detailed recommendations about investment needed by asset category. It also makes recommendations for over-arching changes, such as:

Long-term planning: move away from a federal year-to-year, pay-as-you-go approach to First Nations infrastructure funding programs.
Policy reform: co-development between AFN, ISC, and First Nations to improve access to capital.
Implementation: The AFN Infrastructure and Housing Sectors, with support from other AFN Sectors, including Indigenous Services Canada, are co-developing a plan for reform and funding options to close the First Nation infrastructure gap.
Short-term solution: have the Government of Canada renew funding supports to expiring and exhausted programs that were successful

The First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII) was recently established to join the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC), the First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB) and the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA). These Indigenous-led institutes have developed tools that can support First Nations and Indigenous Organizations to assert their jurisdiction over their infrastructure assets on their land. This can lead to improved infrastructure outcomes.

Interested First Nations or other Indigenous organizations may use any or all of the institute’s tools, skills, and processes to plan, develop, procure, implement, operate, maintain, and manage their infrastructure projects efficiently and effectively. 

The challenge in addressing the infrastructure gap will require options for different circumstances. FNII is not the whole answer to the Indigenous infrastructure gap, but it can be part of a solution.

Contact FNII to discuss how it might help with your Indigenous infrastructure project.

More information on Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030.

Advocating for Indigenous Infrastructure on the East Coast

Taran Singh — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:01:04 +0000

FNII has developed a close working relationship with Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation Chief and Council.

Allan Claxton, Jason Calla, John Dumbrell, and Jason Reeves were in the Maritimes in April, as the FNII Team made stops at Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation in Nova Scotia and a First Nations housing conference in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Paqtnkek has engaged FNII’s free (and optional) services to help plan water and wastewater infrastructure to support future residential and commercial development.

In a presentation to Chief Cory Julian and other Council members, Calla lauded the stellar work done toward a comprehensive land use plan that will act as the foundation for future growth.

“The work on the land use plan has community input front and centre,” said Calla. “It will help to identify where and when infrastructure system improvements will be needed to support member housing, community amenities and economic development.”

Calla says he remembers about five years ago when then-Chief Paul Prosper talked about a “project called Bayside” – a proposed new commercial development on the TransCanada Highway. The Bayside Travel Centre has since become an award-winning retail enterprise creating steady jobs for Paqtnkek members and nearby residents.

Chief Julian said he was impressed by the collaboration involving FNII, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, Dillon Consulting, Fathom Consulting, and others.

“I think the work done so far has been extremely beneficial,” said Julian. “It will help us as council deliberate the next steps for improved water and wastewater systems that are desperately needed.”

Claxton, former chief of Tsawout First Nation and Chair of FNII’s Development Board, says he’s been impressed since day one when Paqtnkek came onboard as one of two ‘proof of concept’ projects. The other is the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation in southern Ontario.

“I know from my home community that these infrastructure projects can be challenging. So planning, not just to build but to operate and maintain these projects, is critical. That’s where the FNII tools can really be important.”

At the meeting of the First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA), from left to right: John Kiedrowski, Project Manager, FNNBOA; Jason Reeves (back), FNII Technical Advisor; Jason Calla, FNII Technical Advisor; Allan Claxton, former chair of FNII’s development board; John Dumbrell, FNII Technical Advisor; David Paul, event MC and President, Aboriginal Resource Consultants, Maliseet First Nation.

Infrastructure for an improved approach to housing

Three hours down the highway, the FNII team participated in a conference organized by the First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA) to discuss Self Government and Best Construction Practices.

John Kiedrowski from FNNBOA discussed the concept of the “authority having jurisdiction over housing” and the importance of building inspections for the health and safety of members.

Meko Nicholas from the First Nations Lands Management Resource Centre discussed how the use of a land code and land laws can clarify the role and responsibility of a First Nation.

John Dumbrell, FNII Technical Advisor from Urban Systems Ltd., discussed how FNII can assist. For example, while FNII is not mandated to support the construction of houses, it can support the infrastructure required to support those houses, such as water, sewer, electricity, and communications.

Free resources at www.fnii.ca can help First Nations explore options as they proceed with infrastructure projects. Working with FNII is like adding some bench strength to your team. FNII can support bringing people together to communicate and collaborate while building and transferring knowledge.

FNII Team with John Kiedrowski (FNNBOA) and David Paul (Aboriginal Resource Consultants)

Calla said the recent trip to the Maritimes is another step in building knowledge and awareness of FNII’s role, as Nations work toward addressing the infrastructure gap in their communities.

Getting Down to Business (Planning) for First Nations Infrastructure

Taran Singh — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:34 +0000

Chief Kimberly Bressette, second from left, with other panelists at Leading the Way: from left to right, James MacKinnon, Paula Pictou, Darcy Gray and Jason Calla.

The number “two” has several applications for the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The Nation is made up of two reserves and the distinctive rock features that provide the “Kettle” part of its name are found in only two countries in the world.

The Nation is also one of two communities that have been working with FNII in what are called “proof of concept” projects (Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation of Nova Scotia is the other).

The concept to be proven is that the First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII) is beneficial for communities as they navigate their way through complex infrastructure projects. During Leading the Way, Chief Kimberly Bressette described her Nation’s work with FNII in planning to replace an aging wastewater plant. FNII Technical Advisor Jason Calla also participated in the presentation to explain how important a business case is for projects like this.

Chief Bressette started by providing some background about her Nation. Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point are located approximately 35 kilometres northeast of Sarnia, Ontario, on the southern shore of Lake Huron. The Nation has a land base of approximately 1,096 hectares and an on-reserve population of just over 2,100 people.

The two reserves that make up the Nation are Stony Point – or Aazhoodena – and Kettle Point – known as Wiiwkwedong. The latter is named for the distinctive spherical rock formations that erode from underlying shale beds along the shore of Lake Huron. These formations are known as “kettles” because they look like large pots. They are only found in Canada and New Zealand (Manitoba has the only other kettles in Canada).

The wastewater plant on reserve was built in 1994 and it is nearing the end of its lifecycle. It’s only performing at 50 per cent capacity – and sometimes not even that much. Other Nation infrastructure includes three housing subdivisions, a school, health centre, police station, day care, car wash, child and family health services office, and a mental health and wellness hub.

Some residences on the reserve are not connected to the wastewater system (they use septic fields instead). These include cottages along the scenic lakeshore that have been built on land leased to non-Band members. The planned replacement and expansion of the wastewater plant will allow these residences and cottages to be connected to the system, says Chief Bressette.

“We would also like to build more housing and a multiplex sports and activity centre,” she says.

These big-picture plans are all part of the business case that should be developed when a community is assessing its infrastructure needs for development or replacement says Jason Calla.

“A business case is a one-stop shop to describe an infrastructure project, allowing people to easily understand your rationale and process,” he says.

The key parts of an infrastructure business plan are:

Strategic – why are you doing the project, what problem are you solving
Technical – the feasibility of options, cost estimates
Commercial – how the project will be tendered, the procurement model
Financial – how the project will be paid for, including planning, construction, operations and maintenance
Management – how to manage the project through the lifecycle of the infrastructure

The Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point are now finalizing the technical case of their business plan and are considering options for the commercial case. They are also looking at the future.

“We hope to have a plan that estimates when infrastructure needs to be replaced,” says Chief Bressette.

This is the kind of planning FNII can help with. Now that the institute is formally established and about to hire permanent staff it is looking forward to the day when it will be working closely with more than two communities.

If you would like to talk about how FNII might work with your Nation (or Indigenous organization), email info@fnii.ca

For more information about infrastructure business plans, see this story from our May newsletter about getting “shovel-ready.”

Listen Up! Podcast Alert

What are the practical aspects of planning for infrastructure growth in communities? Check out this FNII podcast of the on-stage panel discussion with Kettle and Stony Point and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation from Leading the Way. It is moderated by Jason Calla, FNII Technical Advisor.

Maximizing Development Muscle – a How-To Story

Taran Singh — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:15:20 +0000

From left to right: FNII Technical Advisor and panel moderator Jason Calla; Paula Pictou and Rose Paul of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation; and James MacKinnon, Atlantic First Nations Water Authority.

When you’re a small First Nation with big plans, you use every tool you can to leverage your in-house expertise. For the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation in Nova Scotia that meant using services offered by all the institutes of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act – and a few more besides.

Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw (pronounced BUCK-in-keg MEEG-maw)) has 610 members. About 400 members live on the reserve, 22 kilometers from Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The reserve has some environmentally sensitive areas and is bisected by the TransCanada Highway, creating north and south sections that until recently were not connected. In short – there are a lot of obstacles to development of any kind.

That didn’t stop the community’s leaders, however.

“We decided long ago that economic development would be critical to our future,” said Paula Pictou, Lands Coordinator for the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. “We wanted to get it right so we started working with national organizations established by the FMA.”
The First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) provides the option for First Nations governments to have authority over financial administration laws, local revenues, and financing for infrastructure and economic development. The FMA institutions provide participating First Nations with support and tools to strengthen their communities and build their economies. Those institutions are:

• First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB)
• First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA)
• First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC), and
• First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII)

FNII, the First Nations Infrastructure Institute, was formally established in June last year to provide free services to support Nations to plan efficient and effective infrastructure projects. The institute has been working on two pilot projects – Paqtnkek is one of them (the other is Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point Nation .)

“FNII is working with us to develop a business case to expand our water and wastewater systems to allow us to grow. We have plans for more member housing and phase two of our economic development project,” said Rose Paul, CEO of Bayside Development Corporation, Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation.

Phase one of their economic development project is the Bayside Travel Centre which includes an Esso Commercial Card Lock, retail fuel bay, Bayside convenience store, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlet (first in a Mi’kmaw community), Tim Hortons, Mary Brown’s Chicken, Bayside Entertainment Centre with provincially-licensed video lottery terminals, a By-the-Bay Visitor Information Centre, and a private truckers’ lounge.

Plans for phase two of the project include a centre that will feature a hotel and business park, including office space.

“We’ve come a long way since being told we could only have a small triangle of land to sell beads and trinkets,” said Rose.

That long journey included working with the Lands Advisory Board to develop a land code that was ratified in 2022. Using the authority of their land code, Paqtnkek has held community engagement sessions to develop a land use plan. The improvement and expansion of the water and wastewater system will enable the community to grow and realize the vision they have described through their land use plan.

As a member of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, Paqtnkek is using the land use plan to determine where future demand for infrastructure will be. The Authority is not an FMA institution, however it is a First Nations organization providing services to 29 member Nations in the Atlantic region.

“We are community-owned with a service approach that is accountable, equitable, and based on two-eyed seeing,” said James Mackinnon, Director of Engagement and Government Relations for the Authority. “We work on capital upgrades, funding and operations and management of water and wastewater systems.”

The support of all these various agencies gave Paqtnkek a strong foundation for negotiating with the province and working with other partners says Darcy Gray, a member of the Bayside Development team.

“You have reports on water use and wastewater and the needs of the community that’s been done and supported by the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority,” he said.

“You have the land management, land use planning and land code work. You have community engagement and conversation that gives you direction. And then when you’re sitting there talking with the province of Nova Scotia, expressing the importance of [the project] becomes a lot easier because you have the background, you have the plans, you have the supporting documentation and the technical information that you need.”

With all their careful planning, the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation is not building for the sake of building but rather generating business income to support current and future needs in health care, housing, education and recreation.

As Paula says, planning is key. “You need a plan. Use FNII. They’re there to help. You can’t go wrong!”

Rose says it’s helpful to make use of all the available resources when enacting ambitious plans.

“We couldn’t have done this on our own. Being able to utilize all the FMA tools made the difference. Use the tools to take control back for your Nation.”

FNII Helps Lead the Way to Greater First Nations Autonomy

Taran Singh — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:08:05 +0000

FNII booth at Leading the Way, staffed by contractor Stephanie Slater

More than 350 people from First Nations across the country met in Gatineau, Quebec last November for the sixth annual First Nations Leading the Way conference. The First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII) joined its institutional colleagues to highlight the achievements of Nations using First Nation-led agreements and legislation.

Registrants at the conference came from First Nations that are using tools of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA), have developed a land code using the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, and/or have submitted an expression of interest in the 10-Year Grant program.

The goal of the annual gathering is to showcase First Nations at the forefront of expanding their jurisdiction. Delegates heard stories about greater fiscal independence, improved financial management, debenture financing, sound land governance, and infrastructure planning with a First Nations approach.

The conference was the first one that FNII participated in since becoming officially established under the FMA. The milestone took place June 20, 2023 following Royal Assent of amendments to the Act.

Organizations that want to explore how FNII might work with them are invited to book an introductory workshop – in person or online – by emailing info@fnii.ca.

Services are free and First Nations do not need to be “scheduled” – that is, formally participating in the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. FNII’s services are available to any Indigenous organization in Canada

Procurement – Getting it Right When Getting Infrastructure Projects Off the Ground

Taran Singh — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:56:47 +0000

“Excuse me, what’s this ‘procurement’ thing that you keep talking about?”

The question brought John Dumbrell up short. As a member of the technical team for the First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII), Dumbrell had visited a First Nations community several times to discuss a plan to improve their wastewater system. At one of several public meetings an Elder who was also a former Chief stood up and posed that question about procurement.

“So, it’s always been stuck in my mind that we use this term quite a bit but it is not all that well understood,” says Dumbrell.

At its simplest, the term “procurement” refers to the process for hiring services and/or buying materials or equipment. In the world of infrastructure, the term is often associated with complex projects that include both the construction costs as well as ongoing costs to operate and maintain the project.

Infrastructure projects are usually important to community objectives, such as health (e.g., clean drinking water), safety (well-built roads), education (good school building), etc. If things go wrong, not only can project costs soar and deadlines slip, but health, safety and other aspects of community life can be compromised.

“Many risks – financial, schedule and quality of product – can be managed through a good procurement process,” says Dumbrell.

But what is a good procurement process? There are several models that may be suitable depending on the nature of the project and the objectives of the community.

There are different ways of packaging services together – a good example is designing, building, and operating and maintaining infrastructure. These can be procured through separate processes or packaged together into one process.

An objective of a procurement model could be to reduce risk but they can also be used to:

maximize competition among qualified proponents;
ensure cost certainty;
facilitate opportunities for helpful scope changes; and
provide incentives for contractors to introduce new ideas and approaches that could offer significant additional value.

An example of the last point might be including an operational contract for the builder that makes them responsible for the facility for a specific time period. This can help offset the downside of low-cost bids.

If this sounds complex and daunting for a First Nations government to manage – that’s understandable.

“Building or replacing a project like a water or wastewater treatment plant isn’t something you’re going to do every five years – it’s going to be something you’re going to do once in a generation, hopefully,” says FNII Technical member Jason Calla. “The difficulty with that is that there may not be a lot of experience dealing with these types of projects to know the pitfalls to avoid or the best practices to use. And that’s really the idea behind FNII. It is to bring some bench strength to the team as well as some best practices to be used in developing that project. The goal is that FNII will be a center of excellence to build on lots of best practices and good models.”

For more information, view FNII’s free webinar about procurement practices. It’s part of a series of webinars that can be found in the Resources section of the FNII website.

The services of the First Nations Infrastructure Institute are free and available to any Indigenous organization in Canada. Contact FNII to discuss how it might help with your infrastructure project.

FNII Mourns Death of Development Board Member

Taran Singh — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 19:50:03 +0000

The team at the First Nations Infrastructure Institute is mourning the death of FNII Development Board Member Geordi Kakepetum. Geordi passed away Aug. 2 in Thunder Bay. He had a long and successful career as a leader – first as Chief of Keewaywin First Nation and then as the founder of Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council.

Over the span of 30 years, Geordi led the transformation of Keewaytinook Okimakanak – which means “Northern Chiefs” in Oji-Cree – into a multi-faceted corporation with more than 200 staff members and numerous regional offices. The Council provides six First Nations in northwestern Ontario with services that include health, education, economic development, finance and public works.

Geordi believed all First Nations people are entitled to education, healthcare, and appropriate living conditions such as housing, food security and clean drinking water. This was the driving force behind his work all his life – including the past five years when he served as a member of the FNII Development Board. The board was created to guide FNII’s development phase through to its formal establishment through a legislative amendment to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. That amendment took place in June.

“We appreciated Geordi’s meaningful contributions,” said Development Board Chair Allan Claxton. “He provided leadership and guidance that helped us understand the unique challenges experienced by Indigenous communities in northern and remote locations.”

FNII Development Board Members Look Back and Forward Following Institute’s Creation

Taran Singh — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 19:28:08 +0000

In 2017, First Nations leaders from across the country formed a Development Board. Their mission? To guide the creation of an organization called the First Nations Infrastructure Institute (FNII). Why? To help First Nations and other Indigenous organizations develop their infrastructure projects in a faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable manner than the status quo.

Manny Jules, Chief Commissioner of the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC), proposed creating FNII. In 2015 he described a vision for a new institution dedicated to offering support services tailored to the unique requirements of First Nations seeking a better approach to developing infrastructure.

The FNTC undertook initial research and prepared a draft concept plan and preliminary business case in 2016 and 2017. More research took place to detail the problems of the current Indigenous infrastructure system. As a result of this research and analysis, the FNTC formed the FNII Development Board. The board worked with interested First Nations to design a new institution to create a more innovative infrastructure system. This work culminated in the passage of Bill C-45 on June 20, 2023. The bill established FNII under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA), along with sister institutions the FNTC, the First Nations Financial Management Board, and the First Nations Finance Authority.

FNII Development Board members worked with a sense of urgency based on a shared understanding that high-quality public infrastructure is critical to the health and sustainability of communities, but that Indigenous infrastructure outcomes are very poor under the current approach.

On June 26, its members met in Ottawa for a blanketing ceremony to acknowledge and honour their role in this important work. At the event, Board members reflected on the work to get FNII off the ground and what they expect for the institute’s future. Here are some of their comments:

Allan Claxton, Development Board Chair, B.C. representative

“We have done the work to get to the starting line. We expect that FNII will support improved outcomes for Indigenous infrastructure projects, which means projects can be done more quickly, provide value for money, and last for their expected lifecycle.”

Celine Auclair, Quebec representative

“In my studies I learned that to be a government requires three things: (1) territory; (2) people; and (3) the ability to assert jurisdiction. The third one has been difficult to attain. Establishing FNII through the FMA will provide the room for Indigenous communities that choose to assert their jurisdiction.”

David Crate, Manitoba representative

“I decided to participate on the FNII Development Board because of things I have seen and encountered in my own community. Education and engagement will be a big piece of building capacity and assuming more control of our infrastructure.”

Dana Francis, Atlantic representative

“We know that we have to make sure that this works for those communities that want to work with FNII. A rising tide must lift all boats – that’s what I would like to see with all the communities that decide to work with FNII.”

Geordi Kakepetum*, Northern Ontario representative

“The work that is done here will help us to move away from dependency. We talk about self-determination – the work that is being done [at FNII] will help those communities that want to assume control of their infrastructure.”

*Sadly, Geordi Kakepetum died on Aug. 2. His colleagues at FNII mourn his passing and are grateful he was able to contribute to this work.

Keith Matthew, B.C. representative

“We have walked on this path a long time talking about the need to establish institutions to support our communities. We have developed some that are working well – the FNTC [First Nations Tax Commission], FNFA [First Nations Finance Authority] and FMB [First Nations Fiscal Management Board]. I am proud to establish another and to stand with all Development Board members in support of FNII.”

Joe Miskokomon, Southern Ontario representative

“This was done because of the logic – it makes sense. We from the communities fought for this. What we need to do now is address the question of capacity building. Engagement and education will be key and I look forward to the challenge.”