May 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Canada's clean energy transition is accelerating. BC Hydro's 2025 call for power, federal clean energy investments in Indigenous communities in Quebec, and the Building Canada Act's explicit commitment to Indigenous equity ownership in critical minerals and clean energy have collectively created a policy environment where First Nations are expected to be project owners — not just consulted parties. The question is whether your Nation has the project development and governance capacity to...
Read more →
May 5, 2026 · 3 min read
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concern for Indigenous communities — it is a present one. Federal departments, health systems, resource companies, and technology platforms are already using AI to analyze data that includes information about First Nations communities, members, and territories. A 2026 analysis found that AI systems are replicating historical patterns of colonial data extraction — collecting Indigenous data without consent, using it to inform decisions that affect...
Read more →
May 5, 2026 · 2 min read
As of the 2025–2026 fiscal year, 191 First Nations are operating under the New Fiscal Relationship (NFR) Grant — a flexible, multi-year funding arrangement with Indigenous Services Canada that represents a fundamental shift in how federal dollars flow to communities. For Band Councils and Directors of Finance, this is not just an administrative change. It is a governance opportunity — and a governance test. The Problem: Flexible Funding Requires Stronger Internal Systems The NFR Grant gives...
Read more →
May 5, 2026 · 2 min read
In March 2026, Canada's Procurement Ombudsman found little oversight over the multi-billion-dollar Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) — the federal program that mandates set-aside contracts for Indigenous-owned businesses. The audit found that $862 million in PSIB set-aside contracts were awarded in a single fiscal year, yet the verification mechanisms for Indigenous Business Directory (IBD) listings remain weak. For legitimate Indigenous businesses and Nations with business...
Read more →
May 5, 2026 · 5 min read
progress reports on closing the infrastructure gap made one thing clear in 2026: getting capital projects approved is no longer the bottleneck. Delivering them — and being able to show your work — is.
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 3 min read
Securing project grants is a game-changer for Canadian enterprises, Indigenous Nations, and local governments. It fuels innovation, supports infrastructure, and drives community development. But winning grants is not luck. It’s strategy, preparation, and execution. We’re here to share proven project grant strategies that will boost your chances and help you secure the funding you need. Mastering Project Grant Strategies: The Foundation of Success To win grants, we must first understand the...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Since April 2016, Indigenous Services Canada has invested $18.13 billion in targeted infrastructure funding across 14,201 projects in First Nations communities. That is an extraordinary level of investment. But investment without asset management produces a predictable outcome: infrastructure that deteriorates faster than it is maintained, communities that cycle back to the same funding programs for the same problems, and federal funders who question whether continued investment is producing...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
In September 2025, the Chiefs of Ontario announced plans to launch a business directory specifically designed to help First Nations businesses access federal procurement opportunities and meet the government's 10% Indigenous procurement target for 2025-26. This announcement reflects a broader shift in how Indigenous economic participation is being operationalized in Canada. Federal departments are now required to report on the value of contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses. The...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
In January 2026, the Nak'azdli Development Corporation made headlines for its mass timber housing initiative at Fort St. James, positioning Indigenous-led construction as a viable solution to the housing crisis in rural British Columbia. This is not an isolated experiment. Across Canada, First Nations communities and development corporations are exploring mass timber and modular construction as strategic responses to the dual challenge of housing shortage and remote construction costs. For...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
In September 2025, Prime Minister Carney announced the first projects reviewed under the new Building Canada Act, with an explicit commitment to prioritize Indigenous equity ownership in critical minerals and clean energy development. In January 2026, the federal government announced over $850,000 in Indigenous economic development projects tied to critical minerals. The policy direction is clear: Indigenous Nations are expected to be owners, not just consultants, in the next generation of...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
When Prime Minister Carney launched Build Canada Homes in September 2025, the announcement included a phrase that carries significant implications for First Nations housing: the federal government is shifting to a role of funder rather than builder. For communities that have historically relied on ISC to manage housing programs, this shift places project delivery responsibility squarely on the community. The Problem: Delivery Capacity Has Not Kept Pace with Funding Ambition The Assembly of...
Read more →
May 4, 2026 · 2 min read
As of March 2026, First Nations leaders across Canada are calling on the federal government to reintroduce Bill C-61 — the First Nations Clean Water Act — after it died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued. With nearly a third of First Nations in Ontario still under drinking water advisories, and provincial governments in Alberta and Ontario actively opposing the legislation, the path to enforceable water standards is contested. For Band Councils and Directors of Infrastructure,...
Read more →
