Selected Innovators
? Completed projects
Completed projects
Pikangikum First Nation
Ontario | Completed October 20, 2021
Pikangikum First Nation built an eight residential unit ‘Community Safe Village’ that provides safe, transitional, emergency housing with professional and culturally sensitive support for community members escaping violence. The facility also includes six hotel units that are accessible from a separate entrance for those visiting the community and will generate revenue to support the operation and maintenance of the Community Safe Village.
Learn moreCentral Urban Métis Federation Inc.
Saskatchewan | Completed December 3, 2021
Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) built the Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge, a 3-storey complex with 26 one-bedroom units. The facility offers wrap-around health and cultural supports enabling Métis seniors to live independently in an environment that provides services to address age-related challenges.
Learn moreMuskowekwan First Nation
Saskatchewan | Completed February 28, 2023
Muskowekwan First Nation has built a Family Healing and Wellness Centre that allows First Nations families to stay together, promoting a culturally responsive approach to healing intergenerational trauma. The Centre has three family log homes with two to four bedrooms, as well as a fourth home for healing program delivery. The First Nation is operating the centre with support from Elders, multidisciplinary counsellors and professional staff. The Centre provides a welcoming, home-like environment where families in crisis referred to the Centre can get the support they need to help heal together.
Learn moreNorth Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
Ontario | Completed July 7, 2023
North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (North Bay, Ontario) has built a 3-floor, 30 single-unit transitional housing facility called Suswin Village. It provides safe, accessible and dignified housing for Indigenous community members who are ready to leave the emergency shelter system. Suswin, which means 'nest' in Ojibway, provides stable housing and individualized wrap-around support services that are necessary to find permanent housing, employment and overall long-term success and stability in the community. The lower level is being used for programming, counselling, life skills teaching, gathering, administration and intake.
Learn more⚙️ Project Implementation Period
Project Implementation Period
Projects that complete the Accelerator requirements and receive Steering Committee’s approval, will move to Project Implementation period.
✅ The Steering Committee has now approved the following projects to move to implementation:
British-Columbia
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Lu'ma Native Housing Society
Lu'ma Native Housing Society (Vancouver, British Columbia) will receive support to develop an affordable Indigenous-led and owned mixed-use housing complex for the Indigenous community in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The complex includes a healing centre, food centre, health and wellbeing centre, supported adult housing units, and affordable rental units for low-income families. The complex will incorporate cultural elements such as the longhouse form with a Coast Salish Blanket pattern by local Indigenous artists. Focus area: Creating welcoming urban spaces for First Nation, Métis Nation and Inuit individuals
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Nuxalk Nation
Nuxalk Nation (Bella Coola, British Columbia) will receive support to implement Phase 1 of an Elders’ Village, a family-centered housing community that supports intergenerational living, flexible community spaces and traditional art, culture and natural landscape in the design. Phase 1 will include 10 Elder units and 10 units for caregivers in five separate complexes with a common gathering space. The idea moves away from western nuclear housing and brings forward the community practices used by Nuxalkmc ancestral ways of living. Focus area: Traditional First Nation, Métis Nation and Inuit building styles, designs and techniques
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Centre for Indigenous Sustainability
Centre for Indigenous Sustainability (ʔaq̓am Nation, British Columbia) will receive support to build housing for an aging population, so they do not have to leave the community as they age. The project will be a 20-unit community supportive housing complex with a central gathering space. This innovative idea also aims to build capacity and empower community members through the development of the training program with academic and technical partners. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
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Witset First Nation
Witset First Nation (Moricetown, British Columbia) will receive funding to build a six-bed restorative healing lodge and residence for Indigenous youth aged 12 to 29. The lodge will incorporate an Indigenous approach to supporting Indigenous youth such as talking circles, Elder supports, and cultural outdoor activities. Focus area: Support for vulnerable populations
Alberta
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Changing Horses NPF Society
Changing Horses NPF Society (Blood Tribe, Kainai, Treaty 7 Territory, Southern Alberta) will receive support to build four residential duplexes and a central hub building with office space for service providers and meeting space for harm reduction services and supports. The project will adopt a Housing First Approach using Blackfoot cultural teachings to build and strengthen the community and support healing. Focus area: Support for vulnerable populations
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Fishing Lake Métis Settlement – Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise
Fishing Lake Métis Settlement will receive support to build a net-zero triplex that includes two four-bedroom units that bookend a two-bedroom Elders Suite. This project is part of Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise’s Bringing It Home Initiative, which focuses on transforming housing in Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, Red Rock Indian Band, and Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek to be healthy, energy efficient, culturally appropriate, and durable. The idea focuses on three key outcomes: high-efficiency building standards and training for construction, trades, and home occupants. Focus area: Energy independence and efficiency.
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Whitefish Lake First Nation
Whitefish Lake First Nation (Standoff, Alberta) will receive funding to build three, three-bedroom rent-to-own homes. Revenue earned will be used to establish a band-owned housing development trust fund that will enable the Nation to finance the design and construction of homes on its territory. This idea will support community vision for self-reliance and economic sustainability and help retain younger generations in the community by providing them with housing options. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
Manitoba
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Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Opaskwayak Cree Nation (Treaty 5 Territory, Manitoba) will receive support to develop the design of a 'universal utility core' and a facility to produce it for local homes. The innovative idea of a 'universal utility core' would house all heating, ventilation, plumbing and electrical components of homes. Focus area: Energy independence and efficiency
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Manitoba Metis Federation - Mazoun
Manitoba Metis Federation (Winnipeg, Manitoba) will receive support to develop a culturally safe urban transition facility to serve Métis youth aging out of Child and Family Services support. The project includes two adjacent complexes, each offering six private rooms and an emergency shelter room, shared laundry facilities, a communal kitchen, dining hall and living space. Wrap-around support services will be made available to help youth heal from trauma, reconnect with their culture and transition to life on their own. Focus area: Support for vulnerable populations
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Manitoba Metis Federation - Michif Manor
Manitoba Metis Federation (Winnipeg, Manitoba) will receive support to build a housing complex to temporarily accommodate Métis citizens travelling to Winnipeg to access healthcare. The complex will have the capacity to house several families simultaneously in private living quarters complemented by shared kitchen and living spaces. The facility will be built above retail space and conveniently located in close proximity to several health facilities. Focus area: Support for vulnerable populations
Ontario
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Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society (Toronto, Ontario) is building a six-storey complex with 24 affordable housing units for Indigenous women transitioning from a corrections facility to the community. In addition, the Thunder Woman Healing Lodge will offer counselling, support and supports to help residents access long-term housing options.
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Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek – Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise
Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek will receive support to build six high performance family homes at Partridge Lake. This project is part of Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise’s Bringing It Home Initiative, which focuses on transforming housing in Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, Red Rock Indian Band, and Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek to be healthy, energy efficient, culturally appropriate, and durable. The idea focuses on three key outcomes: high-efficiency building standards and training for construction, trades, and home occupants. Focus area: Energy independence and efficiency.
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Red Rock Indian Band – Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise
Red Rock Indian Band will receive support to build an energy efficient, safe, and durable home, based on the designs and schematics that were developed for Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek. This project is part of Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise’s Bringing It Home Initiative, which focuses on transforming housing in Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, Red Rock Indian Band, and Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek to be healthy, energy efficient, culturally appropriate, and durable. The idea focuses on three key outcomes: high-efficiency building standards and training for construction, trades, and home occupants. Focus area: Energy independence and efficiency.
Quebec
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Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach
Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach (Quebec) will receive support to build a mixed-use complex that combines six two-bedroom residential units for young people and single parents above six retail spaces on the ground level reserved for local businesses. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
Atlantic
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Abegweit First Nation - Scotchfort Reserve, Stewart
Abegweit First Nation - Scotchfort Reserve, Stewart (Prince Edward Island) will receive support for the design and development of a multi-unit, passive solar housing complex to accommodate young, single adults and three or four families. The build aims to support energy independence and incorporate energy efficiencies to minimize energy costs. The idea aims to get the complex certified to meet Canadian passive house standards. Focus area: Energy independence and efficiency
⏩ Accelerator Period
Accelerator Period
During the Accelerator period, 26 Indigenous innovators were provided with an opportunity to spend up to 30 months working with experts on refining their ideas. Innovators that successfully completed the Accelerator period and developed their ideas into fully implementable proposals moved to the implementation phase. The Accelerator Phase officially ended August 31, 2022.
Yukon
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Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation
Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation (Carcross, Yukon) will work with 14 First Nation communities to develop an innovative Prefabricated Building Manufacturing Plant. The plant will address housing needs by supporting training, innovation, manufacturing and production. The project will be developed in close collaboration with Yukon College to maximize apprenticeship learning opportunities in housing and research and development for northern housing. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing.
Northwest Territories
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K’asho Gotine Housing Society
K’asho Gotine Housing Society (Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories) will design and develop a home repair and maintenance education program and an innovative model to procure housing materials. This innovative idea will provide hands-on experience for local skilled tradespeople and address barriers to accessing housing materials. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
Nunavut
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Chelsea Singoorie
Chelsea Singoorie will receive support to develop a construction apprentice program for young adults to support the Qaggiq Project in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, an idea to build tiny homes around a communal gathering space to address overcrowding and homelessness. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
Alberta
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Samson Cree Nation
Samson Cree Nation (Maskwacis, Alberta) will receive support to develop a prototype of a multi-generational home which includes independent living space for elders and communal space to support ceremonial and spiritual practices. The design seeks to maximize energy efficiency by incorporating solar energy and extend the life of the home by selecting durable materials, such as hempcrete walls. Focus area: Traditional First Nation, Métis Nation and Inuit building styles, designs and techniques
Saskatchewan
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Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (Saskatchewan) will receive support to design and develop a multi-unit student housing complex in Saskatoon or Regina to provide a home away from home and safe and culturally-relevant living spaces for Indigenous students studying at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and offer wrap-around cultural supports. The design will include innovative, sustainable and energy-efficient materials. Focus area: Creating welcoming urban spaces for First Nation, Métis Nation and Inuit individuals
Ontario
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Wahkohtowin Development General Partnership Incorporated
Wahkohtowin Development General Partnership Incorporated (Chapleau, Ontario) will receive support to develop the idea of a "tree to home" supply chain that uses local resources and labour to meet local demand and address housing needs with adaptive, energy efficient, and custom-designed homes. The project will develop custom-designed homes through partnership with Boreal Products and Hornepayne Lumber. Homes will be constructed using Boreal Products’ thermo-log technology. Focus area: Using the home for empowerment, capacity and support for local business in Indigenous housing
Quebec
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Waseskun Healing Community
Waseskun Healing Community (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Quebec) will receive support to build a new eight-room housing complex to accommodate elderly Indigenous men in private rooms with common living/kitchen and washroom facilities to support those transferring from correctional custody. The residents will have access to wrap-around services to support their transition to community life. Focus area: Support for vulnerable populations
Initiative details
Who can apply?
- Individuals of First Nation, Inuit or Métis Nation heritage
- Representatives of First Nation, Inuit or Métis Nation government
- Indigenous representatives of a First Nation-, Inuit- or Métis Nation- owned and operated private or not-for-profit entity
Key Dates
- Launch: April 11, 2019
- First-stage screening: Fall 2019
- 26 applicants selected for Accelerator: December 2019
- Accelerator begins: January 2020
- Second-stage screening: Beginning spring 2020
- Project Implementation Period: 2020-2024
Funding
- Accelerator Period: Up to 26 applicants will receive up to $350,000 worth of funding and support services
- Project Implementation Period: 15 to 26 projects that successfully complete the Accelerator Period will move to second-stage screening and could receive up to $2 million per project.