Meet Dr. Christine Bird, CEO of Tsawout First Nation, along with COO Micah Claxton, as they share stories about infrastructure challenges and opportunities in their BC community.

Both were attending the Leading the Way 7 conference in Edmonton in November 2024.

With several projects on the go or under development, Tsawout is considered as a very progressive community as it seeks to expand without many of the limitations of current federal legislation, including the Indian Act.

LINKS:
Tsawout First Nation website
FNII website
Dr. Christine Bird on Linkedin
Micah Claxton on Linkedin

How can I explore working with the First Nations Infrastructure Institute? Do we need a Band Council Resolution? Are there size or financial limits to projects? Where can I find more information on new Board openings at FNII?

Those and other topics were covered in this conversation between Jason Calla, FNII Technical Lead and podcast host Richard Perry.

It was recorded shortly after the very successful Leading the Way 7 conference in Edmonton in late November 2024.

LINKS:
Jason Calla e-mail: [email protected]
Website e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: Toll-free: +1 855-682-3682
First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation

Leadership openings:
FNII - Chairperson: https://lnkd.in/g4ZiuSZJ
FNII - Directors: https://lnkd.in/gEc_fHzU

Additional information on the opportunities and how to apply can be accessed on the Government of Canada Governor in Council Appointments website: https://lnkd.in/g54EKsV

Kathleen Stone and her colleagues at FNFMB work hard to make sure communities have their finances in order before they tackle major projects, including new infrastructure.

As a CPA, she manages capacity development at FNFMB. And regardless of the project scope, she says mapping of existing community assets is critical to laying a proper foundation.

Host Richard Perry caught up with her at the Leading the Way 7 conference held in Nov. 2024 in Treaty Six territory (Edmonton).

LINKS:
First Nations Financial Management Board
First Nations Infrastructure Institute

This is an informative panel discussion recorded at the Leading the Way 7 conference in November 2024.

Moderator Jason Calla was joined by Evan Roberts, Councillor, Roseau River First Nation; Kathleen Stone, Manager, Capacity Development FNFMB; Jesse James, Regional Outreach Manager, FNFA; and Ian Bear, Member Services Manager, FNFA.

LINKS:
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation
First Nations Infrastructure Institute
First Nations Financial Management Board
First Nations Finance Authority

Chief Derek Epp speaks passionately about what new infrastructure has done for his community of Tzeachten First Nation in British Columbia. He was a featured speaker at the Leading the Way 7 conference in Treaty Six Territory (Edmonton) in November 2024.

Ch’íyáqtel (Tzeachten) has established strategic economic development goals to expand its sources of revenues and reduce financial dependence on government funding for its members’ social, cultural, and economic well-being.

In this podcast conversation with host Richard Perry, he shares examples of what has been accomplished and what might be on the horizon.

LINKS:
Tzeachten First Nation
First Nations Infrastructure Institute

Listen to an insightful panel discussion recorded on day one of the Leading the Way 7 conference in Treaty Six territory (Edmonton), Alberta.

Host Jason Calla, FNII Technical Advisory, moderates a panel with Alanea Holmstrom, Tax Administrator at Osoyoos Indian Band in BC, and Evan Roberts, Councillor at Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in Saskatchewan. (Brian Jones, GM at Sumas First Nation was unable to attend.)

Jason, Alanea and Evan share powerful stories of planning and building critical infrastructure such as roads, storm water management and utilities...projects that support community and economic development.

The session, called "Building Futures: Infrastructure Strategies and Support for Community Development" highlighted FNII's collaborative efforts with First Nations through strategic planning, innovative tools, and best practices.

LINKS:
First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Osoyoos Indian Band
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation

Membertou First Nation in Una'ma'ki (Cape Breton, NS) is a rapidly growing, progressive urban reserve. Its infrasture growth has been phenomenal during the past two decades. Once deep in poverty and bankrupt, the transformation of Membertou has led to huge corporate successes, including the massive billion dollar buyout of half of Clearwater Seafoods.

In this episode, host Richard Perry speaks with Melissa MacDonald, Manager of Taxation and Lands, to learn more about the community's success. Recorded at the Leading the Way 7 conference in Treaty Six territory, Edmonton, Alberta.

Links:

First Nations Infrastructure Institute
Membertou First Nation
Melissa MacDonald Linkedin profile

Melissa MacDonald and Alanea Holmstrom are two dynamic young women who are quickly becoming catalysts for change in their communities.

MacDonald, of Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia, is currently Lands Director and Tax Administrator for the Band. She began her Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics education in 2022 and completed her certificate this year.

Holmstrom is currently Tax Administrator at Osoyoos Indian Band in southern B.C. She started with Tulo in 2018 in the Tax Certificate program, took Applied Land Management in 2019 and the First Nations Applied Economics program in 2024.

Both women took part in a once-in-a-lifetime exchange program with fellow Tulo Centre students and Maori communities in New Zealand. (Read news release.)

They both credit the trip and other program elements as a launching pad for their own career growth, and for supporting economic development and infrastructure growth in their home communities.

FNII podcast host Richard Perry caught up with them earlier this summer.

Links:

Membertou First Nation
Melissa MacDonald email: [email protected]

Osoyoos Indian Band
Alanea Holmstrom email: [email protected]

Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics

First Nations Infrastructure Institute

This episode produced by Perry Podcast Productions.

FNII Technical Lead Jason Calla leads a panel discussion at the recent Leading the
Way 6 conference held in November 2023 in unceded Algonquin territory in Gatineau, QC.

Jason speaks with Chief Kimberley Bressette (Kettle and Stony Point, ON), Paula Pictou, Lands Manager at Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation, NS, as well as Darcy Gray of Mi'gma'gi Management and Consulting and James MacKinnon of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority.

They discuss practical aspects of infrastructure planning in communities, the need for open communication, collaboration and meeting the tests for a business case for projects to go forward.

Please contact FNII to arrange for a community visit. And be sure to check out the website at https://fnii.ca for many free resources.

LINKS:
Kettle and Stony Point website
Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation website
Atlantic First Nations Water Authority website
Mi'gma'gi Management and Consulting website
First Nations Infrastructure Institute website

Jason Calla and his technical team at FNII are expecting to be very busy in the days and months ahead.

Beginning with two 'proof of concept' projects, FNII has recently become a newly-legislation addition to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, which will open opportunities to support new projects. On top of that, the process is underway to appoint a new Advisory Board and engage potential consulting partners.

Host Richard Perry caught up with Jason between sessions at the Leading the Way 6 conference in the unceded Algonquin territory of Gatineau, QC.

FNII is an optional service, "an extra tool in the toolbox" Jason likes to say. He also has an important message for Indigenous youth who are considering exploring trades and professions within the infrastructure space.

Links:
Jason Calla by email: [email protected]
FNII website: https://fnii.ca
FNII on LinkedIn
FNII on Facebook