First Nations Infrastructure Institute

LINKS: Contact Rose by email at r.paul@paqtnkek.ca or ceo@baysidecorporate.com Bayside Development Corp. website Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation website First Nations Infrastructure website

Jason Calla is on a mission to help First Nations create successful, long-lasting infrastructure projects. Jason has been guiding the developmental First Nations Infrastructure Institute, which is seeking inclusion in federal legislation called the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. In this conversation, recorded after the First Nations Leading the Way 5 conference in Treaty 1 territory, he lays...

Céline Auclair is the founder of the First Peoples Innovation Center, a non-profit organization that assists the development of social innovation for the First People communities in Quebec. As a development board member with FNII, she brings her international experience to discussions about infrastructure development among First Nations. Céline serves as a commissioner with the First Nations Tax C...

"We are very aggressive in economic development." David Kobliski is executive director of the Nelson House Development Corporation in northern Manitoba. He is also a firm believer in the long-term value of effectively-managed infrastructure project. Band-owned business ventures employ more than 680 people and generate millions of dollars in annual revenue. The work has not gone unnoticed...

Chief Crate is currently serving as the Chief for his community Fisher River Cree Nation (Treaty 5) which is located about 200 km north of Winnipeg. Chief Crate has focused on long-term planning, strategic partnerships, environmental stewardship and economic development. His experience has shown that Indigenous groups that choose to assert their jurisdiction and move ahead with infrastructure proj...

Dana Francis has applied his contracting expertise in projects across Turtle Island. As co-founder of Red Island Contractors, Inc., and a FNII board member, he has a valuable perspective on the value of infrastructure development, and shares his ideas in this podcast conversation with host Richard Perry. Red Island Contractors, Inc.  builds on the knowledge and capacities of Mr. Dana Francis and M...

Allan Claxton has seen first-hand what infrastructure can do to improve communities. Allan served his community of Tsawout as Chief for twenty years and as councillor for ten years and is currently serving on Council. He has worked to develop infrastructure projects such as a multipurpose health and recreation facility and dealt with many challenges for roads and access to lands. In order to overc...