Introduction to Developing Indigenous Infrastructure

Indigenous infrastructure in Canada was either dismantled, or its construction prevented, by assimilation policies. This has left Indigenous communities with less services than non-Indigenous communities, referred to as service gaps. Infrastructure services that Indigenous Peoples do currently have access to have been built on non-Indigenous values and culture that promote assimilation by the exclusion of Indigenous Immemorial rights and jurisdiction.

Infrastructures, and their services, are the foundation of every society, without them modern societies cannot not function. The priority, content and strength of any infrastructure is dictated by the culture of those who build it. Indigenous Peoples in Canada have both a sovereign and an international right to self-determination. In that, they have a right to build societal infrastructure with institutions and services based on priorities, content and strength derived from their sovereignty, Immemorial rights and culture.

This section of the website talks about service gaps, traditional roles and a basic protocol on where to start using consultation to define and create infrastructure based on Indigenous culture. We also talk about health, resource and veterinary (including country food infrastructure) infrastructures that we have had opportunity to be involved with. Use the navigation bar to select pages and page anchors.