Overview of Indigenous community infrastructure investments

Choose a topic

• Background
• Water and wastewater
• Housing
• School facilities
• Health
• Energy systems
• Connectivity
• Fire protection
• Roads and bridges
• Structural mitigation
• Culture and recreation
• Band administrative buildings
• Other community initiatives
• Solid waste management
• Transfer of service delivery
• Urban infrastructure
• Find infrastructure projects: Indigenous Community Infrastructure Map

Background

There is a significant infrastructure gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. Infrastructure investments foster the growth of safe, healthy, and prosperous Indigenous communities and support Indigenous economic participation.

Since April 2016 and as of June 30, 2025, $16.77 billion of ISC targeted infrastructure funding has been invested toward 13,280 projects that support Indigenous community infrastructure.

Water and wastewater

Working in partnership with First Nations communities to improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure and expand access to clean drinking water is a priority for Indigenous Services Canada.

Housing

To address on-reserve housing needs, Indigenous Services Canada supports housing projects in First Nations communities including new builds, retrofits and renovations.

School facilities

Investments in school facilities in First Nations communities create quality, safe and healthy learning environments that provide positive educational outcomes for students living on reserves.

Health

Safe health facilities are essential to providing effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate health programs and services.

Energy systems

Indigenous Services Canada is working in partnership with First Nations to transition communities from fossil fuel to clean, reliable and affordable energy systems. Investments include alternative energy projects such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind.

The department also supports communities to improve and optimize existing energy systems through upgrades and energy efficiency projects.

Connectivity

The Government of Canada is supporting First Nations communities to bridge the digital divide by working with partners to provide access to high-speed internet that meets or exceeds the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)'s universal service objective.

Fire protection

Fire protection is an essential service that can mean the difference between life and death. The Government of Canada is working with First Nations and provincial, territorial and municipal partners to address fire protection on reserves.

Roads and bridges

Indigenous Services Canada is working in partnership with First Nations and other stakeholders to build, repair, upgrade and maintain roads and bridges. These projects create lasting and positive outcomes that reach beyond the roads and allow communities to benefit from further infrastructure projects.

Structural mitigation

Indigenous Services Canada is working with First Nations to increase the resilience of communities at high risk of impacts associated with climate-related hazards.

Structural mitigation projects include, among others:

• drainage work
• erosion protection
• landslide mitigation

Culture and recreation

In First Nations communities, culture and recreation infrastructure can provide an important focal point for community activities.

Cultural and recreational facilities include:

• cultural centres
• pow-wow grounds
• youth and senior centres
• playgrounds
• sports fields and arenas

Band administrative buildings

Band administrative buildings are often flagship infrastructure where governance, administration and service delivery activities are conducted. Indigenous Services Canada is supporting First Nations in addressing long-standing needs related to band administrative buildings on reserves, including band offices, band council and administrative buildings.

Other community initiatives

Indigenous Services Canada is investing in First Nations community initiatives to support community development and growth. This support includes investments in comprehensive community planning and skills development projects that will enable long-term, sustainable First Nations community development.

Other community initiatives include projects such as:

• community, land use and infrastructure planning
• capacity building
• ventilation condition reporting and upgrades

Solid waste management and land use planning

Investments in solid waste management systems on reserves are critical to protect both the environment and human health and safety, while also improving the readiness of First Nations communities to access economic opportunities.

Projects that support improved solid waste management on reserves include:

• constructing or upgrading waste infrastructure
• waste management planning and programming
• disposing of solid waste
• improving waste management capacity
• decommissioning existing solid waste sites

Investments in land use planning supports First Nations and Indigenous partners to design, develop and implement community-led land use plans that guide decisions on the best use of lands and resources for infrastructure, economic development and community well-being.

Transfer of service delivery

The transfer of service delivery promotes self-determination by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations to independently deliver services by building capacity and readiness.

Urban infrastructure

Indigenous Services Canada investments in urban Indigenous infrastructure are allocated to and managed by urban and rural Indigenous service delivery organizations. Funding is used to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in or transitioning to urban centres by helping to ensure safe and accessible facilities.

The following organizations manage urban infrastructure projects supported by Indigenous Services Canada investments:

• National Association of Friendship Centres
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
• Métis National Council
• Manitoba Métis Federation
• Inuit organizations
• other not-for-profit urban and rural Indigenous service organizations

Investments in urban infrastructure aim to ensure safe and accessible spaces for program and service delivery by supporting capital projects that focus on essential health and safety, accessibility and energy efficiency.