Indigenous Capital Projects and Infrastructure Advisory Services
Advancing Indigenous communities’ interests through sustainable infrastructure projects
Many communities face significant challenges in addressing gaps in their capital infrastructure. Aging facilities and evolving needs create an urgent demand for critical projects that enhance social, physical, cultural, and economic well-being. Yet, the path from planning to completion is complex, requiring resources, insights, and time that are often already in short supply.
We provide end-to-end capital project and infrastructure planning services, guiding projects from concept to close-out and operations. Backed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in governance, policy, architecture, engineering, facility planning, and financial and economic analysis, we offer a turnkey approach that protects our clients’ interests and builds internal capacity through education and training.
Challenges we help you solve
Capacity constraints
Balancing the demands of daily operations while managing large-scale projects can stretch your team and resources to their limits.
Overcoming funding barriers
Securing funding in remote locations with restricted access to traditional financial resources is a recurring challenge.
Navigating governance complexities
Working within your community’s unique governance structures can make decision-making and project execution challenging.
Inconsistent contractor performance
Some contractors fail to fully understand or prioritize Indigenous communities' unique needs, leading to misaligned values, poor communication, and inconsistent work quality.
What we can do together
Capital project pathways
Lay the groundwork for success with comprehensive planning, feasibility studies, needs assessments, and funding proposals that align with your long-term goals.
Owner’s representative services
Let us be your advocate, ensuring every technical decision and contractor action reflects your community’s vision and values.
Project management support
Need extra hands or experienced advice? Our flexible and tailored support includes everything from funder meetings to strategic guidance on an ad-hoc basis.
Procurement
Our team can assist in finding and facilitating engagement of qualified technical professionals and service providers.
Testimonials
Housing complex
Client: First Nation near North Saanich, Vancouver Island
Task: Develop a 12-unit residential complex in six months
Solution: Owner’s representative — providing project leadership
Result: Completed with schedule variance (six weeks) and 1.5 percent cost increase.
Budget: $5.6 million
Indigenous secondary school
Client: Gitxsan West Communities (Gitanyow, Gitsegukla & Gitwangak)
Task: Develop an innovative school for students in grades eight to 12 that provides a combination of B.C. curriculum and traditional learning.
Solution: MNP acted as the project manager to support Gitxsan West Steering Committee with design and non-design elements of the project.
Result:
- Engagement and feasibility phase – 2018 to 2020
- Design phase – 2021 to 2022
- Construction phase – July 2022
- Scheduled opening – September 2023
Budget: $35 million
Off-reserve healthcare facility
Client: Sts’ailes Community Care Centre
Task: Development of a primary care facility, combining contemporary and cultural medical approaches, including a traditional healing centre of excellence, pharmacy business, and laboratory.
Solution: MNP worked alongside the client to provide project management, operational planning, governance, development consulting, and business planning support.
Result:
- Development permit issued Jan 2023.
- Construction commenced May 2023.
Budget: $14 million
Community master plan
Client: Sts’ailes Site Master Plan
Task: Develop the whole reserve to support $150 million of capital assets.
Solution: Project director as owner’s representative, overseeing:
- Urban planner
- Architect
- Sustainability consultant
- Civil engineer
Result: Currently underway
Budget: $1.8 million
Frequently Asked Questions
Many Indigenous communities are advancing capital projects across a range of sectors to meet the needs of their members and support long-term growth. Common areas of investment include:
- Health infrastructure, such as clinics, health centres, and healing lodges
- Child and family services facilities to provide culturally grounded care
- Housing, including new builds, retrofits, and long-term housing strategies
- Municipal infrastructure, including storm water/sewer/water conveyance and treatment, transportation, and power
- Economic development, such as office buildings, commercial hubs, and tourism infrastructure
Advisors like MNP can help scope and plan these projects, secure funding, and manage implementation — all while aligning with community goals and capacity.
Indigenous communities can access capital funding from a variety of sources, including Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA), and provincial or private-sector programs. However, navigating these programs and meeting eligibility requirements can be complex.
Advisory firms like MNP support communities in identifying the right programs, preparing strong funding applications, developing business cases, and building internal capacity through governance support, training, and project management services.
The FNIIP is a key planning document submitted to ISC every two years. It outlines a nation’s proposed infrastructure projects over a five-year period and is required to access many types of federal infrastructure funding. Without a current FNIIP, communities may face delays in receiving funding or moving forward with essential projects.
Support is available to help nations prepare and submit their FNIIP on time. For example, MNP works with communities to prioritize projects, gather the required information, and align infrastructure planning with broader community goals, ensuring submissions are strategic, fundable, and ready for implementation.
MNP’s owner’s representative services (project management, construction management, and general advisory) provide support to nations with our team acting as the client’s trusted partner and independent, qualified representative to advance capital and infrastructure projects. Our team of architects, engineers, lawyers, and professional project managers not only procure and manage the technical resources and construction contractors required to deliver projects but also work alongside nations to build capacity.
By sharing knowledge, offering mentorship, and fostering collaborative decision-making, we help strengthen local governance and project oversight capabilities. Our advice is objective, grounded in critical logic and the expertise of the project’s technical resources, and always delivered with the goal of empowering nations to lead future initiatives with increased confidence and autonomy.
Who you’ll collaborate with
Jesse Unke P.Eng., PE, PMP, RMP, ENV SP
Partner - Lead, Capital Projects and Infrastructure Consulting
Jesse is a member of MNP’s Consulting Services team in Vancouver, and the firm’s Capital Projects and Infrastructure Consulting Lead. He is an engineering and construction executive who brings strong relationship-building, operational, strategic planning, finance, and analytical skills to his role. He is passionate about helping his clients successfully execute their business goals while developing and empowering high-performing teams and leaders.
Jesse provides infrastructure, utility, and transportation project delivery and advisory services to technical and non-technical clients alike, helping with the delivery of the design and construction of their infrastructure, utility, and transportation programs and projects. He serves a wide range of clients, including regional authorities, municipalities, utility owners, construction companies, engineering consultants, and First Nations.
Jesse’s services include project delivery, project management, construction management; engineering design management, and advisory.
Jesse earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in civil engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2006. He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) (B.C. 2011), Professional Engineer (PE) (U.S. 2011), Project Management Professional (PMP 2012), Risk Management Professional (RMP 2016), Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP 2020), Master Municipal Construction Document Association (MMCD) Certified Contract Administrator (MMCD CCA 2010), Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP 2022), and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP 2009) through the Canada Green Building Council.
Jesse is past three-term president and board chair of the British Columbia Construction Roundtable, a conference speaker, and has held executive committee and board positions with the ACEC-BC – Consulting Engineering Companies in BC, Project Management Institute, Vancouver General Hospital, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and the MMCD. He was a recipient of the 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction in 2020, named one of Engineers Canada 30 by 30 EDI Champions for leaders in engineering workplaces in 2022, and named one of Canadian Construction's Most Influential People in 2024.
Contact our Indigenous Services team
You have a vision for your future. We’re here to help you get there. Take the first step and connect with us to learn more.
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