Supporting the Visions and Goals of Indigenous Communities
Our Services
We work alongside Indigenous communities to develop planning solutions and build housing that meets the community’s unique, place-based needs.
The needs assessments and housing strategies we prepare bring together data, lived experience, and community knowledge to tell the full story of housing needs across generations. This work seeks to provide Indigenous leaders with practical, culturally grounded strategies that prioritize people, reflects their community values, and provides a clear path toward sustainable housing solutions.
Master planning and comprehensive community plans are Nation-led initiatives that are rooted in a community’s collective vision. We support Indigenous communities to identify priorities that address their housing, land use, cultural, environmental, and infrastructure needs. These plans provide direction for leadership, staff, and partners while reflecting the community’s priorities in a way that supports growth, protects culture, and strengthens selfdetermination.
Our engagement and facilitation services seek to create safe, inclusive, and respectful spaces where knowledge is shared and voices are heard across Elders, youth, families, community members, and leadership. We focus on building trust as a pre-requisite to establishing a shared understanding and collective ownership of the decisions that empower the community. Each engagement and facilitation session is designed with the specific project and community in mind.
On‑reserve and treaty development requires navigating complex systems while protecting Nation interests and jurisdiction. Our team supports Nations in advancing land development and housing projects in ways that are legally sound, culturally appropriate, and aligned with long‑term community goals.
Our team provides community economic development services to help Indigenous communities link housing initiatives to local employment, skills development, and long‑term economic opportunities.
Accessing and managing housing funding can place a heavy burden on Indigenous communities. We help our partners secure, manage and report on funding from BC Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada so they can fund and build affordable housing projects.
Our team provides project management services to support Indigenous communities as they develop affordable housing. We will work on your behalf, coordinating timelines, budgets, consultants, and approvals while keeping leadership informed and in control of the development process.
Chawathil Affordable Housing Project, Chawathil First Nation
MDS is supporting the Chawathil First Nation to develop a 31-unit, multi-residential housing development on Schkam IR #2 Reserve Lands, the first new housing on the Nation's Territory in the past 20 years.
603 Main Street, Penticton
The Downtown Housing Project is a mixed-use development designed to bring together affordable housing and community-driven economic activity in downtown Golden.
Ho’-kee-melh Kloshe Lum, Vancouver
This project with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre created shelter spaces, supportive housing, and affordable rentals for people living in the East Hastings area.
3205 Spa-ath Road, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
MDS is working with Hwul’a’mut Housing Society to develop a 50-unit affordable housing project on Tsleil-Waututh Nation IR#3 Reserve Lands, with a focus on family-sized rentals.