Hundreds of Calgary urban Indigenous citizens will soon have homes with two dozen projects in the works to provide much-needed housing support in the city.

The City of Calgary announced $33 million to support 24 projects led by 16 Indigenous nations and organizations, all awarded through the Maa’too’maa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya initiative. It’s expected that 379 non-market homes will be created.

It is the largest investment the city has made toward Indigenous-led housing to date, with funding being spread across planning, construction and land purchases.

“This is something that as a city we’re enabling,” Deputy Mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Nathan Schmidt said, speaking on behalf of Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

“But we are giving it back to our Indigenous partners, who will be able to make this program work in a way that creates results for our Indigenous community.”

Maa’too’maa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya, which means ‘Indigenous First Nation Housing’ in Blackfoot, was announced last August under the Home is Here housing strategy.  Included among the 98 recommendations is to address long-standing systemic barriers that Indigenous Calgarians face when finding housing.

The initiative’s ‘For Indigenous, By Indigenous’ framework is a first for Calgary’s housing strategy, with community leaders and Elders helping guide decisions about funding and design.

“For a long time, our people have been left out of decisions about housing for our own families and communities,” Elder Jackie Bromley said, who sits on the Housing Solutions Elders Advisory Committee.

“That is why this work matters.”

Fifteen projects will receive $2.25 million to increase the capacity of Indigenous non-profits and lay the groundwork for future housing. Organizations receiving this funding include the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council, Métis Calgary Family Services and the Elizabeth Fry Society, which had two projects funded. 

Five projects will receive $20.2 million to build 147 non-market housing units. The Aboriginal Friendship Centre and Métis Calgary Family Services both had two projects funded.

The remaining $10.6 million will go towards securing land to build an additional 232 non-market homes. These funds will go to the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council, Métis Capital Housing Corporation (Otipemisiwak Metis Government) and the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth.

City officials focused on a bigger reconciliation picture

Calgary’s Chief Housing Officer, Reid Hendry, emphasized that this funding goes beyond housing.

“These efforts are not just about meeting housing needs,” Hendry said.

“They are about restoring balance, amplifying Indigenous voices, and walking the path forward together.”

When originally announced, the City of Calgary had only pledged $30 million towards Maa’too’maa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya. After municipal budget adjustments this past November, the city was able to commit another $3 million. The hope is that there is more to come in the future.

“This should just be the beginning of what we’re doing,” Schmidt said.

“There’s a lot more that needs to be done, and we will only succeed through continuing these partnerships, through listening and turning reconciliation from words into actions.”

Hendry said five physical buildings will begin construction soon, but couldn’t go into details due to ongoing land negotiations.

The projects range significantly in scale, from developments with as few as two units to larger buildings with nearly 100 units. Housing types will vary as well, including studio apartments, multi-bedroom units for families and one single-family detached home – a rarity in affordable housing according to Hendry.

Many of the developments will also incorporate cultural gathering spaces intended to support ceremonies, learning and community connection, furthering that this is an initiative beyond housing.

“Being able to create housing opportunities for homes to develop and flourish is more than just checking off a box on a list of needs,” Chief Samuel Crowfoot of the Siksika Nation said.

“It’s about cultural survival.”