Supporting First Nation, Inuit and Métis housing needs
The launch of the Housing Design Catalogue has drawn a lot of attention across Canada. It sparked questions about its purpose, how to access it and its potential impact. One key question is how a standardized design catalogue can support the unique housing needs of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities.
Design is just one part of solving housing challenges in Indigenous communities but plays an important role in community-led plans that focus on cultural values, new ideas and building local skills. The designs in the Catalogue can help make building in First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities easier by simplifying the process, meeting building code requirements and helping to estimate costs.
At the same time, it’s essential to recognize that housing development in First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities is diverse and often complex. A one-size-fits-all approach is neither feasible nor appropriate. This is why the Catalogue’s designs aren’t prescriptive but are intended to serve as a flexible starting point. Communities and housing providers are encouraged to determine how the designs are used and adapted to fit their needs.
What we heard
CMHC made engagement a priority from the beginning of the Catalogue’s development. We wanted to better understand how standardized designs could help or create challenges for First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. In Spring 2024, CMHC reached out to:
- National Indigenous Organizations
- Modern Treaty Holders
- Self-Governing Nations
- National Indigenous Women’s Organizations
During that time, CMHC also partnered with David T. Fortin Architect, an Indigenous-led architectural firm, to further explore the use of standardized and culturally appropriate housing designs across various communities.
After the report was finished, CMHC was invited to meet with Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA) in January 2025. These conversations helped CMHC better understand how to support community-led housing projects that balance standard designs with cultural relevance and technical guidance.
Through these conversations, CMHC clearly heard that government-led standardized housing needs to be approached carefully. In the past, these efforts often:
- didn’t reflect local cultures
- missed the needs of communities
- took decision-making power away from them
Instead of helping, they caused harm and had long-term negative effects.
CMHC also learned that meaningful housing design in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities takes more than just technical knowledge. It requires respectful, community-led engagement. Good housing solutions need to be driven by the community, flexible in design and able to adapt to local needs. This approach:
- respects treaty rights, cultural values and spiritual traditions
- builds local skills
- supports economic growth
In this context, many Indigenous partners saw potential in the Housing Design Catalogue—not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a helpful, optional tool. With customizable layouts and technical support, the Catalogue can help reduce barriers early in the planning process. When it supports, rather than replaces community-led housing plans, it can be a valuable resource.
Supporting, not replacing: the Catalogue’s role
The Housing Design Catalogue is one of many tools that can help advance First Nation, Inuit and Métis housing by complementing existing community-led design initiatives thanks to its adaptability. It provides a flexible resource that communities can modify to reflect cultural, geographic and practical realities. The Catalogue can support First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities and builders alike by:
- reducing design timelines
- supporting cost estimation
- offering access to quality housing templates that can be modified
The Catalogue is not a solution. It fits within a broader landscape of community-led housing strategies, grounded in Indigenous self-determination. In this context, planning is not just technical — it is relational, cultural and rooted in governance.
CMHC launched Housing Design Catalogue on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Read Part 2 to learn more about real-world examples of how First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities are leading innovative housing design initiatives and how the Catalogue complements them.