Doig River First Nation to receive infrastructure loan for urban reserve development

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A northeast B.C. First Nation received the green light for investment from financial backers on Wednesday.

First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC) announced Doig River First Nation (DRFN) as among the first approved loans from the new Indigenous Land Development Loan Program.

DRFN Chief Trevor Makadahay described the announcement on February 26th as “game-changing.”

The program is an initiative of FNBC and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). Five First Nation infrastructure projects are to receive funding totalling $140 million.

DRFN would not disclose to Energeticcity.ca the financial terms of the loan or the amount allocated specifically to the Nation, but said the funding will be used to oversee the development of Naache Commons, a DRFN development on its urban reserve within Fort St. John.

“This project is part of our nation-building story as we return back to our ancestral Fort St. John Beaver Band lands and enhance our economic potential throughout northeastern British Columbia,” said Makadahay.

Naachesneh Development Corporation, a Doig River First Nation company, will receive the funds.

Totalling 61,000 square feet of commercial space, Naache Commons will also include residential units and a Shell gas station. 

It is located across from Ma Murray Community School on 104th Avenue in Fort St. John, and broke ground in 2024.

Other projects included in the announcement include Indigenous developments in Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Yukon.

The loans release reads the day marks “a significant step” in First Nations’ infrastructure projects designed to support economic growth and sustainability.

Working together, FNBC and CIB are looking at providing funding for critical projects, including housing subdivisions and economic developments such as urban reserves.