MOOSE CREE FIRST NATION
Nation-Led Community Infrastructure Planning (Administration & Recreational Building) Project Management Advisory & Support, 2023
WHO THEY ARE?
Moose Cree First Nation is Omushkego Cree territory at the mouth of the
Moose River on James Bay, with community life centred on Moose
Factory Island across from Moosonee in Northern Ontario. The Nation is
part of the Mushkegowuk Council and a signatory to the historic Treaty 9
(James Bay Treaty).
With over 5,000 registered members, Moose Cree coordinates services
for citizens living on Moose Factory Island and across the region—
reflecting a broad administrative footprint and responsibility. Northern
access realities shape daily life and service delivery: Moosonee is not
connected to the provincial highway system; people and goods arrive by
Ontario Northland’s Polar Bear Express and cross to Moose Factory by
water taxi in summer and an ice road in winter.
In this context, Moose Cree continues to strengthen a central, Nation-led
place that brings governance, year-round recreation, cultural
programming, and community gathering, together under one roof—
supporting youth, families, and Elders while enabling integrated, modern
service delivery on Moose Cree terms.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
Moose Cree committed to unifying the Band administration and
community recreation within a single facility—replacing scattered
administrative offices and stop-gap program spaces with a central,
culturally grounded hub that could operate year-round for youth,
families, and Elders. The need was practical: resolve chronic space
constraints, reduce fragmentation across services, and modernize
delivery of community services.
To translate that direction into a buildable, fundable plan, leadership
needed a clear front-end roadmap: convert community priorities into an
integrated building for administration and recreation; set governance
and engagement pathways across departments; align timing with
technical partners and funders; plan around northern access realities;
and stage a sequenced path from planning to procurement,
construction, and hand-over. Just as importantly, they needed a
planning framework—concise documentation and practical tools that
would let staff carry the work forward through design, build, and transfer
to operations.
WHAT WE DID
Led front-end planning for a single multi-use facility combining governance, recreation, and cultural space on Moose Factory Island.
Identified and analyzed stakeholders to ensure meaningful and inclusive consultation.
Grounded project direction in Moose Cree realities, services spread across multiple sites, northern climate constraints, and shifting river access.
Worked directly with senior management to align administration and community life within one shared facility vision.
Defined a clear purpose, scope boundaries, and practical building parameters based on these local conditions.
Formalized the governance pathway, outlining how decisions move from the working group to Chief & Council.
Clarified roles, responsibilities, and cross-department interfaces so all planning advanced as one coordinated effort.
Clarified roles, responsibilities, and cross-department interfaces so all planning advanced as one coordinated effort.
Documented the entire approach in a concise, governance-aligned planning framework.
Built a single sequenced roadmap, from early planning and engagement to design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover, aligned with northern seasonal windows.
Documented the entire approach in a concise, governance-aligned planning framework.
RESULTS WE GOT
Replaced dispersed planning with one Nation-led framework, giving the combined administration and recreation facility a clear direction and unified approach.
Improved cross-department coordination, with teams now understanding how their contributions fit together.
Provided a full roadmap from planning through to design and implementation, enabling progress step by step, on Moose Cree timelines and terms.
Ensured intentional community participation, bringing youth, families, and Elders into the planning process.
Created a culturally grounded, governance-aligned structure for advancing capital work with discipline and continuity.
Strengthened decision-making, with defined roles and schedules for the working group and Chief & Council.
Prepared leadership to move into design, engage partners and funders, integrate site studies, and plan activities around seasonal cycles.
Established a resilient framework that keeps decisions, sequencing, and Nation direction intact as planning transitions into design.
IN NUMBERS
1 Administration & Recreation Facility Planning Framework Established
A Nation-led governance document from feasibility to hand over, with scope, roles, and timelines defined.
10+ Stakeholder Groups Identified and Mapped
Governance, departmental teams, and community represented in a single, engagement path.
9 Deliverables Sequenced
From feasibility to transfer to operations and aligned to northern seasons.
