About the Meet-up

Many First Nations face daily transportation barriers that affect access to health care, school, jobs, groceries, and community events. In rural and remote regions, distance, winter conditions, and limited local services can turn simple trips into major challenges.

This session is designed for Chiefs and Council, Band administration, health, education, social services, lands, and economic development staff who want clearer options and a realistic path forward. We will share what we are learning across many Nations about what works, what costs more than expected, and how to avoid common planning mistakes. The focus is practical: service models that fit community life, vehicle choices that match climate and roads, and a step by step approach that starts small and grows safely.

Indigi Solutions and Pantonium have been working side by side with First Nations and regional partners to build stronger transportation plans and unlock funding for community led projects. This includes helping communities define needs, gather the right data, build budgets, and prepare supporting materials that funders expect, while keeping community control of information and decisions. We also bring real examples from feasibility studies and pilot planning, including how communities coordinate existing health, school, and program vehicles so more members get rides without needing a large new fleet on day one.

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You will leave with a clearer picture of:

• The real value transit adds, including better access to care, education, work, and community connection
• The main service models, including on demand and hybrid service, and when each is a good fit
• Strengthen access to essential services, education, and employment through better local transit
• The steps to move from “we need better rides” to a fundable plan and pilot”

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About the Presenter

Asennnaienton Frank Horn is the Principal of his own consulting business Indigi Solutions working on projects meeting community infrastructure needs.    

For 25 years, Asennaienton has worked with indigenous communities across Ontario and Quebec and understands first-hand the economic gap that cuts across all sectors. Building upon his experience in indigenous housing and indigenous broadband, he now works with trusted partners including transit on innovative and proven solutions to positively impact indigenous communities and drive their own economic futures forward.

Asennaienton is a proud Kanien’keha:ke (Mohawk) from the sister communities of Kahnawake and Kanesatake in Quebec and has dedicated his professional career & volunteerism to indigenous community including raising over 1000 hockey bags each year for indigenous youth across Canada.

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