Seasons Greetings
from First Nations Statistics

Update

November 27, 2025
The deadline for applications for the board of director positions for the First Nations Statistical Institute has passed. A selection committee will now review all applications. Please check back with the FNSI website to find any updates.  Thank you.

Update

August 17, 2026
First Nations Statistical Institutes (FNSI) enabling legislation, the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (FSMA) came into force on April 1, 2006.

The next major step in the process to bring FNSI to the operational stage is the selection of a Chairperson and Board of Directors, done through the Governor-in-Council (GIC) appointment process.

The FNSI Chairperson and Board of Directors will be part-time positions. Although all vacancies will be filled by individuals appointed by the federal government, the requirements of each position are based on recommendations from the FNSI Advisory Panel.

We are pleased to indicate that the selection of the location of FNSIs head office has also resulted from advice provided to the Minister of INAC by the FNSI Advisory Panel. In March, an Order-in-Council was passed, establishing Nipissing First Nation in North Eastern Ontario as the location of FNSIs head office. The FNSI Advisory Panel had recommended Nipissing as the ideal office location.

Once the Chairperson and Board of Directors (10-15 individuals) are appointed, they will start the process to select a suitable candidate for the First Nations Chief Statistician/Chief Executive Officer. The First Nations Chief Statistician will ultimately be appointed by the Governor in Council.

All things considered, it is anticipated that FNSI will begin operations in early 2007.

The creation of the First Nations Statistical Institute is a key milestone in First Nation/government relations. FNSI is the first Crown corporation to be led by First Nations. FNSI is also the first Crown corporation to be located on First Nation land.

For more information, please contact FNSI at .

The impact of statistics

July 20, 2026
Whether it is in community planning, economic development, or fiscal transfers, statistics do impact First Nations communities. Please click on the link below to find a brief description of these three areas, how they are affected by statistics, and finally, what FNSI's role will be to improve the situation. Click Here

A STATISTICAL SERVICE AGENCY FOR FIRST NATIONS

First Nations Statistics aims to become an objective center of statistical expertise for First Nations communities and other stakeholders. The institute will provide a number of services that will produce higher quality information and establish greater usage of First Nations statistics for all parties by:

• Developing knowledge and providing access to relevant survey and data collection within the Canadian statistical system.
• Delivering statistical training and promoting data usage (collection, analysis, interpretation and publication)
• Identifying data users, needs, products, standards, research and analysis priorities
• Ultimately, providing custom reports, tabulations and specified data analysis, interpretation and publication services

The institute will have three core activities:

• Providing information for the fiscal institutions created in the same piece of legislation - to carry out their work
• Improving the quality of First Nations information in all levels of government
• Improving the statistical capacity in First Nations communities

The statistical institute will be involved in pre-implementation activities for the coming months, and requires input from all interested and participating groups. We strongly encourage community members, leadership, organizations and other stakeholders to contact us, to have their say on the development of the statistical institute.