Founded in 2012 in Gatineau, the Centre for First Peoples Innovation (FPIC) is a key player in the field of social and technological innovation for First Peoples, both in urban settings and community environments. Our mission is to support and promote the identity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis while fostering authentic and sustainable reconciliation.
Recognized as a charitable organization by the Canada Revenue Agency, the FPIC stands out for its ability to encourage collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, highlighting the unique potential of Indigenous communities.
The Centre offers programs aimed at promoting the autonomy and inclusion of Indigenous women and youth. A flagship example is the Onaki FabLab, opened in 2018. This space for creativity and innovation enables young people to reconnect with their cultural roots while developing skills in fields such as digital fabrication, programming, and electronics.
Onaki FabLab plays a vital role in innovative education by combining culture and technology. It helps a new generation of Indigenous youth discover their potential and thrive, both personally and professionally.
The term FabLab is a contraction of the English words “Fabrication Laboratory”—a maker space concept created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It provides users with a variety of computer-controlled machines, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, digital milling machines, and electronic devices.
It is worth noting that the FPIC’s work has received multiple awards, including the 2018 Bell Let’s Talk Award, the Impact Social Award from L’Actualité magazine in 2020, Sun Life’s Coup de Cœur Award in 2020, the Special Jury Prize at the 2021 Youth Digital Literacy Recognition Awards, and, more recently, the CIPP was a finalist in the Innovation category of the 2024 Excelor Awards from the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce.