Indigenous FabLabs

What is a FabLab?

The Onaki FabLab is an initiative of the First Peoples Innovation Centre (CIPP), a non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst for social and technological innovation among Indigenous Peoples. Through its inclusive approach, it supports Indigenous individuals living in urban areas as well as in their communities, while promoting pride in their identity and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the First Peoples.

A FabLab, or fabrication lab, provides users with access to a combination of advanced digital tools (3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines) and traditional tools. Guided by experts, participants can design and create a variety of projects, ranging from artisanal crafts to innovative technological prototypes.

At the heart of the Onaki FabLab lies an innovative pedagogy, which blends hands-on learning, digital technologies, and cultural grounding. This educational approach engages participants in a creative process where they become the primary agents of their development. It emphasizes solving real-world problems, fostering collaboration, and transmitting traditional knowledge while exploring the potential of modern tools.

The Onaki FabLab stands out for its ability to seamlessly merge digital technology with culture. Through this innovative pedagogy, it offers Indigenous youth the opportunity to dream, innovate, and build their future while reconnecting with their ancestral roots. Whether they are Abenaki, Anishinabe, Atikamekw, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Innu, Inuit, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, or Naskapi, the Onaki FabLab is a space where tradition, pedagogy, and innovation come together to shape the future.

We invite you to discover our programs:
Onaki FabLab Cycle 1
Indigenous Training and Innovation in Gatineau
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Nomad FabLab
A Technological Caravan Connecting Indigenous Youth
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Feminine FabLab
Empowering Indigenous Women
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Fixed FabLab : Exports
Catalysts for Innovation and Learning
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Onaki FabLab Cycle 2 Advanced program
Advanced Indigenous Digital Training – Empowering Future Innovators
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Onaki FabLab: A Fabrication and Creation Lab

The team of instructors, mostly young Indigenous graduates from the Onaki FabLab, trains youth in the use of digital equipment widely utilized in businesses across Canada.

As part of their training at the FabLab, young participants design and create various works and objects:

  • To express their creativity, emotions, or showcase their potential.

For example: creating a piece of art or artistic objects.

  • To meet personal or community needs.

Examples include:

    • Crafting a tikinagan (baby carrier) using a laser cutter.
    • Printing a missing part for equipment with a 3D printer.
    • Inventing a prototype for wilderness rescue, such as the “North Star,” using electronics and 3D printing.
  • To produce digital tool by prototyping.

For example, the manufacture of a drone

  • To design a digital object through prototyping.

For example, creating a drone, a surveillance device, an electric skateboard, and much more.

  • The Onaki training programs are intensive 6-month full-time and paid courses. They include 4 months of training followed by a 2-month internship in a company. Providing hands-on experience with recognized partners, these internships can lead to employment opportunities.

Visited Communities

Our team of instructors, composed of over 60% young Indigenous leaders trained in our FabLabs, lies at the heart of our mission. These emerging leaders now travel across Indigenous territories to share their expertise in digital fabrication and pass on their knowledge to their peers. Thanks to their dedication, we have been able to train cohorts in 24 distinct communities, marked with flags on the map below. Additionally, permanent FabLabs have been established in Gatineau, La Tuque, Akwesasne, and Fredericton.

Each intervention represents a unique opportunity to strengthen local skills and foster innovation within First Peoples communities.

FabLabs autochtones