Guidebook to start a drone service in Montana First Nation

Struggle

The Montana Indian Reservation (MFN) is a small but vital First Nation community located approximately 90 kilometers south of Edmonton, Alberta, and 3 kilometers east of Highway No. 2A. MFN covers an area of 25 square kilometers, with a population of about 800 residents. The majority of the population faces economic challenges, with 50% dependent on income assistance. Many residents lack access to personal transportation, compounding issues related to mobility, healthcare, and logistics.

Objective:

This research aims to explore feasible solutions for implementing drone services to address the mobility and logistics challenges faced by MFN. Drone technology offers potential solutions for improving access to medical supplies, mail delivery, emergency response, and water advisory notifications in the community.

Scope of the Research

The research, led by Oriana Coku, a Sustainable Aerospace Development Advisor with Sustainacy, will focus on identifying key barriers—including drone selection, pilot training, regulatory clarity, airspace governance, and community involvement—and will propose actionable solutions for overcoming these challenges.