You are here: Home/Grant/ Best Grants for Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Best Grants for Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Canada’s Indigenous Peoples are the poorest and most marginalized group, and the Canadian government works from time to time to build initiatives that could help these sections of society. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), “Indigenous peoples are twice as likely as non-Aboriginal people living on reserves to be poor. They also have the greatest unemployment rate, lowest educational attainment, and the worst living conditions.”
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) collaborates with partners to improve First Nations, Inuit, and Métis’ access to high-quality services. Its mission is to enable and empower Indigenous peoples to deliver services and address socio-economic issues in their communities on their own terms. Indigenous Initiatives entail identifying emerging needs and strategic opportunities for Indigenous people.
How to Apply for These Grants?
When you really want to apply for such grants, please submit the relevant proposal, application, or work plans if you qualify as a potential eligible recipient and seek to enter into a funding arrangement with Indigenous Services Canada. Open calls with fixed deadlines are used by some funding organizations to receive bids.
ISC makes funding decisions based on Budget Management Principles, guided by the Indigenous services environment and based on financial management practices for public bodies in Canada. If you are an Indigenous person residing in Canada, there are a variety of scholarships and programs available to assist you in improving your financial condition. The following is a list of some of Canada’s best Indigenous grants.
The Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurship Development Program (ABED)
ABED assists Aboriginal entrepreneurs, communities, and organizations in achieving their business objectives by offering a variety of services and assistance that encourage the development of a vibrant Aboriginal business sector. The level of assistance will vary depending on the client’s needs, money availability and sources, cost eligibility, economic benefits, and project viability.
Applicants Who Qualify
Individuals of Canadian Aboriginal descent — Status or Non-status Indian (on or off-reserve), Métis, or Inuit — or a majority-owned Aboriginal business, or an Aboriginal community and/or development corporation — must be clients.
Clients must also be involved full-time in the planned business in a management role and be able to give some monetary equity to assist the initiative to be eligible for support.
Expenses That Qualify
Establishment (capital) expenses in business planning
Acquisitions of businesses
Expanding your business
Local, domestic, or export-oriented marketing initiatives
Development of a new product or method
Using technology to boost productivity and competitiveness
The relationship between operating and capital costs
Financial, business-related training, and mentoring services are also available.
Deadline Date: Ongoing. Speak with the regional Aboriginal Financial Institution (AFI) before applying.
Funds: Aboriginal people and incorporated enterprises can receive up to $99,999 in Value Funding, while community-owned businesses can get up to $250,000.
The Indigenous Community Business Fund is contributing $117 million in non-repayable funds to support community- or collectively-owned companies and microbusinesses whose earnings have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding was renewed in Budget 2021 with an additional $117 million. There are two streams in the fund:
Stream 1 funds will be distributed directly to communities and collectives to support their COVID-19 economic priorities right away. Stream 1 financing does not require applications.
Stream 2 funding will be awarded based on proposals. The community or collectives must submit applications on behalf of the business. The money will go straight to the communities and collectives. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) regional offices will handle the funds for First Nations and Inuit community-owned companies. Métis organizations included in the “Métis businesses” section will handle financing for Métis collectively-owned firms.
Deadline Date: There are no submission deadlines. Applications for funding are accepted on an ongoing basis until all funding has been allocated.
Contact
Contact Name: Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate ISC regional office representative for this fund if they have any questions regarding the application.
Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects
The program will provide funding to Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations that are looking for methods to promote Indigenous Early Childhood Education and Care (IELCC). You can get up to $750,000 if you apply. Projects might last up to 19 months and must be completed by March 31, 2023.
Value: Up to $750,000
Applicants Who Qualify: you fit into one of the following categories:
Indigenous peoples’ groups
Indigenous authorities
Native American groups
Note to Québec organisations: The Act regarding the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (R.S.Q. c. M-30) of the Government of Quebec applies to some applications in the province of Quebec. These individuals are qualified to submit a proposal. However, if we approve your proposal, you must also acquire the consent of the Quebec government before we can fund it.
Contact
Contact Name: Employment and Social Development Canada
The Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) supports Indigenous-led economic development programmes in Canada’s forest industry with funding. The program’s advantages include:
Indigenous engagement in forestry-related opportunities, enterprises, vocations, and government has expanded.
increased investment and collaboration between Indigenous peoples and other natural resource development stakeholders, including governments, industry, and non-governmental organizations
increased engagement and economic development for Indigenous communities and peoples involved in the forest sector
Creating, Knowing and Sharing – Indigenous Organizations
Indigenous Organizations provide funding to organizations that engage in traditional or modern artistic and cultural activities among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Non-Indigenous artists and cooperation with non-Indigenous organizations are examples of these practices. The investigation of novel ways for Indigenous creative and cultural expression and related administrative operations are supported through grants. Before applying, first-time applicants are highly urged to speak with a Program Officer.
Be an Indigenous publisher, Indigenous arts service organization or other Indigenous not-for-profit organization and have:
Completed at least two consecutive years of artistic or cultural activity
Previously received core (operating) support from Canada Council
A board of directors or an identified membership group with governance and voting authority made up of at least 60% First Nations, Inuit or Métis individuals.
The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF) is an Indigenous-led initiative aimed at meeting immediate community needs while also fostering long-term community resilience. The IPRF is controlled by an Indigenous Advisory Council, which authorizes all governance, resilience fund initiatives, communications, and fund-raising strategies and suggestions relating to the IPRF’s mission.
Applicants Who Qualify
Applicants must explain how their initiative benefits the Indigenous populations they serve and the project’s influence on the community. Organizations that are qualified include community organizations, registered charities, registered not-for-profit organizations, and public entities in Canada fulfilling government functions.
Deadline Date
The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund is open for monthly intakes
The Community Opportunity Readiness Program helps Indigenous communities meet their financial demands when looking for and want to participate in a business opportunity. The programme combines the old community economic opportunities programme, the major projects investment fund, and the Indigenous business development program’s community-based components.
Eligible Applicants
First Nation and Inuit communities and their governments, including tribal councils
Organizations and associations controlled by First Nation and Inuit communities, except those with charitable or religious purposes
Non-Indigenous organizations and associations (except those with charitable or religious purposes) that plan to provide economic development services for the benefit of First Nation and Inuit communities
Innovation Fund – Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
The Innovation Fund of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) helps First Nations communities create innovative school facilities, promote education reform, and save money.
The Education Infrastructure Fund established the Innovation Fund in 2012. For the four school projects, INAC’s initial $25 million investment is planned to leverage about $38 million in First Nation and private sector contributions.
Eligible Applicants
First Nations communities
Value
A maximum investment of $10 million per project for eligible activities is available for infrastructure costs.
Deadline Date
Quebec and Saskatchewan – May 31; Ontario – September 30; Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon – October 15; all other provinces – November 30
Indigenous Peoples and COVID-19 Knowledge Synthesis, Evaluation and Assessment Grants Rapid Research Funding Opportunity
In collaboration with the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH), the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), the Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), and the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH) is leading this initiative (SPOR).
This funding opportunity will support Indigenous communities (First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and/or Urban Indigenous communities), Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous researchers (or researchers with evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples) in Canada who are responding to Indigenous Peoples’ unique health and well-being needs in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of $2 million is available for this financing opportunity. For Knowledge Synthesis awards, the maximum amount per grant is $100,000 for a one-year period. For Evaluation & Assessment grants, the maximum amount per grant is $200,000 for one year.
Contact
Contact Name: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Professional and Institutional Development Program
The Professional and Institutional Development Program supports initiatives that help First Nations and Inuit communities improve their ability to perform key government responsibilities such as planning and risk management, leadership, basic administration, and financial management.
Date of Submission
For the deadline in your region, contact your funding services officer at your Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) regional office.
The First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program funds activities that help youngsters obtain the necessary skills to find work, operate well in the workplace, and learn about other job and career opportunities. Career advancement, scientific and technology activities, co-operative education placements and internships, and guided work placements are all possibilities. The schedule:
Encourages youth to participate in the labour market by emphasizing the benefits and importance of education.
Supports the development and advancement of important employability skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Introduces young people to many employment alternatives.
Provides wage subsidies for guided work experience and/or mentored school-based work and study opportunities to help youth learn skills.
Contact
Contact Name: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Multiculturalism, Indigenous and Inclusion Grant (MIIG) Program
The MIIG Program (Multiculturalism, Indigenous, and Inclusion Grant) funds initiatives and projects that promote intercultural awareness and understanding. The programme promotes cultural knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous Peoples and Alberta’s multicultural society in communities across the province. The programme makes the province a place where people feel welcome and their traditions and heritage are respected.
Value
The maximum amount of $25,000
Expenses That Qualify
For Multiculturalism, Indigenous, and Inclusion projects in Alberta, the program provides financing assistance for stand-alone initiatives, new programmes, or resources.
Organizations must explain how their initiative meets one or more of the Multiculturalism, Indigenous, and Inclusion Grant Program outcomes and falls into one of the project types listed below:
Education and training
Capacity-building
Increasing Cultural Understanding
Contact
Contact Name: Multiculturalism, Indigenous and Inclusion Grant
With all of the federal, provincial, and private financing options available for Indigenous prospective entrepreneurs, business owners, charities, community development fund centres, and communities, there’s no reason this can’t be the year you achieve your goals.
The first step is always the most difficult in accomplishing your objectives. However, after you’ve done it, the next step is easy. So go ahead and take the first step! Apply for as many funding opportunities as possible. Learn everything you can. Thanks to some of these financial programmes, you’ll be self-sufficient and on your way before you know it.
Leave a Reply