About the program

The Government of Canada has committed to a forward-looking and transformative agenda to renew relationships with Indigenous peoples. Indigenous groups are seeking to rebuild their nations in a way that responds to their priorities and the unique needs of their communities. Through Budget 2018, funding has been made available for 5 years starting in fiscal year 2018 to 2019 to support activities that would facilitate their own path to reconstituting their nations.

Objective

The objective of the program is to support nation rebuilding efforts that will contribute to increase capacity at the larger nation level.

The provision of this capacity funding will promote:

  • the re-establishment of Indigenous nations
  • an increase in the ability of Indigenous nations to take on greater sectoral responsibilities, thereby facilitating a phased-in approach to self-determination and ultimately self-governance
  • an increase in the sense of unity within Indigenous nations
  • identification and agreement among member communities on priorities for action and approaches to issues
  • a reduction in the duplication of the resolution of issues at the individual First Nation or Indigenous community level by working as a collective at the nation-level

Who can apply?

Preference will be given to Indigenous nations representing multiple Indigenous communities.

Recipients eligible to receive funding under this program are the following:

  • Indigenous nations entities (as self-defined and representing nation-based collectives – could be linked by cultural or linguistic background, geographical area or historical treaty lines)
  • nation member communities or member organizations on behalf of nation entities
  • Section 35 rights-bearing Métis entities
  • national and regional Indigenous organizations
  • self-governing Indigenous governments

Deadline

The deadline for the 2022 to 2023 call for proposals is December 17, 2021. Funding proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.

Eligible initiatives

To be eligible for funding, proposals must clearly demonstrate:

  • that they are including more than one Indigenous group of the same nation (cultural or language background or historical treaty lines) facilitating a phased-approach to take on greater sectoral responsibilities to self-determination and self-governance
  • that the activities contribute to nation rebuilding by increasing capacity for action at the larger nation level and by fostering a greater sense of attachment identity

Find more information about the program here.