Funding Programs
New Relationship Trust funding programs support First Nations in B.C. with grants for nation-building, economic growth, education, and more. The feature program is Nation Building which focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities on almost any project/activity that supports their unique path towards their own version of nationhood.
Nation Building
- Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities to support nation building activities according to their self-determined priorities
- Up to $120,000 in grant funding over 2 years
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; Tribal Councils
Declaration Act Engagement Grant
- Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities to support their involvement in the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan
- Up to $1,040,000 funding over 4 years
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations
BC Indigenous Clean Energy
- Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities for clean energy initiatives related to feasibility, environmental review, project design, demand side management, and small scale installation.
- Up to $500,000 per project
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations
Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR)
- Focuses on providing funding to remote communities with diesel generating stations
- Funding will be project specific
- Eligible Applicant: Remote communities with diesel generating stations that supply B.C. First Nations with diesel.
Youth Grant
- Focuses on providing funding to youth groups in First Nation communities
- Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation associated organizations
Elder Grant
- Focuses on providing funding to Elder groups in First Nation communities
- Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation associated organizations
Language Grant
- Focuses on providing funding to revitalize First Nation languages and support activities to create new fluent speakers in First Nation communities
- Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation Language Groups
Education (K-12) Grant
- Focuses on providing funding to kindergarten to grade 12 Indigenous student classrooms
- Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nation Schools; B.C. Schools with classes with majority indigenous students
Economic Development – Equity Matching
- Focuses on providing funding to First Nation individual entrepreneurs and community businesses up to $5,000 equity match for entrepreneurs
- Up to $25,000 equity match for businesses
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nation entrepreneurs; B.C. First Nation businesses
BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund
- Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities and Indigenous businesses & entrepreneurs in B.C. to support economic development in the regulated cannabis industry.
- Up to $250,000 of capital contribution
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations, B.C. First Nation Businesses, and Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) entrepreneurs & businesses
Education (Post-Secondary Students)
- Focuses on providing bursaries and scholarships to First Nation students to support post-secondary success
- Awards range year to year
- Eligible Applicant: First Nation member of a B.C. First Nation Community
Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty
- Focuses on providing funding to support Indigenous agriculture and food security projects.
- Up to a maximum of $250,000 capital contribution
- Eligible Applicants: B.C. First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis Chartered Communities, Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs
Indigenous Co-operative Initiative
- Focuses on providing knowledge, awareness, and materials to First Nation communities on the benefits of establishing co-operative business structures to support their specific community needs.
- Provides presentations, materials, and coaching support to set up a Co-operative.
- Eligible applicant: B.C. First Nations and Indigenous organizations.
Indigenous Labour Market Fund
- Focuses on providing funding to address specific labour market gaps related to labour market studies, cultural recognition development, and Job fairs.
- Up to $250,000 amount per Grant.
- Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations, tribal councils, ISET offices, Métis Nation of BC, Indigenous organizations.
Guardians and Stewardship Training Initiative (GSTI)
- Provide First Nations with funding to access training and education for their Guardians
- Three streams available, providing up to $50,000, $150,000 and $300,000
- Eligible applicants: Indian Act First Nations, Modern Treaty First Nations, Self-Government Nations, Tribal Councils, Organizations mandated under Hereditary Chiefs or other traditional governance structures, First Nation Organizations – mandated by one or more BC First Nation(s) to represent their interests with respect to Guardians and Stewardship