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

Be Part of The Solution

Your partnership is crucial to our continued success. Whether you represent a First Nations community, an organization, or simply someone who wants to support meaningful change, there's a role for you.