Featured Stories
UNYA
The Indigenous Resilience and Recovery (IRR) Grant Program was created through a transformational partnership between the BC Government, Vancouver Foundation, United Way Lower Mainland and the New Relationship Trust. Through this partnership, NRT was able to fund 23 Indigenous-led Non-Profit organizations from across BC that were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and continued to face funding and operational challenges in their post-pandemic recovery.
The Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) is one of the recipients of NRT’s IRR Grant. UNYA provides meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth in an urban setting, by offering a wide range of services, resources, and opportunities. See video below:
Funders like the New Relationship Trust are really helpful coming out of the pandemic, we have security in this program now for the next three years moving forward. It gives me time to sort of do some more administrative work, and some more relationship building and networking with new funders, and seeking out new opportunities to get funding moving forward for the new OCM [Overly Creative Minds Youth Program]
Lucas Riedl, Director of Youth Engagement, UNYA
Just like to thank the New Relationship Trust for approaching us about this grant, for making the relationship such an easy one, and for providing the support to indigenous youth so that we can continue to provide that wrap around service…
Lucas Riedl, Director of Youth Engagement, UNYA
Kwiakah First Nation
When the Kwiakah Nation applied for a Nation Building grant, they knew their two-pronged approach might give some funders pause. But both aspects were crucial to setting this small First Nation, located along the northeast of Vancouver Island, on its chosen path to self-determination: developing a constitution as part of their ongoing treaty negotiations, and completing a feasibility study for what could eventually become a regional seaweed cultivation industry and research hub. “They [NRT] had faith in us as a small Nation that we could do that work. Our proposal was judged on its merits,” says Frank Voelker, the Kwiakah Nation Band Manager. “I can’t tell you how good it feels.” The Kwiakah Nation was able to hire a legal expert and engage nearly all of their community members in developing a constitution that cemented the Nation’s long held hereditary governance system. “It’s key to engage the membership, especially with a constitution,” emphasizes Voelker. “It’s the highest law in the land. It was really a great process seeing direct democracy at work.” The second prong of the Kwiakah Nation’s vision of self-sufficiency involved a feasibility study for a seaweed cultivation project, something Voelker said was essential in helping the Nation direct limited resources in a “very surgical, very strategic” way. “This study showed us how we can pursue this opportunity rather than just ‘spitballing’,“ he explains. In order to maximize the opportunity, the Kwiakah Nation are making use of a decommissioned fish farm on their territory as infrastructure for the project, and are in talks with post-secondary institutions to set up a research station to study the carbon sequestration potential of native kelp species. They also plan to house their Guardian program at the same location, and hire the Guardians to monitor the seaweed crops as they mature. Eventually, they hope to seed a regional seaweed cultivation industry by providing pre-processing of wet kelp to reduce transportation costs in order to make the industry cost-effective for other remote operators. And by limiting the amounts harvested, the Kwiakah Nation aims to help restore coastal ecosystems degraded by logging. “It can turn into a massive multiplier and make it viable in areas where it’s not right now,” explains Voelker, “and do it in harmony with the environment – not harming the territory, but improving it.” With a feasibility study complete, the Kwiakah Nation was able to secure funding for a business development plan, now in its final stages, and plans to launch operations as early as next year.
They [NRT] had faith in us as a small Nation that we could do that work. Our proposal was judged on its merits,” says Frank Voelker, the Kwiakah Nation Band Manager. “I can’t tell you how good it feels.
Frank Voelker Kwiakah First Nation, Band Manager
Learn more about the Kwiakah First Nation project here.
Indigenous Resilience and Recovery (IRR) Grant Recipients – Hulitan Family Services
Hulitan Family Service located on Vancouver, Island is one of the recipients of NRT’s Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant, and in this video we are going to share a bit more about the Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant or otherwise known as the IRR Grant, and share with you how Hulitan Family Services was able to leverage the NRT’s Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant to bring on a new staff member.
To learn more about our programs that are available please visit our Overview of Funding Programs page.
BC First Nations Student Success Story
The BC First Nations Educational Awards program provided by the New Relationship Trust. This program offers financial assistance to eligible BC First Nations students who are pursuing post-secondary education. Emily Salmon is just one of many students who have benefited from this program, which has helped to make higher education more accessible to BC First Nations students.
To learn more about the BC First Nations Educational Awards and how they can support your educational goals, visit our Student Scholarships and Bursaries page.
How to Partner First Nations in BC
There are many ways to partner First Nations in British Columbia and to tell you about a few of those ways that you could partner First Nations in BC New Relationship Trust talked to Dennis Thomas, Senior Business Development Officer & Elected Councillor Tsleil-Waututh Nation so that he would share with us best practices when it comes to partnering with First Nations in BC.
To learn more about how to partner with New Relationship Trust please visit our Partner With Us page.
Building a Brighter Future: Tsawwassen First Nation’s Expertise with NRT’s Nation Building Grant
In this captivating and insightful video, we take a closer look at the Tsawwassen First Nation’s success story in leveraging the NRT’s Nation Building Grant to create a brighter future for their community. We will discuss their strategic approach, the milestones they achieved, and the invaluable advice they have for other First Nations looking to benefit from the grant.
Learn from the Tsawwassen First Nation’s expertise as they offer valuable tips and guidance for other Indigenous communities aiming to maximize the potential of NRT’s Nation Building Grant. Discover the importance of strategic planning, community engagement, and a clear vision to make the most of this incredible opportunity.
Visit our Nation Building Grants page to learn more about this program.