IRF Project Collections

Projects Supported by the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund

(New projects added every month)

Pillar One

Healing and Reconciliation for Communities and Families

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund supports initiatives that address the historical trauma, intergenerational impacts and systemic injustices faced by Indigenous people.

Grants are provided for programs and projects that promote emotional, mental and physical healing for communities and families, ultimately contributing to a path of reconciliation and restoration of
well-being.

  • Stepping Outside the Box

    Many Indigenous youth, particularly in urban areas, feel left behind and that they’re missing out on crucial opportunities for education and growth. Systemic barriers, intergenerational trauma, and a lack of access to culturally safe and effective mental health supports mean young Indigenous Peoples struggle more than the average individual in their age group.

  • Healing is Justice

    The burden of intergenerational trauma is one that every Indigenous Person carries. Colonialism and systemic racism have displaced Indigenous Peoples from their lands and deliberately disconnected them from their cultures and support systems, leaving them with a distorted sense of self.

Pillar Two

Culture and Language Revitalization

Preserving and revitalizing Indigenous cultures and languages allows Indigenous communities to reconnect with their rich cultural heritage and traditions.

Through grants provided for language revitalization programs, traditional arts and crafts or cultural education initiatives, Indigenous traditions and identities are celebrated and can be passed down to future generations.

  • The Social Event of the Season

    The Métis have made their mark on this land through their rich history, vibrant traditions, and colourful heritage. In 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada officially acknowledged Métis as one of three distinct Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

  • Restoring Rendezvous

    Gathering is a sacred practice in Indigenous cultures. It is a time of traditional renewal, community connection, knowledge sharing, and celebration. However, due to the impacts of colonization, it is increasingly difficult in modern Métis life for community members to gather.

Pillar Three

Education and Community Building

Education and community building are key drivers of reconciliation efforts. Funds provided for educational programs, workshops and community-building activities can help bridge knowledge gaps, strengthen ties between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and promote a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, experiences and knowledge.

  • Healing our Spirits

    The impacts of the residential and day school system continue to trickle down from generation to generation. Intergenerational trauma and forced separation from Indigenous culture has left many disconnected from their Indigeneity, language, and traditional teachings.

  • Proudly Métis

    In 1885, groups of Métis rose up against the Canadian government over settler encroachment on their lands and increasing erasure of First Nation and Métis rights. A five-month rebellion began, known as the North-West Resistance, which ultimately culminated in a defeat with settlers gaining a firm hold over western Canada.

Pillar Four

Dialogues for Promoting Indigenous Spirituality and Culture

Grants are available to support programs, gatherings and events that facilitate the reconnection with and celebration of Indigenous spirituality and cultural practices.

These initiatives are an opportunity to foster awareness and appreciation of Indigenous worldviews, values and spiritual beliefs and contribute to a more inclusive society where Indigenous voices and traditions are honored and respected.

  • Ceremony of Ceremonies

    Many Indigenous Peoples face emotional, spiritual, and physical disconnect from their culture, the land and their communities. Colonization and the residential school system deliberately implemented policies aimed at cultural erasure, leading to generations of traumatized Indigenous individuals and families.

  • Together, One Beat

    For generations, the transition from youth to adulthood in Wolastoqey Nation has been a sacred process guided by ceremony, cultural teachings, and traditional dances. Like many other communities, these practices have been disrupted by colonization and systemic polices that deliberately blocked these sacred cultural practices.