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.

  • Through the Eyes of an Artist

    For centuries, colonial policies suppressed Indigenous ceremonies, traditions, languages, and storytelling. However, over the last few decades there has been a reclamation of cultural practices and an effort to revitalize traditions with a modern twist.

  • Threads of Story

    Spiritual and physical healing is a process steeped in sacred cultural practices, dependent on personal individuality, and varies depending on one’s experiences. For Indigenous Peoples, intergenerational trauma has caused deep wounds, leaving many struggling to manage their wellbeing.

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.

  • Moose Camp

    Many young Indigenous Peoples remain disconnected from their traditional practices. Educational opportunities for these skills are often in classroom settings, lacking connection to Indigenous ways of knowing, such as land-based teachings or through Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

  • Voices Carried

    Meaningful connections between the youngest and the oldest within Indigenous communities has been the beating heart of how culture and language is shared. Colonization has frayed these bonds and led to a generational divide between Indigenous Peoples, increasing the risk of losing integral cultural knowledge.

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.

  • Emerging from the Sea

    Waterways that fed into the sea and the creatures that lived beneath those waves have been a source of life for Coast Salish communities since their inception. The relationship between the Coast Salish and the water shaped their culture, traditions and practices.

  • What We Bring to the Table

    Youth are the foundation to building and carrying forward strong cultural identity and pride. Instilling traditional teachings early on is how the rich fabrics of many diverse cultures are carried forward through generations.

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.

  • A Celebration Until the End

    The Indigenous residents of J. B. Wood Continuing Care Centre in Alberta have spent much of their lives forcibly disconnected from their cultural traditions. However, changing attitudes over the last few decades have empowered some to regain pride in their heritage and cultivate community connections.

  • Our Matriarchs

    As the women’s empowerment movement continues to sweep the world, the negative effects of colonialist views of women brought by settlers to North America can still be felt by Indigenous women today. Many were stripped of their important cultural roles and left adrift and unsure of their place in the community.