IRF Project Collections
Projects Supported by the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
(New projects added every month)
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.
We are not victims
Indigenous women and girls are the most vulnerable population in Canada. Due to a systemic lack of support, combined with Intergenerational trauma, they are more likely to go missing, more likely to be targets of violent crime and more likely to be exploited. Many enter an ongoing cycle of poverty, struggle and abuse.
Resilient Spirits
Nations across the world are dealing with an unprecedented mental health crisis and Canada is no exception. As we work to find solutions, marginalized communities are falling through the gaps. With systemic barriers in place to access even the most basic of resources, and a deep-rooted distrust of conventional services due to historic treatment, Indigenous Peoples are experiencing disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges.
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.
Moccasin-Making Workshop Reconnects Community to Culture and Traditions
Indigenous communities are working hard to piece together the threads of their cultures after centuries of efforts to erase their traditions. To support this revitalization, the Diocese of Thunder Bay is partnering with two Elders to bring a moccasin-making project to the community, ensuring an authentic and intergenerational learning experience.
Revitalizing Ojibwe Anishinaabemowin at Caldwell First Nation
Situated along the shores of Lake Erie, Ontario, Caldwell First Nation (CFN) is the newest established First Nation in Canada. Since receiving designated reserve lands in 2020, CFN has been working to reconnect with their lost language and culture. Every living member has been affected by Residential Schools, Adult Day Schools, and the 60s Scoop, resulting in a significant loss of connection to their Ojibwe Anishinaabemowin language and cultural practices.
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.
Building Community at Trent University: 2024 Learning on the Land Camp
In August 2024, the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University is hosting its second annual Learning on the Land Camp on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. The project brings together 30 First Nation, Métis, Inuit and non-Indigenous Trent University students for a hands-on learning experience built to foster relationships among students, Elders, local community members, and the land and water.
Leadership Development Retreat for Student Council at Ben Calf Robe School
With a student body comprised of mostly Indigenous youth, education at Ben Calf Robe School (BCR) in Edmonton, Alberta, is firmly grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing. Central to the school’s mission is the celebration of Indigenous culture and language, nurturing a sense of belonging and community among its students.
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.
