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.
Kwakiutl Health Centre Supports Healing Through Culture and Connection
The Kwakiutl Peoples are experiencing a mental health crisis and lack of short-term crisis response care in their community on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. In response, they have come together and are blending traditional Kwakiutl ways with modern approaches to create programs and services that protect and uplift their community at the Kwakiutl Health Centre.
Healing and Cultural Connection at Mashkwa Healing Garden
Like other Indigenous Peoples, the Métis have endured colonial policies aimed at severing cultural ties and displacing them from the land. This disconnection has contributed to intergenerational trauma and a decline in well-being for over 8,000 Métis individuals and their families. For many, access to their traditional culture or a sense of belonging has been limited to services run through urban organizations or community groups.
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.
Thames Bluewater Métis Council’s Annual Rendezvous
The Métis community across Canada has endured the impacts of colonization, resulting in the erosion of their traditions and cultural heritage. By gathering together, Métis citizens are hoping to rebuild a sense of pride and connection that has been lost within the community.
Hand Drum and Rattle Making Workshops at Kitchitwa Kateri Church
Deacon Michael Robinson is Anishinaabe and Catholic and serves as the Spiritual Director for Kitchitwa Kateri Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He provides spiritual direction and counselling services for community members with a focus on Indigenous spirituality, reconciliation and healing and discovery of identity.
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.
Embracing Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Advocacy
The Sierra Club BC (SCBC) is undergoing a significant transformation to enhance its support for Indigenous communities grappling with environmental challenges, climate change impacts, and the need for cultural revitalization and healing. With a 50+ year history dedicated to biodiversity and climate change issues, SCBC recognizes the critical need to align its efforts with Indigenous Knowledge, Rights, and priorities.
Notre Dame High School fosters reconciliation through student exchange
Notre Dame High School, a school within the Ottawa Catholic School Board, is dedicated to blending tradition, culture and learning with Christian living. Embracing a mission that encourages spiritual growth and societal transformation, the school incorporates teachings on reconciliation and decolonization through a Catholic lens into its curriculum.
To support this mission, Notre Dame High School will be hosting a group of Dene students from Deh Gáh Secondary School in Fort Providence, NWT.
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.
