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 Heal Together
The legacy of the residential school system has left deep scars on Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Survivors were forever changed by the treatment they endured, and families and communities who lost children to the system were never the same. Although the last residential school closed in 1997, many who were forced to attend are still with us today.
Indigenous Ministries Build Bridges for Healing and Reconciliation
To address historical wrongs, rebuild trust, and foster lasting relationships, Catholic ministries across Canada are working toward reconciliation by bringing together Indigenous culture and the Catholic faith. This commitment has led to the creation of Indigenous ministries within dioceses nationwide, where cultural programs support healing and deepen connections between communities.
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.
Learning Ojibwe: Basic Ojibwe and Culture
The wounds inflicted on Indigenous communities by the residential school system run deep, with one of the most devastating impacts being the suppression of Indigenous languages. The loss of language has left a void in the cultural identity of Indigenous communities across Canada.
Learning Ojibwe III – Language classes
Ms. Esther Diabo, an Ojibwe language speaker, Elder, and educator, is committed to cultural reconnection and healing for her community. Having spent nine years in residential schools, she understands the profound impact of language loss on Indigenous identity and today offers Ojibwe language classes as a pathway to healing and cultural revitalization.
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 Bridges: Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik School in Parry Sound
Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik School, a First Nation school for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, is eager to strengthen ties with other schools in Parry Sound. With a commitment to fostering cultural understanding, the school plans to host a series of events, ceremonies and activities involving Parry Sound schools and the Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik School First Nations community.
Support for Indigenous Seniors at Wigwamen Terrace
Wigwamen Incorporated, Ontario's oldest urban Indigenous housing provider, is addressing this critical issue through its Family and Seniors Housing portfolio in Toronto. Wigwamen Terrace, one of the organization's longstanding buildings, is home to 127 residents, 95% of whom are First Nation, Métis, or Inuit.
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.
