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.

  • Stitched Back Together

    Art has long been a vital form of expression and knowledge transmission within and between Indigenous cultures. Beadwork, sewing, and painting are traditional practices deeply connected to Indigenous identity and storytelling.

  • It Starts at Home

    In 2021, the Canadian Census found that Indigenous children under the age of 15 accounted for 53.8% of those in foster care, despite only making up 7.7% of the general population. This number paints a stark picture of the impacts that intergenerational trauma and colonization continue to have on Indigenous children and their families today.

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.

  • Mother Tongue

    Since the 1960s, Niitsi'powahsin, the Blackfoot language, has been one of many Indigenous languages considered to be endangered. The number of fluent speakers has only continued to decline due to the lasting impacts of colonization, the residential school system, and other assimilationist policies.

  • Where am I Going?

    The tiny voices of Indigenous children have echoed across the land for thousands of years. Yet, over the last few centuries they’ve grown quieter due to the intergenerational impacts of colonialism and systemic oppression.

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.

  • Rivers of the Land

    As people become increasingly dependent on technology and online forms of social connection, they feel more disconnected from one another than ever. While this impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, Indigenous youth are especially affected.

  • Colouring Outside the Margins

    Indigenous Peoples have played essential roles in shaping communities through leadership, cultural knowledge, service, education, and advocacy. However, many of these contributions are not documented, leading to important stories remaining largely unrecognized outside of the communities in which they originated, and at risk of being lost to time.

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.

  • Beyond the Written Word

    Spoken around a fire, whispered during ceremony, and passed down from Elder to youth, Indigenous languages have been preserved and shared orally for thousands of years. Most have never had a written alphabet, relying solely on verbal traditions to remain alive.

  • Returning for our Rendezvous

    Indigenous communities across Canada are bringing back ceremonies that have almost been lost due to colonization. One such gathering, the Métis Rendezvous, is one of the most important events for Métis to reconnect and engage with traditional activities and demonstrations that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Métis Nation.