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.

  • Stepping Outside the Box

    Many Indigenous youth, particularly in urban areas, feel left behind and that they’re missing out on crucial opportunities for education and growth. Systemic barriers, intergenerational trauma, and a lack of access to culturally safe and effective mental health supports mean young Indigenous Peoples struggle more than the average individual in their age group.

  • Healing is Justice

    The burden of intergenerational trauma is one that every Indigenous Person carries. Colonialism and systemic racism have displaced Indigenous Peoples from their lands and deliberately disconnected them from their cultures and support systems, leaving them with a distorted sense of self.

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.

  • Wrapped in a Blanket

    Métis identity is nuanced and can be difficult to understand in the complex space of Indigeneity. Impacted by colonization and the residential school system, critical cultural knowledge, traditional skills, and community connections have been lost across generations. Métis peoples are often left behind in the push to revitalize First Nation cultures.

  • A Harmonized Song

    The role of Indigenous women in Cree communities is sacred, honoured and vital to the harmony of a Nation. For generations, Indigenous women and girls lent their voices as Lady Back-Up Singers to share nêhiyawêwin (Cree language).

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.

  • For Our Tomorrow

    As Indigenous communities seek to invest in the future, they are turning to the true changemakers of tomorrow: Indigenous youth. Across Canada, there is a need for culturally grounded programming to support youth in engaging in ceremony, leadership, and cultural learning to carry on sacred traditions.

  • Healing our Spirits

    The impacts of the residential and day school system continue to trickle down from generation to generation. Intergenerational trauma and forced separation from Indigenous culture has left many disconnected from their Indigeneity, language, and traditional teachings.

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.

  • Ceremony of Ceremonies

    Many Indigenous Peoples face emotional, spiritual, and physical disconnect from their culture, the land and their communities. Colonization and the residential school system deliberately implemented policies aimed at cultural erasure, leading to generations of traumatized Indigenous individuals and families.

  • Together, One Beat

    For generations, the transition from youth to adulthood in Wolastoqey Nation has been a sacred process guided by ceremony, cultural teachings, and traditional dances. Like many other communities, these practices have been disrupted by colonization and systemic polices that deliberately blocked these sacred cultural practices.