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.
A Safer Reality
The world outside our doors is vast and ever-changing. It can be difficult to navigate, especially for Indigenous Peoples who have grown up removed from major urban centres or those seeking to weave traditional values with modern culture. As Indigenous Peoples make more of their mark in the world, there is a need to prepare them to navigate these realties in a safe and supportive environment, while addressing fears that systemic traumas from colonial systems have imparted on them.
Marking Change
For 60 years, St. Paul’s Indian Residential School operated in North Vancouver, where Indigenous children were removed from their families and forced through the gates under the guise of education. Many Squamish, Musqueam and Burrard children, along with others from communities as far away as Kyuquot on Vancouver Island, were taken. Its impact in the region was profound and its effects have been long-lasting.
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.
Preserving Identity
Language is the foundation of every culture’s spiritual and traditional knowledge, helping to form distinct and diverse cultural identities. For hundreds of Indigenous communities across Canada, decades of oppression have led to cultural erosion and language loss, with Cree and Michif among those at risk of being lost forever. Preserving and revitalizing each language is critical in supporting the future of these communities and instilling Indigenous Peoples with a stronger sense of pride, belonging and cultural continuity.
Breathe the Language
Language is a living, breathing force in Indigenous cultures. Tied to the spirit, it is how generations have passed down traditions and histories orally from grandparent to grandchild. Today, many Indigenous languages facing extinction means not just the loss of the spoken word, but an erasure of culture and connection to land.
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.
Lost No More
For generations, the people of Frog Lake First Nation in Alberta have carried their history, language, and teachings through stories that have been spoken, sung, and shared around fires and in family homes. Today, like many other Indigenous communities, that ancient and sacred knowledge is at risk of being lost forever. As many Elders age, Frog Lake’s history is disappearing with them.
A Growing Audience
The legacy of the residential school system continues to be felt by Indigenous communities across Canada. Survivors and descendants of the St. Mary’s Residential School in Mission, British Columbia have made a commitment to immortalizing their lived experiences in the book St. Mary’s: The Legacy of an Indian Residential School.
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.
Healing at Home
The path of healing is an individual and ongoing journey shaped by personal experiences and needs. For many residents of the Granville Gates Supportive Housing for Seniors in British Columbia, the legacy of intergenerational trauma inflicted by the residential school system continues to harm.
Beyond the Odds
Canada has been facing a national crisis targeting the most vulnerable members of Indigenous communities. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis has left lasting scars on families and friends and has woven itself into the very fabric of communities. Indigenous women are four times more likely to be the victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women.
