Funding Programs

New Relationship Trust offers a range of funding initiatives supporting First Nation communities, organizations, and individuals through their journey towards greater self-sufficiency.

The feature program is Nation Building which focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities on almost any project/activity that supports their unique path towards their own version of nationhood.

Programs Brochures

Nation Building

  • Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities to support nation building activities according to their self-determined priorities
  • Up to $120,000 in grant funding over 2 years
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; Tribal Councils

Declaration Act Engagement Grant

  • Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities to support their involvement in the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan
  • Up to $1,040,000 funding over 4 years
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations

BC Indigenous Clean Energy

  • Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities for clean energy initiatives related to feasibility, environmental review, project design, demand side management, and small scale installation.
  • Up to $500,000 per project
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations

Community Energy Diesel Reduction

  • Focuses on providing funding to remote communities with diesel generating stations
  • Funding will be project specific
  • Eligible Applicant: Remote communities with diesel generating stations that supply B.C. First Nations with diesel.

Youth

  • Focuses on providing funding to youth groups in First Nation communities
  • Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation associated organizations

Elder

  • Focuses on providing funding to Elder groups in First Nation communities
  • Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation associated organizations

Language

  • Focuses on providing funding to revitalize First Nation languages and support activities to create new fluent speakers in First Nation communities
  • Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations; B.C. First Nation Language Groups

Education (K-12)

  • Focuses on providing funding to kindergarten to grade 12 Indigenous student classrooms
  • Up to $8,000 in grant funding per year
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nation Schools; B.C. Schools with classes with majority indigenous students

Economic Development – Equity Matching

  • Focuses on providing funding to First Nation individual entrepreneurs and community businesses up to $5,000 equity match for entrepreneurs
  • Up to $25,000 equity match for businesses
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nation entrepreneurs; B.C. First Nation businesses

BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund

  • Focuses on providing funding to First Nation communities and Indigenous businesses & entrepreneurs in B.C. to support economic development in the regulated cannabis industry.
  • Up to $250,000 of capital contribution
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations, B.C. First Nation Businesses, and Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) entrepreneurs & businesses

Education (Students)

  • Focuses on providing bursaries and scholarships to First Nation students to support post-secondary success
  • Awards range year to year
  • Eligible Applicant: First Nation member of a B.C. First Nation Community

Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty

  • Focuses on providing funding to support Indigenous agriculture and food security projects.
  • Up to a maximum of $250,000 capital contribution
  • Eligible Applicants: B.C. First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis Chartered Communities, Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs

AED Indigenous Initiative

  • Focuses on providing an automated external defibrillator (AED) to First Nation communities across B.C. to support community health and well-being.
  • One AED kit and training
  • Eligible applicant: B.C. First Nations

Indigenous Co-operative Initiative

  • Focuses on providing knowledge, awareness, and materials to First Nation communities on the benefits of establishing co-operative business structures to support their specific community needs.
  • Provides presentations, materials,  and coaching support to set up a Co-operative.
  • Eligible applicant: B.C. First Nations and Indigenous organizations.

Indigenous Labour Market Fund

  • Focuses on providing funding to address specific labour market gaps related to labour market studies, cultural recognition development, and Job fairs.
  • Up to $250,000 amount per Grant.
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. First Nations, tribal councils, ISET offices, Métis Nation of BC, Indigenous organizations.

Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Fund

  • Focuses on providing funding to Indigenous-led not for profits and qualified donees to support poverty reduction and social inclusion initiatives.
  • Up to $200,000 Grant disbursed over 2 years.
  • Eligible Applicant: B.C. Indigenous registered societies or charities and qualified donees.