Indigenous Priorities Fund
2023 Grant Recipients | 2024 Program Guidelines
Eagle Carving by Carey Newman and gifted to the Victoria Foundation.
Indigenous-led grant to support local Nations and Indigenous organizations
The Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot is an Indigenous-led granting initiative begun in late 2022. The Advisory guides the development of this Indigenous granting process, completes application reviews, and makes granting recommendations for the Indigenous Priorities Fund. The purpose of this Fund is to support social, cultural, and legal infrastructure for Indigenous communities in the capital region.
The Advisory is made up of Indigenous people living in the capital region. Their main objectives for this grant call are to 1) develop a granting approach that better reflects Indigenous values and priorities, and 2) to review applications and make granting recommendations to the Victoria Foundation’s Board of Directors.
This collaboration builds on the Victoria Foundation’s ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities and on the recommendations of the Foundation’s Reconciliation Task Group.
Eagle Carving by Carey Newman and gifted to the Victoria Foundation.
Indigenous Granting Advisory Guiding Values
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Good mind and good heart.
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Work and collaborate in a good way.
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Rethink ways of doing, especially around granting.
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Walk and learn with humility.
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Be reflective.
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Be proactive and responsive.
$675,000 available for granting in fall 2024
The Indigenous Priorities Fund has approximately $675,000 available to grant in 2024. The purpose of the Fund is to benefit and support thriving social, cultural, and legal infrastructure for Indigenous communities in the capital region.
Granting priority is given to the following applications (in this order):
- Nations
- Indigenous-led organizations
- Organizations that are not Indigenous led but that offer Indigenous serving programs can also apply
Applicants must be based within the capital region and the benefits of their proposed initiative must serve Indigenous people living in this region. Please review this map: First Nations with Traditional Territories in the CRD.
Grant amounts for 2024 granting call will be:
- Up to $50,000 for Nations.
- Up to $25,000 for individual organizations.
- Up to $50,000 for organizations collaborating with a Nation with a band council resolution (BCR) confirming support.
- Up to $25,000 for organizations collaborating (one of which should be an Indigenous organization).
Applications will be welcomed from October 1 – November 4, 2024
Family-Friendly Open Houses
Want to learn about this Indigenous-led grant opportunity and how your Nation or organization can apply? Join the Indigenous Granting Advisory and Victoria Foundation staff at two upcoming family-friendly open houses.
Meet with community, enjoy good food, and get creative with art activities for young family members. Victoria Foundation staff will be available to discuss your grant ideas, answer questions about the granting process, and help attendees fill out applications online or orally.
WSÁNE? Land
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Pauquachin Community Hall, 8980 West Saanich Road
Esquimalt and Songhees Land
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Victoria Scottish Community Centre, 1803 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC V9A 2Y8
$506,000 granted to 17 local Nations and Indigenous organizations in 2023
Four local Nations and 13 other applicants have received funding in 2023 to support social, cultural, and legal infrastructure for Indigenous communities in the capital region.
The original amount of funding available was $300,000, but additional funding was secured from year-end donors wanting to support the pilot’s goals. Funding from the Vibrant & Caring Community Action Fund, Food Security Community Action Fund, and donor advised funds resulted in a total of $506,000 available to grant.
Grant Recipients
| Grantee Organization Name | Description of Project | Grant Amount |
| Esquimalt Nation | Hire an employment/education navigator to support Nation members in attaining their personal, educational and employment goals. | $38,598.00 |
| Songhees Nation | Purchase traditional cedar canoes to for Nation transportation and cultural activities. | $38,598.00 |
| Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay) First Nation | Renovate and repair the Nation’s Big House for community events and gatherings. | $38,598.00 |
| Tsawout First Nation | Purchase a van to support Nation members needing transportation support for appointments, cultural events and programs, and accessing community services, including food delivery to members in need. | $38,598.00 |
| Mayne Island Conservancy Society + WSÁNE? Leadership Council (with Tsartlip Nation engagement and support) |
Control the destructive fallow (non-indigenous) deer population with Tsartlip hunters following Indigenous hunting practices and ceremony on S??A? /Mayne Island and restoring ecological balance and providing food for Nation’s food security programs. | $38,598.00 |
| Victoria Sexual Assault Centre + Surrounded by Cedar, Aunty Collective and nation participation including WSÁNE? , Songhees, Tsartlip, Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay), Tsawout through Elders and representatives | Maintain and continue the collaborative work of the Indigenous Response Network who work together to develop culturally appropriate care and support initiatives for Indigenous people in the region facing gender-based violence. | $50,000.00 |
| University of Victoria + Songhees Nation | Expand UVic Centre for Outreach Education (CORE) tutoring services to 4 to 5 days a week with 4-5 tutors each day at the request of Songhees Nation After School Care program to meet significant increase in demand. | $50,000.00 |
| BC Amateur Sport Fund (applying for WSÁNE? School Board and BC Ultimate) | Expand successful Ultimate Spirit programming with local Indigenous youth attending WSÁNE? Secondary School to build leadership, physical health, and mentorship opportunities. | $48,510.00 |
| Peers Victoria Resources Society / QomQem Coastal Connections | Maintain cultural programming and expand cultural services for folks living unhoused, precariously housed or using substances in Lekwungen territories. Includes training for peer workers. | $25,000.00 |
| Michif Language Revitalization Circle Society | Métis participants are connected with a community of Michif Language Learners to speak Michif regularly through both in-person and digital programs. | $25,000.00 |
| Stqeeye’ Learning Society | Hire communications/site coordinator to support the organization with multi-pronged work (traditional land-based education, curriculum development, restoration and food sovereignty, and infrastructure). | $25,000.00 |
| Oasis Society for the Spiritual Health of Victoria | Support for paying a staff member and the purchase of capital equipment to enhance the delivery of culturally resonate Integrated Recovery and Holistic Healing program for those living unhoused and/or in poverty in downtown region. | $25,000.00 |
| Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services Society | Renovate already existing space to provide a gathering place for urban Indigenous youth to practice culture, learn to cook with traditional foods, and have a place to gather as a community with support staff and mentorship. | $25,000.00 |
| Island Métis Family & Community Services Society | Community kitchen program empowers Métis youth, fosters resilience, and provides peer community gathering space to share meals, by educating them on health, nutrition and traditional diet including cooking and knife skills training for which they receive a certificate to aid in securing work in hospitality sector. | $20,000.00 |
| The Literacy Circle Society + Victoria Native Friendship Centre | Provides a safe and respectful space for literacy learning for Indigenous elders and adults, residential and day school survivors and intergenerational survivors. New pilot in Victoria based on successful program in Nanaimo. | $10,000.00 |
| Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation | Project addresses the need for well-being, belonging and connectedness among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Provides opportunities for Indigenous youth participants to connect with the culture and community of local nations, while offering non-Indigenous youth opportunities to learn from Indigenous leaders and build connection to place. | $6,500.00 |
| Bike Victoria Society | Partner with the Songhees Wellness Centre to develop and deliver custom bike education courses for Songhees youth to address the barriers they face to cycling. | $3,000.00 |
The Victoria Foundation acknowledges with respect the Lekwungen speaking people of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on whose traditional lands our offices are located
If you have questions about the application process, please contact Sushil Saini, Manager Strategic Initiatives, at grants@victoriafoundation.bc.ca