SSIF: Indigenous Priorities Fund in Canada

Deadline: 31-Jan-23

A collaboration of the Salt Spring Island Foundation (SSIF) and the Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation for the Indigenous Priorities Fund is now accepting applications to increase community inclusiveness, and to support Indigenous cultural sustainability on Salt Spring Island.

The Foundation acknowledges that systemic barriers have prevented equal access to community funding. The Indigenous Priorities Fund aims to acknowledge this and other truths of colonial structures, and to support cultural initiatives. Feedbacks from Indigenous communities are welcomed as foundation strives to deliver the Indigenous Priorities Fund in a culturally respectful manner.

The Foundation invites your ideas for projects that will:

• celebrate Indigenous culture and self-determination
• increase community belonging and inclusiveness, especially for Indigenous community members
• be accessible to community groups and organizations with Indigenous membership
• support reconciliation through the practice of education, understanding, dignity and respectful action.

Funding Information

• Beginning in 2022, up to $50,000 per year will be available through the Fund, for a minimum of four years.
• Projects funded by the Indigenous Priorities Fund will take place on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

Eligible Funding

• Fees for direct services leading to project outcomes such as artists, performers, contractors, instructors and cultural advisors. Artists are broadly defined and may include writers, musical artists, visual artists, jewellers, oral language teachers, storytellers, etc.
• Travel and expenses related to project participation for non-resident Indigenous participants
• Wages for staff of participating organizations to develop, implement and report on the project (or portion of salary, if on payroll)
• Capital equipment and supplies related directly to the project
• Capacity-building or planning activities for staff, board, groups and volunteers involved in project design and implementation, e.g., training for non-Indigenous organizations and project participants in Indigenous cultural education, cultural competency or cultural safety.

Eligible Project

• Public Indigenous art exhibits and installations at parks and institutions
• Indigenous cultural education/community education events, such as:
  • Hosting speakers at cultural/archeological projects
  • Book purchases for a Salt Spring Island–based library
  • Interpretive signs, Indigenous place names
  • Indigenous knowledge sharing, such as workshops in storytelling, language, craft/drum-making, ecological stewardship, cultural harvest/foods, plant medicine
• Indigenous youth learning events, e.g., camps, workshops, youth program exchanges.
• Indigenous artist-in-residence projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Qualified applicants include:
  • registered charities
  • Indigenous-led groups performing a function of government registered as qualified donees with the Canada Revenue Agency. 
  • local and regional governments
  • school districts
• Project leadership and/or participants in projects that are awarded funds must be residing on Salt Spring Island.
• Organizations that are non-profit societies but not registered charities may partner with a qualified organization.
• Partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations are encouraged but not required.

For more information, visit SSIF.

For more information, visit https://ssifoundation.ca/indigenous-priorities-fund/