Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action: Applicant Guide for 2026/2027

About the Applicant Guide 

This Applicant Guide is designed to assist eligible Indigenous governments, organizations and communities, or partners in applying to the Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative for funding in support of Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action.

You are welcome to contact the Canada Water Agency (CWA) if you require clarification on the information contained in this guide.

If you require assistance with the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS) for the second stage of the application process, please contact GCEMS directly.

Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

As part of the Federal Freshwater Action Plan, investments through Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives will support actions that address regional freshwater challenges and priorities. The Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI) provides financial support for eligible partner-led projects that improve the water quality and ecological health of Lake Winnipeg and its basin.

Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action

For projects beginning in 2026-27, the Lake Winnipeg FEI is piloting a new approach for projects focused on Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action. This funding stream includes a two-stage application process. In the first stage, applicants will submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), which provides an opportunity for earlier engagement on potential project ideas and confirmation that proposed activities address common priorities. LOIs must be submitted via email to LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca before the deadline, January 9, 2026 at 14:00 CST.

After the LOI stage, applicants with eligible projects will then be invited to complete a full, detailed application through the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS) for further consideration. Applications will be evaluated in a competitive, merit-based process on their quality, alignment with program priorities, and completeness. See the application and selection process sections for more information.

Nutrient reduction focused projects should apply to the Lake Winnipeg FEI Nutrient Reduction Stream’s call for applications. Funding details are available on the Lake Winnipeg FEI webpage.
If you have questions about the two different funding streams, please contact the Lake Winnipeg FEI team at LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca.

1. Eligible Projects

Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action through the Lake Winnipeg FEI will support projects within the Canadian portion of the basin that enhance opportunities and capacity for Indigenous-led stewardship on freshwater quality issues in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Projects should be led by or partnered closely with Indigenous governments, organizations, and/or communities. Non-Indigenous applicants must clarify who is involved and the nature of their partnerships with Indigenous peoples in their LOI and application.

Examples of eligible projects include (but are not limited to) those that:

• Provide capacity building opportunities, such as community-based water quality monitoring and training, for Indigenous governments, organizations and communities, including youth, to better understand local water quality;
• Support Indigenous data sovereignty through the collection, sharing, and/or use of traditional knowledge to enhance decision-making and ecosystem monitoring in the Lake Winnipeg basin;
• Foster the transfer and sharing of Indigenous ways of knowing, including intergenerational transfer, to increase freshwater stewardship;
• Enhance engagement and facilitate opportunities to build relationships and work collaboratively on water quality issues and management in the Lake Winnipeg basin, such as increasing Indigenous representation on boards, committees and organizations.

2. Projects Not Eligible for Funding

• Projects that are focused solely on water quantity issues;
• Projects designed only to beautify an area;
• The purchase or construction of municipal infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and bridges;
• The purchase of land;
• Projects required by law and/or mandated by a level of government;
• Capital or operating costs of municipal infrastructure projects (e.g. sewers, sewage treatment plants, storm water ponds);
• Projects implemented and completed before a contribution agreement was signed; and
• Projects implemented outside of Canada.

Please note this is not a complete list. If you are unsure about the eligibility of your project, please contact LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca for clarification.

3. Eligible Applicants

Canadian organizations are eligible to apply and include:

• Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, communities, associations and authorities;
• Not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations;
• Research, academic, and educational institutions;
• For-profit organizations such as small businesses with less than 500 employees, companies, corporations, industry associations, and agricultural organizations;
• Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors’ and youth groups, and service clubs; and,
• Municipal governments and local governments (including Conservation Authorities and Watershed Districts).

4. Eligible Project Costs

• Human resource costs, including salaries and benefits;
• Management and professional service costs such as accounting, monitoring, communications, official language translation, Indigenous languages translation, audit and legal charges;
• Hospitality, travel and venues/conference expenses in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference, and Event Expenditures;
  • Hospitality expenditures can include costs related to indigenous ceremonial offerings to be utilized or consumed during meetings or ceremonies such as traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea and sacred plants
• Costs associated with Indigenous participation or ceremony;
• Monetary Honoraria offered to Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers related to specific participation activities which may include but not be limited to translation and interpretative costs, leading a traditional opening/closing ceremony and/or prayer, the sharing of traditional knowledge and protocols, (including spiritual advice to individuals), and demonstrating traditional art and other practices;
• Materials and supplies costs;
• Printing, production and distribution costs;
• Equipment and Capital Assets purchase (less than $10,000) or rental;
• Vehicle rental and operation costs;
• Contractors required to perform activities related to the project;
• Costs associated with land securement (e.g. leases, conservation easements, covenants or servitudes);
• A reasonable share (15% or less) of overhead and/or administrative costs which are directly attributable to the carrying out of the project; and
• Any GST/HST that is not reimbursable by Canada Revenue Agency and any PST not reimbursable by the provinces.

The following costs are ineligible:

• Expenditures related to lobbyist fees;
• Equipment and capital assets purchase or rental for for-profit recipients;
• Costs associated with land securement for for-profit recipients.

Please note these are not complete lists. If you are unsure about eligible costs, please contact program staff for clarification.

5. Funding Details

• Funding is available between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2029;
• Projects can be single or multi-year in nature;
• The Lake Winnipeg FEI typically does not fund 100% of project expenses (see the matching requirements below); and
• Projects that are not funded through this call can be re-submitted in a future call.

6. Matching Requirements

Typically, a minimum of 33% of the total project funding must be obtained from sources other than the Government of Canada. Priority may be given to projects with multiple funding sources and collaborative partnerships. Other sources of funding may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, or a combination of both.

Potential sources of matching funds (cash and in-kind) and how collaborations are to be undertaken (e.g. contributions by the applicant, landowners or others involved in the project, use of equipment, expertise etc.) must be clearly outlined and described in the Project Budget.

An “in-kind” expenditure or contribution is a donated or volunteered product or service that help cover project costs or completion of the project activities. Examples of in-kind contributions may include: volunteer time for project activities, coordination, or professional services; expertise from consultants, Elders, or academics; and donated equipment, materials, and/or office supplies.

7. Performance Indicators

Applicants will be asked to identify the performance indicators that apply to their project and provide the expected goal for each. At least one performance indicator must be identified to be eligible for funding. The list of performance indicators for the Lake Winnipeg FEI’s funding stream for Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-driven Action are:

• Knowledge Transfer and Sharing (# of presentations, meetings, knowledge sharing opportunities, or storytelling/teaching events, ceremonies)
• Outreach/Communications/Training (# of activities/# of people engaged/types of materials produced, # of materials produced per type)
• Collaborative Opportunities e.g. partnerships established (# of partnerships)
• Reports/papers compiled and published (# of reports/papers; also includes internal collections/documents for teachings, traditional knowledge, or Indigenous ways of knowing)
• Community/Landscape-based monitoring and Citizen Science/Education Activities (# of participants/# of evaluation or monitoring sites)

If your project will also include on-the-ground elements, other relevant indicators are:

• Amount of phosphorus reduced/diverted (kg/year)
• Wetlands / aquatic habitat created, conserved or restored (# of hectares)
• Stream/lake bank protected or stabilized (# of metres)
• Erosion control structures installed (# of structures)
• Surface water run-off retained on land e.g. retention ponds, small dams, edge-of-field retention (# of cubic metres of water retained/stored)      
• Wastewater treatment pilot technology / processes implemented / improved (# of treatment facilities)
• Livestock restricted from surface waters (# of livestock)

8. Permits and Federal Lands

Applicants are responsible for conducting the necessary research to determine if laws or mandates apply to any of the activities listed in the application. It is recommended that applicants verify relevant federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal legislation and regulations relating to the project’s activities and/or location(s).

Permits

If permits or authorizations are required for the project, these must be identified in the application. If not yet obtained, ensure the timeline for obtaining these approvals is included in the project’s work plan.

Federal Lands

Applicants must review the project locations and activities and determine if any activities will occur on federal lands. Projects occurring on federal lands may be required to complete an Impact Assessment.

According to the Impact Assessment Act, federal lands are defined as:

a) lands that belong to His Majesty in right of Canada, or that His Majesty in right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands, other than lands under the administration and control of the Commissioner of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut;

b) the following lands and areas:

i.  the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province;

ii.  the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province;

iii. the exclusive economic zone of Canada;

iv. the continental shelf of Canada; and,

c) reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

9. Application Process

Stage 1 - Letter of Intent

The LOI provides preliminary information to assess eligibility about the proposal including a brief description, how it aligns with program priorities, and budget estimates. It is intended to support earlier engagement on potential project ideas and confirmation that proposed activities common priorities, prior to requiring a more detailed application.

The LOI form is available for download on the Lake Winnipeg FEI’s funding stream for Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action Stream webpage, or can be requested from the Lake Winnipeg email (below).

Completed LOIs must be submitted via email before the deadline, January 9, 2026 at 14:00 CST, to: LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca.

Program staff will review the LOI and, as necessary, contact the applicant for additional information or clarity. After the LOI stage, applicants with eligible projects will be invited to provide more details through a full application for further consideration.

Stage 2 - Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS)

Applicants can submit their project application using the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS), Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) online application system.

Applicants with technical limitations are encouraged to contact the program to discuss alternative methods. Whether submitted through GCEMs or an approved alternative method, applications must be submitted by the deadline to be considered.  

Note: The online application system (GCEMS) is shared between CWA and ECCC.  References to ECCC in the system apply to both organisations.

It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the budget in GCEMS 24 hours prior to the deadline to allow sufficient time to resolve any errors.

GCEMS Applicant User Guide: The GCEMS Applicant User Guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to apply for funding, including information on how to create, edit and submit project applications.

Please contact sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca for technical assistance when using GCEMS.

Project Work Plan: In GCEMS, applicants will be asked to provide information related to project work plan including activity title, descriptions, main tasks, project output (products, results, services), expected results (outcomes and how they would be measured as successful), timeframe, and budget. Please see the brief example below, which is for reference only. Applications can include more details, as needed.

10. Selection Process

For the first stage of the process, each letter of intent will be reviewed for applicant eligibility and the project’s alignment to the Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action funding priority. Program staff may contact applicants for additional clarity or information. Applicants with eligible projects will then be invited to complete a full application for further consideration (Step 2). Applicants deemed ineligible at this stage will be informed.

For the second stage of the process, each submitted application will go through a three-stage review process: 1) administrative screening by program staff to confirm eligibility; 2) technical review by subject-matter experts to confirm project feasibility; and 3) final review of project outcomes against program priorities.

Eligible projects will be evaluated on the quality and completeness of your proposal, and assessed against, but not limited to, the following criteria:

Results:

• Project meets the criteria and aligns with the priority for the Lake Winnipeg FEI’s funding stream for Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-Driven Action
• Value for dollars invested

Uptake and Engagement:

• Strong collaboration between project partners
• Opportunities for technology and/or knowledge transfer to other parts of the Lake Winnipeg Basin and across watersheds

Achievability / Likelihood of Success:

• Clarity and scope of objectives
• Evaluation and performance measures (clearly stated, measurable and attainable)
• Likelihood of activities/benefits continuing after funding ends

Contributions from other Sources:

• Amount of leveraged funding
• Number of other organizations providing financial or in-kind support
• Other funding sources are confirmed

11. Notification and Reporting Requirements

All applicants (both successful and unsuccessful) will be notified in writing. If your application is approved, you will be contacted to negotiate a Contribution Agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of funding. Federal MPs and/or their team may be advised about the approval of a project and be provided with information provided in the project application including applicant’s name, project title, project description, project location, funding amounts and contact information.

Funding is conditional on the successful negotiation of a Contribution Agreement between the applicant and the CWA. Each Contribution Agreement must include written confirmation of all funding sources, a summary of project design, delivery, progress evaluations and anticipated results, as well as a budget forecast. All of these components must be accurately completed before the agreement can be signed.

All approved recipients are required to submit reports to the CWA throughout the duration of the project as outlined in the Contribution Agreement. Payments are based on reporting and cannot be made until a report has been submitted, reviewed and approved by a CWA project officer.

Once a project has finished, a final report is required. The final payment will not be provided (minimum 10% holdback) until a final report has been submitted, reviewed and approved by the CWA.

Contact us

Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
Canada Water Agency
510 -234 Donald Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba  
R3C 1M8

Email: LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca

Related links

• Projects funded by the Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative