Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Program

Our Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Program provides funding to coastal Indigenous communities to buy boats and related marine safety equipment. This helps support their membership in the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Combined with training in search and rescue, the Program helps these communities carry out search and rescue operations making the waters near Indigenous coastal communities safer for everyone.

Indigenous Auxiliary Members

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is a national non-profit organization of over 4,000 volunteer members with access to 1,000 vessels that boost the Government of Canada's maritime search and rescue response capacity.

Members of Indigenous coastal communities play a key role in marine safety. They are often the first to arrive on the scene when incidents happen in remote coastal areas. They also have expertise in navigating local waters.

In partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard, members of the Auxiliary provide marine search and rescue services, promote marine safety, and conduct coastal safety patrols.

Funding

The Canadian Coast Guard launched the program in 2017, under the Oceans Protection Plan. To date, 55 Indigenous coastal communities and organizations have received over $18 million in funding. They used the money to buy or repair boats and related equipment.

Under the next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan, this initiative will continue to build, enhance, or sustain communities’ capacity to participate in marine incident response activities.

Recipients

Northwest Territories

Hay River Marine Rescue Society
Inuvik Marine Rescue Unit
Tuktoyaktuk Marine Search and Rescue
Ulukhaktok Search and Rescue Society
Yellowknife Marine Rescue Society

Nunavut

Aivilik Marine Search and Rescue Society
Aklavik Search and Rescue Society
Cambridge Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary
Clyde River Search and Rescue
Coral Harbour Niviuqtiit Marine Search and Rescue Society
Eclipse Marine Search and Rescue (Pond Inlet)
Hamlet of Arviat
Gjoa Haven Marine Search and Rescue
Igloolik Marine Society
Iqaluit Marine Search and Rescue
Kugluktuk Coast Guard Auxiliary Rankin Inlet Marine Search and Rescue
Sanirajak Search and Rescue Society
Tulugak Marine Search and Rescue Society (Pangnirtung)

British Columbia

Ahousaht First Nation
Gitga'at First Nation
Gitxaala First Nation
Heiltsuk First Nation
Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' (Kyuquot/Cheklesahht) First Nation
Kitasoo/Xai'sais Stewardship Authority
Lax Kw’alaams First Nation
Namgis First Nation
Nisga’a Nation
Nuxalk Nation
Wuikinuxv First Nation
Quatsino First Nation
Old Massett Village Council

Manitoba

Churchill Coast Guard Auxiliary

Ontario

Beausoleil First Nation
Whitefish River First Nation
Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory

Quebec

Crees of Waskaganish First Nation
Nunaturlik Land Holding Corporation of Kangiqsujuaq
Nunavik Land holding Corporation of Aupaluk
Pituvik Landholding Corporation of Inukjuak
Qiniqtiq Landholding Corporation of Kangiqsualujjuaq
Conseil des Innus d'Unamen Shipu

New Brunswick

Mawiw Council Inc. (communities of Elsipogtog First Nation and Esgenoopetitj First Nation)
Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skituk

Nova Scotia

Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Waycobah First Nation (We'koqma'q)

Prince Edward Island

Lennox Island First Nation

Newfoundland and Labrador

Innu Nation (Natuashish)
Innu Nation (Sheshatshiu)
Miawpukek First Nation
Nunatsiavut Government and Makkovimuit Trust Inc. (Nain)
Makkovimuit Trust Inc. (Makkovik)
Nunatukavut Community Council (Cartwright)
Nunatukavut Community Council (Port Hope Simpson)

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2025-11-19