Indigenous Languages Component — Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program

The Indigenous Languages Act received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. The Department is collaborating with Indigenous organizations to implement the Act and to develop a new approach to investing in Indigenous languages. While this work is being carried out, funding for 2020-2021 will be delivered through the Indigenous Languages Component of the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program.

The Indigenous Languages Component (formerly known as the Aboriginal Languages Initiative) supports the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance, and strengthening of Indigenous languages through community-driven activities.

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding, you must be a Canadian organization/group, democratically held and managed:

• Indigenous-controlled not for profit organization incorporated under the Canada not-for-profit Corporations Act or under corresponding provincial or territorial legislation
• Indigenous-controlled unincorporated not for profit organization
• Indigenous government and equivalent organization, and its delegated authorities
• Indigenous-controlled ad hoc committee that have formed to do a specific project
• for profit Indigenous-controlled organization, provided that the project for which you are requesting funding will not result in income generation for your sole benefit
• Indigenous-led institution including accredited programs
• in exceptional circumstances to be approved by the Program, non-Indigenous-controlled not for profit organization, in close partnership with Indigenous-controlled organizations

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding from the Indigenous Languages Component, your project must include community-driven activities such as:

• Capacity building
  • developing and implementing language plans
  • organizing and delivering conferences
  • supporting leadership development towards languages
• Language preservation and revitalization
  • developing and delivering community language training programs (e.g. language and culture instruction and camps, language nests, online training, master-apprentice programs, etc.)
  • developing resources to increase Indigenous language use and proficiency (e.g. books, videos, workbooks, lexicons, language kits, games, etc.)
  • developing systems for facilitating communications in Indigenous languages (e.g. database, etc.)
  • developing digital tools to share information, materials and resources among Indigenous languages groups (e.g. website, application, etc.)
  • recording, documenting and preserving Indigenous languages (e.g. radio and television content, archiving, etc.)
  • producing and broadcasting radio and television programming
  • developing and teaching of regular accredited program
• Community engagement
  • promoting engagement
• Cultural development
  • delivering life skills and wellness programs that incorporate learning of an Indigenous language
  • delivering festivals and gatherings including pow wows that incorporate Indigenous language promotion or learning

View the list of projects funded by the Aboriginal Languages Initiative component (input "Aboriginal Languages Initiative" in the search query).

Application deadline

January 31, 2020

How to apply

Applicants are required to:

• read the Application Guidelines – Indigenous Languages Component
• contact the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program  of the Department of Canadian Heritage to request an application package and submit the required documentation

First Nation organizations in British Columbia must apply through the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

First Nation organizations in Saskatchewan must apply through the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.

First Nation organizations in Ontario must apply through the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres.

Contact us

Department of Canadian Heritage
Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program
15 Eddy St, 8th Floor
Gatineau QC  K1A 0M5 (15-8-E)

Email

pch.autochtone-indigenous.pch@canada.ca

Telephone

819-934-1405

1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (ET).