Application guidelines – Indigenous Languages Component – Multi-distinction and Indigenous Urban Organizations

Indigenous Languages Program

On this page

• Introduction
• Objectives and expected results for the Indigenous Languages Component – multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations
• Eligibility
• Funding Limits
• Application and assessment process
• Funding decisions
• Reporting requirements
• Managing conflict of interest
• Anti-racism and anti-hate
• Workplace well-being
• Public health guidance
• Other requirements
• Acknowledgement of financial assistance
• Access to information requests
• Disclosure of information
• Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program
• Contact us
• Glossary

Introduction

Since fiscal 2023-2024, the Indigenous Languages Component funded by Canadian Heritage has been transitioning to allocate multi-year funding and provide more predictability and flexibility to Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their Indigenous languages.

Funding Stream

Proposal-based funding for annual or multi-year to support language revitalization activities.

Objectives and expected results for the Indigenous Languages Component – multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations

Objectives

The objectives of the Indigenous Languages Component are to:

• Support the efforts of Indigenous communities and Indigenous organizations to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their Indigenous languages;
• Create new Indigenous language speakers, increase fluency, immersion opportunities, use of Indigenous languages, and the documentation of all Indigenous languages.

The Indigenous Languages Component also contributes to the broader objectives of the Indigenous Languages Program (ILP), with respect to Indigenous languages.

Expected results

• Multi-distinction and urban organizations develop resources to support language revitalization.
• Trained Indigenous Language instructors, revitalization specialists, facilitators and administrators.
• Language revitalization activities are occurring.
• Increased capacity to deliver Indigenous language programs and services.
• Increase in the use of Indigenous languages.
• Increased number of fluent language speakers with increased language proficiency.
• Increased number of Indigenous language experts, translators and curriculum developers.
• Intergenerational transmission of Indigenous languages is increased.
• Vitality of Indigenous languages is improved.

Eligibility

Eligible recipients

To be eligible, an applicant must be an Indigenous multi-distinction and urban organization or group within Canada, and in good standing.

Indigenous organization or group refers to an organization or group that is owned and controlled by Indigenous persons, including an Indigenous-owned corporation or an Indigenous controlled not-for-profit organization, which directly delivers language revitalization services or that otherwise supports the delivery of language revitalization services. This includes:

• not-for-profit organization;
• institution and accredited programs;
• ad hoc group that has formed to do a specific language project; and
• for-profit organization, provided that the activities for which they are requesting funding will not result in income generation for their sole benefit.

Multi-distinction refers to organizations or projects that include Indigenous language activities from more than one distinction. The distinctions are First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Eligible activities

To be eligible for funding from the Indigenous Languages Component –multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations, the application must contribute to language fluency and support the efforts of Indigenous organizations in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining, strengthening and promoting Indigenous languages^{Footnote 1} such as:

• language programs and services (e.g., immersion activities, language nests, mentor-apprentice programming, land-based learning);
• resource development (e.g., documentation and archiving, instructor resources, language tools, and audiovisual and multimedia materials);
• capacity building and training (e.g., curriculum development, leadership development, and teacher training and language plan development); and
• management and administration for language programming and services (e.g., communication, consultation, and coordination).

View the list of previous projects funded by the Indigenous Languages Component.

Eligible expenditures

Only expenditures for activities related to the objectives of the Indigenous Languages Component – multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations are eligible, these include:

• start-up costs for Indigenous organizations whose mandate is to support the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages;
• salaries and employee benefits;
• in exceptional circumstances^{Footnote 2}, stipends, allowances or honoraria for attendance in a course or activity;
• travel expenses, which must not exceed the rates permitted as per travel on government business;
• professional development and training programs;
• meetings;
• rent and utilities related to the activities;
• photocopying and printing services related to the activities
• translation and communications;
• professional, consulting and Elder fees;
• equipment rental, service and purchase;
• costs associated with information technology, including purchase and upgrade of hardware and software;
• minor renovation in the context of promotional languages activities;
• project supplies and resource materials related to the activities;
• general liability insurances; and
• administrative costs, such as: bookkeeping services, office supplies, telephone, fax, utilities, postage and courier fees, photocopying, printing, rent for office space, audit, legal, translation. Administrative costs cannot exceed 15% of the total approved funding.

Eligible expenses approved for a fiscal year must be incurred between April 1 and March 31 of that fiscal year.

Ineligible expenditures

You cannot use funds from the Indigenous Languages Component – multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations for:

• capital construction and major (high cost) renovation;
• salaries and honoraria for Board of members in the delivery of regular operations;
• pre-school, Elementary, Secondary and Post-Secondary Education core funding;
• core operational costs associated with broadcasting of radio, television and programming;
• start-up and operational costs for commercial enterprises, and support for the development of cultural and professional industries;
• contingency and miscellaneous fees; and
• deficit recovery.

Funding Limits

The total financial assistance received from the Indigenous Languages Component and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of the total eligible project-related costs.

Canadian Heritage can fund up to 100% of eligible expenses.

Approved applications of $150,000 per fiscal year and under may be funded through a grant agreement.

Approved applications over $150,000 per fiscal year will be funded through a contribution agreement.

An applicant can submit only one application form per fiscal year which could be annual or multi-year, without limitation on the number of activities or projects submitted in the application, as detailed in the application and assessment process below. This should allow regional organizations serving multiple organizations or communities to reflect their overall funding request in their application form. The application should not result in any form of duplication in regard of funding Indigenous languages activities and services delivery.

Application and assessment process

Canadian Heritage is responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project and project-related expenses. The Indigenous Languages Component - multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations requests for funding always exceed Canadian Heritage’s available resources. Hence, applying for funding is a competition for limited funding. If the organization or group is eligible, submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

How to apply

Canadian Heritage encourages the applicant to read these guidelines in their entirety before completing the application. The same project should only be submitted once, by a single applicant or a delivery organization, in a fiscal year.

Please contact us to receive an application package.

Applicants whose multi-year applications were not approved beyond one year, can opt for their application to be reassessed the following year. An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding. A complete application package includes:

• Supporting documents required in the Application Checklist (Annex A)
• General Application Form (Annex B)
• Organization Overview (Annex C)
• Project Activities and Resources (Appendix 1)
• Declaration and Attestation (Annex D)
• Budget (Annex E)

Application process

Only application packages submitted electronically will be considered for assessment.

1. Complete:
   • Annex B: the General Application Form
   • Annex C: the Organization Overview
   • Appendix 1: the Project Activities and Resources
   • Annex E: the Budget
2. Sign the Declaration and Attestation (Annex D)
3. Attach all the required supporting documents listed in Annex A

Submit the complete application package to the following email address: pch.autochtone-indigenous.pch@canada.ca. Please contact us for further information or if you need assistance to submit the application.

How applications are evaluated

Canadian Heritage funds activities that have clear objectives and measurable results, where applicable. The application will initially be assessed by Canadian Heritage to ensure the eligibility of the application, according to the eligibility section above.

Eligible applications will then be evaluated, based on the evaluation criteria below, and prioritized in relation to the funds available.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously provided funding, such as late reporting and missing reports, will be considered in the evaluation of the applicant’s new application and could result in a rejection of the new application.

Should an applicant’s application be rejected, the program could provide feedback on the applications.

Evaluation criteria

The application must:

• demonstrates to what extent the implementation of activities will support the objectives of the Indigenous Languages Component - multi-distinction languages and Indigenous urban organizations;
• describes the activities to be funded;
• describes the expected results of the proposed activities;
• includes a budget that clearly links to the proposed activities; and
• if applicable, discloses partners and the role that they will play in the activities.

Canadian Heritage may prioritize multi-distinction and urban organizations with large networks and experience in language revitalization activities.

Funding priorities include implementation of activities that strongly support the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages (e.g., mentor-apprentice programs, immersion, language nests).

The recipient commits to providing activity, evaluation, financial reports and other related information, when requested by the Department.

Application deadline

The Indigenous Languages Component call remains closed in 2027-2028 for Multi-distinction and Indigenous urban organizations, as the Department already received multi-year applications in 2025-2026.

Application processing time

Canadian Heritage will acknowledge receipt of the application package within two weeks of its reception.

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs.

Funding decisions

Canadian Heritage will target funding for activities based on the criteria outlined in the Evaluation criteria section.

Decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

Canadian Heritage will determine if funding will be disbursed as a grant, as a set contribution as a fixed contribution or as a flexible contribution.

A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for an activity. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of the activity, the applicant will be required to submit a report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by the organization or group and by Canadian Heritage and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of the activity, the applicant must submit a final report.

A fixed contribution funding is an option to Indigenous recipients where eligibility criteria are met. The funding level is predetermined annually to meet program requirements and achieve the planned results. When planned results are achieved for less than the amount provided, fixed contribution funding allows the recipient to retain the unexpended funds, subject that all the contribution agreement conditions are met and subject to approval from Canadian Heritage a plan on how the unexpended funding will be utilized.

A flexible contribution funding is an option to Indigenous recipients where eligibility criteria are met. The funding level is predetermined in order to support work plan and recurring activities for more than 12 months. The Recipient may retain, during the term of this Agreement, an unexpended balance at the end of each fiscal year to spend towards eligible expenses incurred in subsequent fiscal years. Except for administration costs and travel expenditures, the Recipient may transfer funds from one eligible expenditure category to another without the Minister’s authorization.

Reporting requirements

The reporting requirements for financial reports and results reports and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient’s funding agreement.

Financial reporting

If a recipient receives $250,000 or more as a contribution, the recipient is required to submit an audited financial report.

Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in the recipient’s funding agreement.

Results reporting

All recipients will report annually on the activities and outcomes of their projects.

Managing conflict of interest

It is necessary to avoid actual conflicts of interest and any situation that might cause doubt in objectivity. For recipients receiving funds as a managing organization, a managing conflict of interest procedure needs to be developed and put in place to ensure accountability to Indigenous communities within the respective region.

Recipients that receive and/or manage the adjudication and administration of the funding of the program must demonstrate transparency and accountability in their policies and processes.

This includes having:

• a publicly available conflict of interest policy
• written standards, policies and procedures on the project selection process for funding
• a publicly available list of successful proponents.

Individuals or organizations cannot participate in the evaluation of a proposal in the following situations:

• the individual or organization has assisted in the preparation of the proposal, is an employee of the applicant, has provided consulting services, in any capacity, to the organization submitting the proposal, or may in the future
• the individual or organization will be a team member on the proposed project
• the individual or organization is a relative or close friend of any of the employees of the management team of the eligible recipient which submitted a proposal

Conflicts of interest may arise during the review of proposals. These situations need to be managed in an open and transparent manner.

Should a situation arise that presents a real or potential conflict of interest during the review process, the impacted individuals must recuse themselves from the deliberations concerning the specific proposal.

Anti-racism and anti-hate

Canadian Heritage is committed to address systemic racism, promote diversity, and create environments where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. We strive to challenge discriminatory beliefs and practices, cultivate understanding and empathy, and champion policies and programs that advance equality for all.

Organizations receiving funding, including any representatives whether employees, consultants, or other persons directly affiliated with the organization, must take steps to ensure they respect the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Public health guidance

Canadian Heritage expects that applicants will act in compliance with applicable statutes, laws, bylaws, regulations, orders, codes, standards, directives and guidelines governing the activities for which funding is being sought, including those related to public health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other requirements

While supporting efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages and to preserve and revitalize Indigenous cultures, Canadian Heritage is subjected to legislations, such as the Official Languages Act. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the requirements that are set out in your funding agreement, when applicable.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If an applicant receives funding, an applicant must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in the funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Access to information requests

Canadian Heritage is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information an applicant submits in their application may be disclosed in accordance with these Acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting the funding application, the applicant authorizes Canadian Heritage to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities, for the following purposes:

• to reach a decision;
• to evaluate the results of the activity; and
• to support transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

Canadian Heritage reserves the right to audit an applicant’s accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of their funding agreement. Canadian Heritage also conducts periodic program evaluations, during which an applicant may be required to present documentation. An applicant must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluations for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact us

For further information, contact the Indigenous Languages Program at Canadian Heritage by:

Email:

autochtone-indigenous@pch.gc.ca

Telephone:

819-934-1405

Toll-free:

1-866-811-0055

TTY:

1-888-997-3123

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET).

Glossary

Although some terms and definitions do not appear in the guidelines for the Indigenous Languages Component, applicants may come across these terms in associated documents that they may have to review as part of the application process.

Annual/Final report

An annual/final report is submitted at the end of your activity based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your annual/final report needs to provide the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your activity.

Audited financial report

An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the activity and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.

Audited financial statements

A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Cash flow

A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your activity. At the beginning of your activity, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.

Final financial report

A final financial report includes, as separate items, the budget as well as all of the revenues realized, and expenditures incurred for the given period with regard to the activity being funded.

Indigenous Organization

Indigenous organization refers to an organization that is owned and controlled by Indigenous persons, including an Indigenous-owned corporation or an Indigenous controlled non-profit organization, which directly delivers language revitalization services or that otherwise supports the delivery of language revitalization services.

Financial statements

A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Financial statements may be audited or unaudited.

Good Standing Organization:

In order to be eligible, the applicant must be in good standing with the Department of Canadian Heritage, meaning that there are no compliance issues with past contribution agreements, including unjustified late reports or issues for which there would be a recovery that is still not refunded yet.

Indigenous communities

Indigenous communities are First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Interim reports

Interim reports are submitted during your activity based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.

Language Plan

A language revitalization plan is a holistic document that incorporates community-wide language revitalization strategies that are supported by Indigenous communities or recognized Indigenous Regional Organizations. The plan covers multiple years and may consider all appropriate domains of language revitalization work, including the creation of new Indigenous fluent speakers.

Multi-distinction languages projects

Projects including Indigenous language activities from more than one distinction are considered as multi-distinctions. The distinctions are First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Official-Language Minority Communities

The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.

Volunteer

An individual working on behalf of others without receiving financial or material gain.