Indigenous Heritage — Museums Assistance Program

The Indigenous Heritage component of the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) provides funding for projects related to the preservation, management and presentation of Indigenous cultural heritage in Canada.

Who can apply

Applicants must meet the criteria in 1 of 3 categories:

1. Indigenous governing bodies or Indigenous organizations within Canada with a mandate to preserve and support First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis heritage

OR

2. Incorporated non-profit Canadian museums^{Footnote 1} that meet all of the following requirements:
   • employ at least 1 paid professional staff (full-time, part-time or seasonal, excluding students)
   • have policies for key museum functions

OR

3. Incorporated non-profit Canadian service organizations whose membership relates to the museum sector (for example, national, provincial, territorial or regional museums associations) which:
   • employ at least 1 paid professional staff (full-time, part-time or seasonal, excluding students)

Federal departments, Crown corporations and agencies are not eligible for MAP funding.

Funding priority is given to projects submitted by Indigenous organizations and conducted for the benefit of Indigenous communities. Applications submitted by other heritage organizations will only be considered provided that a close collaboration or partnership with an Indigenous organization is demonstrated.

Application deadline

The application intake period will take place from September 3, 2025, at 8 am (ET) to November 3, 2025, at 4 pm (ET).

Under exceptional circumstances and pending the availability of funds, applications may be considered outside the regular funding cycle. Please contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage for further information.

How to apply

Applicants must:

• review the Application Guidelines
• contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage to discuss their project
• complete an application through the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal

Contact us

For further information please contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

or

Museums Assistance Program
Department of Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy St 9th floor (25-9-N)
Gatineau QC  J8X 4B5

Email

map-pam@pch.gc.ca

Telephone

819-997-0055
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

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

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (ET).

Regional offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage

Guides and help

• Application Guidelines — Indigenous Heritage
• Glossary
• Forms — Indigenous Heritage
• Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support — Canadian Heritage
• Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs
• Report fraud and abuse

Related services and information

• Museums Assistance Program
• Digital Access to Heritage — Museums Assistance Program
• Access to Heritage — Museums Assistance Program
• Exhibition Circulation Fund — Museums Assistance Program
• Collections Management — Museums Assistance Program
• Canada-France Agreement — Museums Assistance Program
• Evaluation of the Museums Assistance Program 2013-14 to 2017-18

Other possible sources of funding

• Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (support for local community festivals and anniversaries)
• Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (support for capital projects, specialized equipment and feasibility studies)
• Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program (support for Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages and cultures)
• Young Canada Works (for summer jobs and internship programs in heritage organizations)
• Canada Council for the Arts (support to First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists and arts organizations)
• Library and Archives Canada — Listen, Hear Our Voices (support for Indigenous groups to digitize documentary heritage and develop preservation skills and knowledge)
• Library and Archives Canada — Documentary Heritage Communities Program (support to documentary heritage organizations to preserve and promote their holdings)