First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program

This program provides youth with summer employment opportunities where they can gain work experience and develop important skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork.

Call for Proposals now closed

The 2024 to 2025 call for proposals to support activities under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience program is now closed. The deadline to submit a proposal was February 9, 2024 at 11:59 pm, Eastern time.

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About the program

The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program is part of the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.

Projects under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program allow youth to learn about career options and earn an income that can contribute to a university or college education.

The program:

Funding is provided to eligible First Nations and Inuit communities, governments and organizations, as well as not-for-profit associations, schools and employers who then provide activities for First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students. Approved proposals will support work experience opportunities for First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students between May 1, 2024, and the beginning of the student's fall academic term.

Who can apply

Successful recipients may offer employment opportunities directly to youth or enter into agreements with private sector and non-profit sector employers to access employment opportunities for youth.

Not-for-profit organizations and private sector employers may be eligible for direct funding for activities that provide opportunities for eligible First Nations and Inuit youth and fall within program guidelines. Not-for-profit organizations may be eligible to receive funding to cover up to 100% of wage costs and mandatory employment-related costs. Private sector employers may be eligible to receive funding to cover funding up to 50% of wage costs and mandatory employment-related costs.

Eligible youth participants

Eligible participants include:

  • First Nations secondary or post-secondary students ordinarily resident on reserve or in a recognized community, an approved settlement on Crown land
  • Inuit secondary or post-secondary students who are residents in Canada, but who reside outside their territory and are no longer eligible to be funded by their territory.
  • Since Territorial governments are the primary service providers for Inuit youth who reside on their territory, youth must provide proof that they are ineligible to receive funding from their Territorial government to participate in eligible Summer Work Experience Program activities.

Eligible youth must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Youth means persons aged 15 to 30 at the start of the program's activities. Eligible youth must be registered as secondary or post-secondary students during the preceding academic year and intend to go to school for the next academic session.

Ordinarily resident on reserve means that eligible youth:

  • live on reserve
  • do not maintain a primary residence off reserve
  • may be temporarily off reserve for the primary purpose of seeking education

Deadline

The deadline to submit a proposal was February 9, 2024 at 11:59 pm, Eastern time.

How to apply

Applicants must submit detailed proposals for the activities to be undertaken over the course of the agreement.

Proposals must:

The proposed placement must provide a minimum of 80 hours of work per participant.

Recipients who have access to the ISC Services Portal can access the proposal form by opening a session on the portal. If you do not have access to the portal, contact your ISC Regional office.

To find out more:

Proposals are reviewed and approved by the ISC regional office or the First Nations or Inuit organization managing the program for their member communities.

First Nations organizations in British Columbia must apply through the First Nations Education Steering Committee.

Last year's national program guidelines

Related links

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