Guidelines for capacity-building funding to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis child and family services
Additional details to guide the creation of capacity-building funding proposals to support the implementation of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
On this page
Application tools
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has prepared two tools that may help you with the application process to request for capacity-building funding. These resources provide important instructions and examples, and we encourage you to refer to these tools as you develop your proposal and budget:
- The funding request form, also known as the work plan
- Enter 1271719 in the Filter items box on the Proposals, applications, work plans webpage under the relevant fiscal year.
- The budget tool
- Formulas are embedded in the spreadsheet to facilitate adding subtotals and totals throughout. Adding or deleting rows may mean some of these formulas need an update.
What to include in your proposal
Ensure the capacity-building proposal clearly describes how the applicant and the Indigenous group(s) represented in the proposal meet the selection criteria.
Provide contact information for the proposal applicant as well as each Indigenous group, community or people represented in the proposal.
Workplans and budgets can be submitted in the format of your choice, but must include the level of detail found in the capacity-building funding request form, such as:
- identifying the capacity-building proposal type as single year or multi-year
- describing each objective of the proposal or work plan:
- identifying the community needs, and
- describing how capacity-building funding would address meeting each objective and support exploring readiness and advancing the core jurisdictional development activities
- describing the activities required for each objective and outline the steps that will be taken to meet them
- activities should be specific, measurable, realistic and relevant to the proposal's objectives
- outlining the various steps or milestones that reliably show your expected progress and plans to complete the activities on time and within budget
- describing the expected tangible results of each activity
- where applicable, describing the evaluation method and outcomes of the activities
Budgets should include:
- detailed descriptions and breakdowns of the expenses
- expenses linked to the activities in your work plan.
If your proposal is multi-year, make sure that your detailed budget includes clear costing for each year. ISC also requires that multi-year proposals be updated annually based on results achieved to date, shifting priorities and adjustments to activities and budgets. This ensures that submitted information remains current, reflecting planned objectives as well as year-over-year budget needs.
Proof of authorization
Indigenous governing body applicants must provide proof of their ability and authorization to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
ISC accepts various forms of authorization signed to quorum including, but not limited to:
- Band Council Resolutions
- letters
- board resolutions
- referendums
Eligible activities
Recipients are encouraged to leverage eligible capacity-building activities to complete core jurisdictional development items:
- community engagement, including engaging community stakeholders and community members in the drafting, revision or finalization of child and family services legislation or culturally appropriate programs
- planning, including the strategic planning for transition toward the exercise and transfer of child and family services jurisdiction
- development of culturally based model and services
- drafting of child and family services legislation and policies
- legislation development, including hiring professionals to assist in legislation development
Additional capacity-building activities eligible for funding include:
- community self-assessment
- research, including research and development of child and family services models and feasibility studies
- data gathering
- professional consulting fees, including expert advice to support jurisdictional development
- policy development activities
- travel and accommodations
- communications
- IT systems design
- hardware and software needed to support data collection, analysis and reporting
- design of training on Indigenous laws and models
- preparation of plans for development activities
Submissions must clearly indicate how each proposed activity directly contributes to defined objectives related to preparing for and exploring the exercise of jurisdiction.
When Section 35 rights-holding groups and communities complete preparatory work related to core jurisdictional development activities before entering coordination agreement discussions, ISC has found that:
- there is a strong foundation for the successful transition toward the exercise of jurisdiction
- resulting discussions proceed in a more effective and focused way for all parties, and
- Indigenous governing bodies experience smoother coordination with provincial and territorial partners
Costs may be subject to enquiry to ensure consistent alignment across proposals. Note this funding is not meant to:
- establish permanent employment
- establish permanent structures
- implement the Indigenous law
- provide training on the Indigenous law
- fund groups who are at coordination agreement discussion table and are looking to develop capacity to implement their models and laws
Funding for permanent structures, for the implementation of Indigenous laws, models, programs and service delivery can be discussed with your regional ISC or Northern Affairs office.
Funding
Funding will be:
- comparable for all Indigenous groups, communities and peoples, and
- based on distinct circumstances of each Indigenous group, community or people or Indigenous governing body, including geographic location (remoteness) and the number of Indigenous groups, communities and peoples that hold rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Indigenous governing body represents.
The funding amounts will be subject to:
- yearly maximums outlined in the chart below
- the number of proposals received
- the total funding available, if demand exceeds available funding
| Community size | Urban | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Indigenous communities under 1,500 people | $250,000 | $300,000 |
| Indigenous communities over 1,500 people | $550,000 | $650,000 |
| Indigenous groups representing multiple communities | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Indigenous communities or groups representing over 10,000 people | $1,750,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Large organizations on a Treaty or regional scale | $1,750,000 | $2,000,000 |
Additional funding information
- Section 35 rights-holding collectives are subject to a five-year funding maximum timeline to align with the expectation that they be in a position to and intend to exercise jurisdiction within the next five years. These five years are counted whether the section 35 rights-holding collective applies directly for funding or through an authorized Indigenous governing body. The funding does not need to be accessed consecutively.
- Multi-year proposals will be reviewed every year. Funding for the subsequent year will be dependent on funding recipients achieving objectives for the prior year, as well as the availability of funds.
- The maximum level of total government assistance (including federal, provincial and assistance for the same eligible expenditures) for the same purpose and eligible expenditures may not exceed 100% of eligible expenditures.
- Where applicable, funding ceilings may be higher to allow for travel costs in remote regions of the country. Temporarily, for the purpose of this funding process, remote is defined as a place with no year-round road access to a service centre.
- The manner in which ISC will assess remoteness will be in line with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's Contributions to Support the Negotiation and Implementation of Treaties, Claims and Self-Government Agreements or Initiatives. This is an interim measure to allow ISC to allocate this funding in a timely manner to Indigenous groups, communities and peoples that hold rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, that wish to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services, until a longer-term funding approach can be developed with Indigenous partners.
- Unexpended funding may only be carried over as per the terms of the recipient's overall funding agreement, with an approved unspent funds plan and/or updated proposal that includes any unspent funds, and is consistent with the program objectives.
Reporting requirements
Funding recipients will be required to submit an annual financial report for each year of funding to account for the use of funds and in accordance with the terms of their funding arrangement.
- Enter 4548549 in the Filter items box on the Reporting Guide webpage under the relevant fiscal year to download and fill out the Activities and Expenditures report.
- Choose "Other" in the program section and specify "Capacity-Building Funding for the Act."
A separate schedule in your annual audited financial statements will also be required.
Collaborative information sharing
In an effort to provide notice to provincial and territorial governments, ISC has shared the names of the Indigenous groups, communities and peoples that hold rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Indigenous governing bodies and the national Indigenous organizations that have received capacity-building funds for capacity-building activities.
Contact us
Your regional ISC or Northern Affairs office is your primary contact and will be able to assist you with your capacity-building funding proposals.
You can also reach out to the national team by email: Partenariats.Partnerships@sac-isc.gc.ca.