Indigenous Grants Stream Supports 24 Land-Based Projects

Guided by a diverse group of First Nations leaders, the Real Estate Foundation of BC’s Indigenous Grants Stream supports Indigenous-led, land-based projects across what’s known as BC.

As directed by REFBC’s Indigenous Community Leaders Circle (ICLC), funding from the Indigenous Grants Stream goes to projects that support Indigenous people in getting out on the land and water, build Indigenous community leadership (especially among youth), center Indigenous culture and knowledge, advance Indigenous governance, and contribute to the assertion of Indigenous rights and title.

In November 2023, the ICLC approved a second round of grants totalling $2,550,000. The ICLC awarded $1,350,000 in new grants to nine grantees ($150,000 per project) and $1,200,000 in renewed funding to 12 grantees ($100,000 per project) from the first round.

In February 2024, the ICLC awarded $300,000 in renewed funding to three grantees ($100,000 per project). That brings the second round to 24 grants totalling $2,850,000.

We are grateful to ICLC members Norm Allard, Marilyn Baptiste, Lana Lowe, and Taylor Wale (Luu’Maja) for their leadership and generosity.

We wish to give a special thank-you to Patrick Michell, who departed the ICLC in November. We wish Patrick well in his new role with Lytton First Nation (Tl’kemtsin).

Many thanks are due to Jessie Hemphill, Robbie Knott, and Ren Roberts of Sa̱nala Planning for facilitation.

New Grants

Renewed Grants

REFBC is committed to supporting the advancement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Rights (UNDRIP). Ensuring Indigenous peoples are active in the decision-making processes for grants supporting land-based work is connected to upholding UNDRIP Articles 18, 26, and 28.