Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: As part of Canada’s work to renew relationships with Indigenous Peoples, the Government will support Indigenous groups working to rebuild their nations or Inuit communities—in a manner that responds to their unique needs and priorities. This was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and is an objective outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, announced that 25 Indigenous groups in Canada were successful applicants for the 2022–23 Nation Rebuilding Program, which supports activities to advance self-determination, constitution development, and community engagement and consultation.

Approved projects will support initiatives in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Some examples of funded proposals include:

• Research and community engagement activities for nationwide dialogue among the Mi’kmaq in Prince Edward Island;
• The development and incorporation of traditional systems alongside modern governance strategies among groups of nations in British Columbia;
• Supporting the reconstitution and strengthening of nations reclaiming their traditional identities after historic wrongful amalgamations in Saskatchewan; and
• Supporting increased unity and citizen engagement for Indigenous communities in the Yukon.

The Nation Rebuilding Program will help advance reconciliation and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples, improve well-being and economic prosperity, and develop healthier and more sustainable communities. The Government of Canada will continue to support Indigenous communities from across the country as they advance their priorities, the way they see fit.

Quotes

“Supporting Indigenous groups through programming such as nation rebuilding allows each nation to respond to the unique needs and priorities of their communities. We will continue to work with Indigenous Peoples across the country to advance reconciliation and support their right to self-determination.”

The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

• Nation Rebuilding Program funding has been made available for five years, starting in 2018–19. All funded proposals support capacity development, as well as nation-rebuilding activities that include more than one Indigenous group of the same nation.
• The call for proposals for 2022–2023 resulted in 25 funded projects, some of which are multi-year. The total amount of funding available for this program over five years is $100 million, averaging approximately $20 million per fiscal year to be distributed across the country.
• This is the fifth and final year of funding that has been budgeted to the Nation Rebuilding Program.
• The Nation Rebuilding Program is undergoing a review process to assess how best to meet the future needs of this program and its recipients.
• An anticipatory call for proposals is now open to eligible First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups seeking to rebuild their nations.

Associated links

• Nation Rebuilding Program
• Nation Rebuilding Program Guidelines
• Anticipatory Nation Rebuilding Program Application 2023-2024
• Contributions to support the Nation Rebuilding Program
• 2021-22 Selected Nation Rebuilding projects

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Aïssatou Diop
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations
aissatou.diop@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

CIRNAC Media Relations:
Email: RCAANC.Media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca
Phone: 819-934-2302