Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Dominique Rankin Foundation

The Dominique Rankin Foundation is a Canadian charitable foundation created in 2020 by Anicinape hereditary chief and elder T8aminik (Dominique) Rankin and his partner, journalist and elder Marie‑Josée Tardif. Rooted in the history of residential school survivors and in Algonquin spiritual traditions, the foundation seeks to help Indigenous peoples “put their moccasins back on” by supporting healing, cultural reconnection and reconciliation initiatives.

The foundation raises private and institutional donations and reinvests them in Indigenous‑led projects. A central focus is the support of the non‑profit organization Kina8at, whose programs offer healing retreats, cultural reconnection activities and training for both Indigenous and non‑Indigenous participants. The foundation’s funding priorities are structured around three axes: healing, sharing and protecting.

The foundation does not present itself as a classical open‑call grantmaker, but rather as a philanthropic vehicle that channels resources toward a defined portfolio of Indigenous initiatives. Through its 2020–2025 major fundraising campaign, it aims to create an endowment fund to ensure the long‑term financial sustainability of the projects it supports, and to contribute to the development of a permanent cultural and healing center operated by Kina8at in Quebec, near Mont‑Tremblant.

By building this endowment and supporting infrastructure projects, the Dominique Rankin Foundation seeks to offer stable, multi‑year financial backing rather than one‑off contributions. The campaign targets a total of 3 million dollars: 2 million for the endowment fund and 1 million dedicated to the cultural and healing center, aligned with the three intervention areas of the foundation.

The primary beneficiaries of the foundation’s support are First Nations individuals, communities and organizations engaged in healing from intergenerational trauma, recovering traditional knowledge and strengthening identity. Through Kina8at and related initiatives, activities reach both Indigenous and non‑Indigenous participants, contributing to broader social awareness and reconciliation.

The foundation also positions itself as a bridge between donors, governments and Indigenous projects. Its fundraising efforts aim not only to finance programs directly, but also to leverage additional contributions from different levels of government by providing the capital base needed to unlock public funding. In this way, it acts as a catalyst for larger investments in Indigenous‑led healing and cultural initiatives.

The board of directors comprises experienced leaders from Indigenous organizations, philanthropy, communications and business. The presence of Grandfather T8aminik and Marie‑Josée Tardif, both widely recognized for their engagement in reconciliation and international dialogue, reinforces the foundation’s legitimacy in supporting culturally grounded healing projects. Registered as a charity with number 756358131RR0001, the Dominique Rankin Foundation operates with the transparency and accountability required of Canadian philanthropic organizations.