Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Indigenous Grants

• The applicant must be an Indigenous organization (such as an Indigenous community, government, tribal council, Indigenous for-profit or not-for-profit organization) or a non-Indigenous organization legally incorporated or registered in Canada that is working with or on behalf of an Indigenous partner (including academic or research institutions, not-for-profit groups, or government entities).
• If applying as a non-Indigenous organization, a letter of endorsement from the leadership of the Indigenous partner organization is required.
• The initiative must be associated with a critical minerals mining project where at least 50% of the total mineral production by volume is one or more of the critical minerals identified by Canada.
• The project must relate to eligible clean energy and/or transportation infrastructure in Canada that enables increased production of critical minerals (e.g., grid connectivity, renewable energy integration, mine access roads, or necessary transportation links for moving critical minerals).
• The activities of the initiative must include engagement, capacity building, and/or knowledge gathering or sharing that directly support Indigenous participation in the development or expansion of critical minerals infrastructure projects.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous organizations (including Indigenous communities, Indigenous governments, tribal councils, national or regional Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous for-profit or not-for-profit organizations)
• Non-Indigenous organizations working with or on behalf of an Indigenous partner (such as academic or research institutions, not-for-profit groups, and provincial, territorial or municipal governments and their departments and agencies)

Who is not eligible

• Companies seeking funding for capital expenditures, construction costs, renovation of buildings, or legal fees related to litigation, as these expenses are ineligible.
• Organizations whose initiatives are not associated with critical minerals mining projects where at least 50% of the total mineral production by volume is from Canada's critical minerals list.
• Applicants proposing infrastructure projects that do not directly enable the development or expansion of critical minerals production (e.g., infrastructure for non-mining purposes or solely for the movement of people or equipment).

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for employees’ time spent on the initiative.
• Costs for training, including wages, stipends, or other financial transfers to non-salaried trainees and students, and fees paid to trainers or training organizations.
• Honoraria, ceremonial costs, and hospitality expenses for community engagement events and meetings (including cultural gifts and prizes).
• Rental of facilities, transportation, and equipment required for the initiative.
• Travel expenses such as meals and accommodation, as per National Joint Council rates.
• Professional, legal, and contracting services relevant to the initiative.
• Communications and media services.
• Translation, editing, publication, and printing related to initiative activities.
• Laboratory, scientific, field, and personal safety equipment and supplies.
• Overhead expenditures (e.g., office operating expenses) directly related to the initiative, up to 15% of total eligible expenditures.
• Provincial sales tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) costs, net of any tax rebate to which the recipient is entitled.

Eligible geographic areas

• All regions of Canada, including northern and remote areas such as Yukon, Northwest Territories, Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.

• Potential of the proposed activities to generate significant benefits for Indigenous Peoples, as defined by the Indigenous group(s) associated with the application.
• Potential for significant positive or adverse impacts of the associated critical minerals and/or infrastructure development on Indigenous Peoples and the environment.
• Urgency and status of the critical minerals and/or infrastructure development (e.g., projects entering the construction phase soon will be prioritized).
• Promotion of a balanced distribution of funding among Indigenous groups and regions across Canada.
• Feasibility of proposed activities, including alignment with initiative objectives, organizational capacity, and identified risk mitigation strategies.

• Information sessions and Q&A drop-in sessions are available in both English and French for applicants during the call for proposals period.
• Applicants may request a recording of prior public information sessions by email.
• The Indigenous Grants stream has increased maximum funding amounts per organization compared to the previous call for proposals.
• Applicants are encouraged to refer to the official Applicant Guide for detailed instructions and examples when preparing their submission.