First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program

The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program provides specific financing modalities to support the delivery of summer employment opportunities for youth. The structures ensure organizations are financially supported to facilitate valuable work experiences for First Nations and Inuit students.

• Funding covers up to 100% of wage costs and mandatory employment-related costs for not-for-profit organizations.
• Funding covers up to 50% of wage costs and mandatory employment-related costs for private sector employers.

To be eligible for the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program grant, participants must meet the following criteria: 1. First Nations secondary or post-secondary students ordinarily resident on reserve or in a recognized community, an approved settlement on Crown land. 2. Inuit secondary or post-secondary students who are residents in Canada, but who reside outside their territory and are no longer eligible to be funded by their territory. They must provide proof of ineligibility from their Territorial government to receive funding for the program. 3. Participants must be legally entitled to work in Canada and aged 15 to 30 at the start of the program's activities. 4. Participants must have been registered as secondary or post-secondary students during the preceding academic year and intend to go to school for the next academic session. 5. Ordinarily resident on reserve means that eligible youth live on reserve, do not maintain a primary residence off reserve, and may be temporarily off reserve for the primary purpose of seeking education.

Who is eligible?

- First Nations schools or federal schools on reserve - First Nations and Inuit governments and organizations - Not-for-profit associations - Private sector employers

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for this grant include wage and employment-related costs for summer work experience activities.

• Wage costs for eligible First Nations and Inuit youth participants.
• Mandatory employment-related costs for youth participants.

- Proposals must meet the National First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy Summer Work Experience Program guidelines. - Proposals should be gender-balanced. - Activities outlined in the proposals should explain how they will meet the program's objectives. - Proposals must outline the results expected to be achieved by the project. - Proposals should demonstrate that the activities will provide assistance only to eligible participants. - An estimate of related costs, including those shared with partners, must be provided. - The proposed placement must provide a minimum of 80 hours of work per participant.

- Applicants must ensure that their proposals meet the National First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy Summer Work Experience Program guidelines. - Proposals should be gender-balanced and outline how the proposed activities will align with the program's objectives. - Applicants must demonstrate that their activities will benefit only eligible participants as defined by the program. - The proposed work placements should provide a minimum of 80 hours of work per participant. - Recipients who have access to the ISC Services Portal can access the proposal form through the portal, while those without access should contact their ISC Regional office for assistance. - For further information, applicants can consult the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy: Summer Work Experience Program National Program Guidelines 2024 to 2025 or contact pse-eps@sac-isc.gc.ca for inquiries. - Proposals are reviewed and approved by the ISC regional office or the relevant First Nations or Inuit organization managing the program for their member communities. - First Nations organizations in British Columbia must apply through the First Nations Education Steering Committee.