Indigenous Habitat Participation Program - Capacity-building, Engagement, and Collaboration component

• Administrative overhead is capped at 15% of the total contribution amount.
• Travel costs, including meals and accommodation, are eligible and must adhere to National Joint Council’s NJC Directive on Travel rates and allowances.

• The applicant must be an Indigenous community, band, or settlement.
• The applicant can be a district council, chiefs’ council, tribal council, Indigenous association, organization, or society.
• Indigenous fisheries-related bodies, such as a commission, council, authority, or board, are eligible.
• Indigenous economic institutions, organizations, corporations, or co-operatives may apply.
• Partnerships or aggregations of Indigenous groups, or entities established by rights-holding communities to represent them, are eligible.
• Service providers mandated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work with Indigenous organizations in fish and fish habitat are eligible.
• The project must contribute to capacity-building, engagement, or collaboration on fish and fish habitat conservation and protection.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous communities, bands, or settlements
• District councils, chiefs’ councils, or tribal councils
• Indigenous associations, organizations, or societies
• Indigenous fisheries commissions, councils, authorities, or boards
• Indigenous economic institutions, organizations, corporations, or co-operatives
• Partnerships or aggregations of Indigenous groups
• Bodies or entities established by rights-holding communities to represent them
• Service providers working with Indigenous organizations in fish and fish habitat (mandated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Who is not eligible

• Companies whose main activities are fisheries management, such as stock assessment or hatcheries.
• Organizations seeking funding for on-the-ground habitat restoration work (as only planning is eligible, not implementation).
• Applicants proposing activities that duplicate services, studies, or written materials already funded by other public or private sources.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, wages, and other labour costs for staff, including employer-mandatory benefits.
• Training fees and expenses, including materials.
• Insurance related to project activities.
• Outreach materials, such as printing costs.
• Rental of office space, rooms, or facilities needed for project management.
• Materials and supplies essential for approved activities.
• Administrative overhead, up to 15% of the total contribution amount.
• Travel expenses, including meals and accommodation, according to approved government rates.
• Professional and specialized services required for the project.
• Purchase or rental of equipment and repairs/upkeep related to project activities.
• Audio/video, data, and network communications services.
• Ceremonial costs and services, when applicable to Indigenous knowledge or consultation on rights or title.

Eligible geographic areas

• All provinces and territories across Canada
• Priority for capacity building funding is given to inland areas of Canada

• Relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the IHPP, particularly in fish and fish habitat conservation and protection.
• Applicant’s experience, available resources, and management capacity.
• Degree of alignment with national and regional strategies and priorities.
• Scope of engagement, including the number of Indigenous organizations and individuals involved or supported.
• Long-term benefits and inclusion of a broad range of Indigenous partners, with preference for proposals addressing priority funding areas.

• The program allows funding to be used for the purchase of equipment and materials to facilitate virtual activities, such as online meetings and engagement sessions.
• Administrative overhead costs are capped at 15% of the total contribution amount.
• Applicants will receive confirmation of receipt of their proposal within 5 business days.
• Funding decisions will be communicated to applicants within 13 business days of the decision.