Indigenous Participant Funding Program — Project-based component

• Maximum grant amount per project is $3,500.
• The maximum amount may be increased on a case-by-case basis if funds are available and justified by the project's scope, subject to prior discussion with Transport Canada.
• Administrative expenses are eligible up to 15% of total project costs.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's Indigenous status and involvement in relevant projects.

• The applicant must be or represent an Indigenous community or organization with potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights.
• Eligible entities include Indigenous governments, tribal councils, nationally or regionally representative Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous development corporations.
• Eligible recipients also include Indigenous communities, Bands, Settlements, District Councils, Chiefs’ Councils, Tribal Councils, Indigenous Associations, and Indigenous Economic Institutions.
• The applicant must be potentially adversely affected by a decision contemplated by Transport Canada under the CNWA and/or the WAHVA.
• The applicant must have received a notification from Transport Canada’s Indigenous Relations Unit or Navigation Protection Program regarding a proposed project application under review.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous governments, tribal councils, and regional Indigenous governments
• Nationally or regionally representative Indigenous organizations
• Indigenous development corporations
• Indigenous communities, bands, or settlements
• Indigenous associations, organizations, societies, commissions, councils, authorities, boards, economic institutions, corporations, or co-operatives
• Partnerships or aggregations of Indigenous communities or organizations

Eligible expenses

• Staff salaries and benefits.
• Professional fees for contracted services.
• Room rentals and facility costs.
• Public outreach and communications materials, including activity costs.
• Translation costs.
• Honoraria.
• Travel expenditures, such as hotel accommodation, car rental, kilometer rates, transportation (bus, train, ferry, airplane fares), and meals and incidentals, based on National Joint Council Travel Directive rates.
• Administrative expenses up to 15% of total costs, including general administration, rent, insurance, office equipment rental, and membership fees.
• Provincial Sales Tax, Goods and Services Tax, or Harmonized Sales Tax not eligible for a rebate by the recipient.

The evaluation and selection of projects for the Indigenous Participant Funding Program (IPFP) are based on their relevance to fostering Indigenous participation in consultation activities under the CNWA and WAHVA, and their potential impact on Indigenous communities and organizations.

• Direct interest or impact on Indigenous rights by the project proposal.
• Relevance of community or Indigenous knowledge to the proposed project.
• Expertise in assessing anticipated effects of the proposed project.
• Potential impact on treaty lands, settlement lands, or traditional territories.
• Alignment of project activities with the objectives of the CNWA and WAHVA.

• Transport Canada aims to acknowledge receipt of applications within 10 business days.
• Payments are issued within 20 business days after fulfillment of funding agreement requirements.
• An attestation form confirming the use of funds must be submitted within 30 days of activity completion.
• If the attestation form is not provided, Transport Canada may request the return of funding.