Closed
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy
Supports First Nations skills and employment development
Last Update: May 28, 2026
Funding available
$ 70,000,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $70 million per year per initial recipient to support First Nations labour market development. It funds training, employment services, wraparound supports, capacity building, and related activities that improve skills and employment outcomes.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 70,000,000 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Public administration
Location
- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Youth (<40)
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Employment and career development services for First Nations clients
- Training and skills development for employment and long-term careers
- Wraparound supports to remove barriers to employment
- Capacity-building for First Nations service delivery organizations
- Labour market research, partnerships, and employer linkages
Documents Needed
- Contribution agreement materials requested by the Department
- Financial reporting information
- Performance reporting information
- Final accounting of eligible expenditures
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- First Nations-controlled not-for-profit organizations
- First Nations governments and mandated organizations
- First Nations-controlled for-profit organizations for sub-agreements
- Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations for sub-agreements
Eligible expenses
- Staff wages, mandatory employment-related costs, and benefits
- Training, professional development, and professional fees
- Participant supports such as tuition, living expenses, child care, and transportation
- Tools, equipment, computers, materials, and supplies
- Travel, communications, promotional costs, and overhead
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed through negotiations or an assessment process with the Department.
- New recipients undergo an impact evaluation and a joint capacity-readiness assessment.
- Funding decisions for initial recipients are made by the Minister.
- Reporting requirements are set in the contribution agreement and include progress, financial, and final reports.
Additional information
- Funding arrangements may be flexible for self-governing Modern Treaty entities.
- Projects and funding priorities can be adjusted for innovative approaches, subject to approval.
- Recipient intellectual property remains the property of the recipient.
- Official-language access must be provided where there is significant demand.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy?
This program provides up to $70 million per year per initial recipient to support First Nations labour market development. It funds training, employment services, wraparound supports, capacity building, and related activities that improve skills and employment outcomes.
How much funding can be received?
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy Funds up to $70,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy program?
To be eligible for the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy program, you must:
First Nations-controlled organization or government
Labour market or training focus
Non-commercial for-profit activities only
What expenses are eligible under Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy?
Employment and career development services for First Nations clients
Training and skills development for employment and long-term careers
Wraparound supports to remove barriers to employment
Capacity-building for First Nations service delivery organizations
Labour market research, partnerships, and employer linkages
Who can I contact for more information about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by email at none or by phone at none.
Where is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy available?
The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy program is available the province of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon.
Is the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — First Nations Labour Market Strategy is a Other Support