How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers?

Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers is funded by Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

What are Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be an Indigenous person (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) residing in Canada and a citizen or permanent resident. The project must be under the financial and creative control of the applicant. Two of the three main members of the creative team (director, writer, lead producer) must be Indigenous.

Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers

Last Update: August 12, 2025

Canada

Free legal advice for Indigenous storytellers on creative rights

Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers at a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : June 27, 2024
Closing date : July 17, 2024

Financing Type

Expert Advice

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries

Grant Providers

Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

Program status

Closed

Overview of the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers program

The Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers provides free, one-on-one legal consultations for Indigenous creators in screen-based industries, addressing intellectual property, contractual, and chain-of-title issues. The program also offers up to $500 CAD in accessibility funding to support application-related expenses.

Financing terms and conditions

Monetary support of up to $500 CAD is available on a case-by-case basis to cover accessibility expenses during the application process.

Eligible projects & activities

Provision of initial legal consultations for Indigenous storytellers regarding intellectual property, chain of title, contracts, and agreements related to screen-based content projects.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 495

Application support for legal review of TV pilot series script

$ 480

Translation and report preparation for Indigenous gaming project

$ 479

Professional accessibility and application writing for animated short

$ 490

Interpretation services for XR project legal application support

$ 500

Consultant fees for film application and legal agreements drafting

$ 495

Funding for legal consultation and reporting for web content pilot

Eligibility criteria of the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers program

The applicant must be an Indigenous individual (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) residing in Canada, and either a citizen or permanent resident.
The applicant must be working in screen-based content, including television, film, web, gaming, apps, or XR (VR, AR).
The project must be under the financial and creative control of the applicant; at least two of the three key creative team members (director, screenwriter, showrunner/lead producer) must be Indigenous.
The applicant must be in good standing with the funding organization, with no outstanding reports, defaults, or pending investigations.

Who is eligible?

Screen-based content industry (including TV, film, web, gaming, apps, XR such as VR and AR)

Who is not eligible

Companies or organizations not controlled by Indigenous people.
Businesses not operating in the screen-based content sector (TV, film, web, gaming, apps, XR).
Companies in a state of bankruptcy.
Organizations or applicants not in good standing with the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), including those with outstanding reports or unresolved issues.

Eligible expenses

Application writing and support services.
Video or audio recording services required for the application process.
Rental of equipment directly needed for application or reporting purposes.
Professional fees related to accessibility support during the application stage.
Language interpretation or translation services for application and reporting.
Assistance with the preparation and submission of final reports.

Eligible geographic areas

Residents of Canada

Eligibility criteria of the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers program

Demonstrated need of the applicant for legal support.
Potential impact on the applicant’s career within Indigenous storytelling.
Possible enrichment of the cultural life of relational communities or contribution to the Indigenous Screen Sector.
Regional and intersectional representation.
Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of the application.

How to apply to the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers program

Prepare by reading program guidelines

Read the ISO General Funding Guidelines Policy
Review the ISO Determining Indigenous Identity Guide
Read the Legal Clinic for Indigenous Storytellers program guidelines

Complete applicant checklist

Complete the Legal Clinic applicant checklist
Gather all required documentation as per the checklist

Complete and sign application forms

Fill out the Applicant Information Form and Application Form
Optionally, provide voluntary personal data
Sign the ISO Declaration

Submit application online

Submit the application through the ISO Apply Portal
Ensure submission before the deadline or before slots are filled

Wait for eligibility review and results

Wait for ISO to review application eligibility and completeness
Notifications will be sent 1-2 weeks after the closing date

Additional information

All appointments for the legal clinic are offered in English only.
Applicants may request up to $500 CAD for accessibility-related expenses during the application phase.
If an application is incomplete or ineligible, it can be withdrawn at any stage, and applicants will be notified accordingly.
Applicants must tag the ISO on social media posts related to the project and use the ISO logo where applicable.

Apply to this program