How much funding can be received?

This grant targets projects from Indigenous nations, governments, and non-profit organizations across Canada. Therefore, eligible organizations are those within Canadian geographical areas.

Eligible organizations must be located in Canada.
It includes Indigenous communities from all regions within Canada.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$25,000

Create a digital library of Indigenous folktales and myths in a public library

$25,000

Establish a language preservation lab to archive spoken Indigenous languages

$20,000

Digitize a collection of oral histories from Elders in the Indigenous communities

$25,000

Develop digital resources for teaching Indigenous languages schools

$25,000

Create digital archives for Indigenous cultural artefacts at the Canadian Museum of History

$25,000

Digitize and preserve endangered Indigenous language manuscripts in the Vancouver Public Library

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility criteria for the Listen, Hear Our Voices grant apply to organizations involved with Indigenous documentary heritage efforts.

Applicant must be an Indigenous nation (First Nations, Inuit or Métis Nation), Indigenous government, or Indigenous non-profit organization.
Examples of eligible organizations include cultural centres, community organizations, historical societies, libraries or archives, museums, and band councils or departments within a nation’s Administration.
Organizations must be not-for-profit and provide proof of their non-profit status unless they are band councils or Indigenous government departments, which are assumed to be not-for-profit.
Both incorporated and non-incorporated organizations can apply; however, incorporated organizations need to provide proof of incorporation.
Non-incorporated organizations need a letter of reference from a recognized government or association and are encouraged to collaborate with an incorporated organization for large project funding.
Organizations with outstanding reports from previously funded projects by LAC are ineligible.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Primary applicants eligible for Listen, Hear Our Voices funding must be Indigenous nations (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis Nation), Indigenous governments, or Indigenous non-profit organizations. These include cultural centres, community organizations, historical societies, libraries or archives, museums, band councils, or departments within a nation’s Administration, as well as First Nation, Inuit, or Métis Nation government organizations. Organizations must be not-for-profit and provide proof of non-profit status. Both incorporated and non-incorporated organizations can apply, with non-incorporated organizations requiring a letter of reference from a recognized government or association. Organizations with outstanding reports from previously funded projects through LAC are ineligible. Business and for-profit Indigenous organizations cannot apply but can be hired for services. Secondary applicants can partner with primary applicants but businesses and for-profit Indigenous organizations cannot receive funding.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

This grant focuses on supporting Indigenous non-profit and government organizations, excluding certain businesses from eligibility. The restrictions ensure that funds prioritize culturally significant projects related to Indigenous documentary heritage.

Businesses and for-profit Indigenous organizations.
Organizations, and their direct affiliates, with outstanding reports from previous LAC-funded projects.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

This grant supports activities aimed at preserving Indigenous languages and cultures through digitization. Eligible projects focus on converting historical media to digital formats, skill-building in digitization, and improving resource availability within communities.

Digitization of documentary heritage from formats like textual documents, photographs, audio cassettes, reel-to-reel, VHS tapes, and video cassettes.
Preparing items for digitization.
Creating an inventory of the collection.
Prioritizing items in danger of being lost.
Describing and organizing items in their digital or original formats.
Developing a business case for a shared digital preservation system.
Training staff on digitization and creating training materials.
Developing and running training programs to help communities digitize their own collections.
Buying or repairing digitization equipment.
Purchasing software to digitize textual, photographic, or audiovisual materials.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The grant covers eligible expenses related to digitization projects, training, equipment, administration, and specific project management associated costs.

Digitization by your organization, a partner, or a third-party.
Consultants and professional services related to digitization.
Purchase, rental, or repair of equipment or software to digitize and preserve material.
Description, transcription, and development of finding aids for materials being digitized within the project.
Shipping and insuring material.
Salaries and wages to finish your project.
Training and workshop activities.
Travel for project staff (must follow the National Joint Council's Travel Directive).
Honorariums and gifts of protocol to Indigenous Elders.
General administration costs such as office supplies, long-distance telephone calls, postage, and messenger services.
Project management fees (project budget and schedule oversight) cannot be more than 15% of funding you are requesting.
Total general administration costs cannot be more than 20% of the funding amount, including the 15% limit on project management fees.

grant_single_labels|criteria

The evaluation and selection of projects for the Listen, Hear Our Voices grant are based on criteria aimed at ensuring the effective digitization and preservation of Indigenous documentary heritage.

Project feasibility and approach.
Urgency of the work due to the condition of the collection.
Benefits of the project for the applicant organization, partner organizations, communities, researchers, and Canadians.

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Develop Project Idea
- Identify a project idea that focuses on digitizing documentary heritage related to Indigenous languages and cultures.
- Ensure that it aligns with the types of projects and activities eligible for funding.
Step 2: Prepare Project Description
- Write a detailed description of your project, including its goals, activities, and expected outcomes.
- Justify the feasibility and urgency of your project, and its benefits to various stakeholders.
Step 3: Gather Required Documents
- Collect your organization’s incorporation number if applicable.
- Obtain a letter of reference if your organization is non-incorporated.
- Prepare a projected budget for the project, including details of other funding sources.
Step 4: Complete Application Form
- Download the application form from the provided link.
- Fill out the form using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.
Step 5: Email Application
- Attach the completed application form along with any supporting documents.
- Send the application materials via email to ecoutezentendrenosvoix-listenhearourvoices@bac-lac.gc.ca.
Step 6: Await Confirmation and Feedback
- Wait for an email confirming receipt of your application.
- If approved, follow the instructions in the confirmation email for the next steps.
- If declined, review the reasons provided and consider future applications or adjustments.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

Here is an additional relevant detail for this grant:

The review committee, composed of Indigenous people, considers both professional and personal perspectives during the assessment.

grant_single_labels|documents

Listen, Hear Our Voices — Small projects

grant_single_labels|contact

ecoutezentendrenosvoix-listenhearourvoices@bac-lac.gc.ca

1-833-711-9048

Apply to this program

Preserving and Revitalizing Indigenous Heritage

The Listen, Hear Our Voices grant by Library and Archives Canada is dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities in preserving and promoting their languages and cultures through digitization projects. This funding initiative provides the necessary resources to enhance the skills and knowledge within communities, ensuring their documentary heritage is safeguarded for future generations.

In-Depth Insights into the Listen, Hear Our Voices Program

Library and Archives Canada has introduced the Listen, Hear Our Voices grant to address the growing need for conservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultural heritage across Canada. This funding program is specifically designed to empower First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments and non-profit organizations to digitize existing documentary heritage that holds cultural significance. The initiative supports projects that focus on creating digital archives from diverse formats such as audio cassettes, VHS tapes, textual documents, and photographs that contain invaluable records of Indigenous traditions, histories, and practices.

A critical element of this grant is its dual focus on both preservation and capacity building within Indigenous communities. The grant helps nurture the skills and knowledge required among local communities to execute digitization and preservation projects effectively. By funding training programs, workshops, and the acquisition or repair of digitization equipment, the grant ensures that indigenous communities are equipped to manage their heritage preservation sustainably.

The Listen, Hear Our Voices grant allocates funding up to $24,999 for small projects and between $25,000 to $100,000 for larger projects, both to be completed within a one-year timeframe. This flexibility accommodates various project sizes and scopes, allowing organizations to apply according to their specific needs and capacities. Applications are evaluated by an Indigenous review committee, ensuring that the projects funded are feasible, urgent, and beneficial to the communities.

The program emphasizes the importance of prioritizing items and collections at risk of being lost due to the degradation of media formats, ensuring urgent intervention where necessary. By awarding funding based on criteria such as project feasibility, cultural significance, and community benefit, the Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative ensures strategic and impactful use of resources. The grants also offer guidance for developing business cases for shared digital preservation systems, providing a framework for larger collaborative efforts between organizations.

The grant explicitly excludes funding for projects that aim to create or acquire new collections, concentrate merely on oral history recordings, or involve digitizing or sharing materials without clear permissions. Instead, the focus remains solely on enhancing existing heritage repositories, thus respecting the legal and cultural protocols surrounding Indigenous records.

Ultimately, the Listen, Hear Our Voices program stands as a testament to Library and Archives Canada’s commitment to supporting Indigenous peoples in preserving their rich cultural narratives. By facilitating the digitization of precious historical records and enhancing community skills and resources, this grant plays a pivotal role in sustaining Indigenous languages and cultures for forthcoming generations, ensuring they are not only remembered but celebrated and revitalized continually.