Future Generation Foundation Funding Program (Canada)

The goal of the FG Foundation is to help First Nations, Métis people and communities address the impacts of the Indian residential school’s system, and to provide resourcing to create meaningful opportunities that improve the quality of life for First Nations and Métis people.

Education programs refer to the advancement of an individual’s education and personal development which relate to literacy or trades, as well as programs that relate to the preservation, reclamation, development or understanding of First Nations or Métis history, cultures or languages.

For the purposes of the FG Foundation, educational programs are those provided by education institutions, cultural centers, organizations, communities and individuals/groups, whether short or long-term, informal or formal, or certified or non-certified.

Educational Programs include, but are not limited to, those that:

• Strengthen education and employment training;
• Promote First Nations and the Métis languages and cultures; or,
• Foster community and personal development, including access to counseling and other programs to heal communities from harms caused by the Indian Residential Schools.

Funding Information

• Currently, individuals can apply for a maximum of up to $20,000.
• Applicants can apply for one academic year per application; meaning the programming must take place between September and August. The FG Foundation aims to have funding dispersed by the end of September and successful applicants will receive 90% of their approved amount, the remaining 10% will be released once final grades or final reporting is submitted.
• Funds will be dispersed to successful individual applicants by way of:
  • Scholarship (Post-Secondary) – Scholarships are money awards you receive for post-secondary education studies (i.e. University and College level studies).
  • Bursary (Training/Certification) – Bursaries are money awards you receive for certificate programs and training from non-post-secondary institutions (i.e. Nechi Institute, AFOA, or other non-post-secondary institution).
  • Award (Healing, Cultural/ Language/ Traditional Knowledge Building) – Awards are set dollar amounts for individuals who wish to pursue healing, cultural, language, or traditional knowledge building. This could include life skills programs, learning a language or skill from an elder or expert, learning traditional ceremonies, or acquiring land-based skills, etc.

Eligible Funding

• Payments from the FG Foundation for education programs for individuals include, but are not limited to:
  • Scholarships, bursaries, or financial assistance for costs associated with attending post-secondary institutions;
  • Financial assistance to individuals to access opportunities in arts, science, or athletics;
  • Funding to applicants that will assist First Nations and Métis with job skills training;
  • Support for research of First Nations and Métis culture, history, and language to inform curriculum development and educate the public;
  • Support to foster personal development by providing access to programs that address harms resulting from Indian Residential schools, including access to counseling, family development, and health promotion.

Ineligible Funding

• The FG Foundation cannot disburse or distribute funding for the following:
  • Supplementation or compensation of an individual’s Common Experience Payment or Personal Credits amount;
  • Claims for compensation;
  • Legal action;
  • Entrepreneurial activities;
  • Capital costs;
  • Activities outside the FG Foundation’s objects;
  • Partisan and/or political activities;
  • Payments for past student loans or debts

Eligible Activities

• Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
  • Universities, colleges, cegep;
  • Trade or training schools;
  • Technical training for career advancement;
  • Programs which promote the preservation, reclamation, development or understanding of First Nations or Métis history, cultures or languages;
  • Cultural education-traditional, ceremony knowledge building;
  • Strengthen education and employment training; or
  • Foster community and personal development, including access to counseling and other programs to heal communities from harms caused by the Indian Residential Schools.

Eligibility Criteria

• Preference is given to former students of residential schools, but all First Nations and Métis over the age of 18 with a valid social insurance number are eligible for funding through a competitive application process.
• First Nations or Métis individuals residing outside of Canada are eligible to apply for funding through FG Foundation provided they have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number.

For more information, visit Future Generation Foundation.