Heritage Stewardship Program – Canada

The FPCC Heritage Program is pleased to launch the third intake of the Heritage Stewardship Program (HSP). The HSP combines existing and new grants, including Sense of Place, Climate Change, Oral Histories and Protocols, and Digitization and Archiving into four priority areas. The purpose of combining these grant streams is to reduce the administrative burden on applicants while increasing the funding flexibility to better meet applicants’ needs. This new program makes it possible for an organization to apply for up to three priority areas in one application.

Priority Areas

• Sense of Place
  • Objective: This priority area supports B.C. First Nations communities and organizations with between $10,000 and $25,000 to safeguard sensitive and significant cultural landscapes, places and sites. Projects should include a mentorship or training component through which youth learn Indigenous and contemporary approaches to managing culture and heritage that are connected to the land.
  • Project examples:
    • Land-based documenting projects
    • Projects connecting Indigenous knowledge systems, the land and waters
    • Knowledge sharing projects that are connected to a specific place
• Climate Change
  • Objective: This priority area supports B.C. First Nations communities and organizations with between $10,000 and $25,000 to explore how their communities are experiencing and responding to climate change in the context of Indigenous cultural heritage protection and revitalization. Projects may include the development of mitigation measures for heritage sites and places that are impacted by climate change.
  • Project examples:
    • Documenting the impact of climate change on local fisheries and other food sources
    • Assessing the impacts of climate change on culturally significant places and historic sites
    • Developing beach management strategies to mitigate coastal erosion
• Oral Histories and Protocols
  • Objective: This priority area supports B.C. First Nations communities and organizations with between $10,000 and $25,000 to engage Elders and Knowledge Keepers in sharing their stories and contributing to documenting Indigenous laws, protocols and ways of knowing.
  • Project examples:
    • Audio and/or video recording interviews of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
    • Translating and transcribing oral histories
    • Research projects or focus groups to document and articulate Indigenous laws, protocols and knowledge systems
• Digitization and Archiving
  • Objective: This priority area supports B.C. First Nations communities and organizations with between $10,000 and $25,000 to digitize and/or archive existing cultural heritage records, which may include maps, audio and video recordings, transcripts, photos, illustrations, books and other culturally important materials.
  • Project examples:
    • Creating an inventory of cultural heritage materials to digitize
    • Transferring audio and video cassettes to digital media
    • Training within communities on digitizing and archiving

Funding Information

• For each priority area, applicants can apply for between $10,000 and $25,000; applicants may choose up to three priority areas in a single application for a maximum funding request of $75,000. Budgets must be provided for each priority area.
• The funding term for the HSP is as follows:
  • Project activities to begin on or after May 27, 2024
  • Interim report due by January 10, 2025
  • Projects completed by August 29, 2025
  • Final report due by August 29, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

• B.C.-based organizations that have a mandate or focus that includes First Nations’ heritage. Eligible applicants include:
  • Recognized First Nations1 governments, bands or tribal councils located in B.C.
  • Not-for-profit societies registered in B.C., in good standing and governed by recognized B.C. First Nations individuals (at least 75% of directors identify as members of recognized B.C. First Nations)
  • Urban and off-reserve B.C. First Nations organizations (at least 75% of directors identify as members of recognized B.C. First Nations)
  • B.C. First Nations–led museums and cultural spaces (at least 75% of directors identify as members of recognized B.C. First Nations)
  • B.C. First Nations schools and adult education centres operating in B.C. on First Nations lands (Please note that applications from First Nations schools that serve one community must be submitted through their respective Nation/Band Office)
  • FPCC strongly encourages collaboration. Only one application (per grant program) per Band Office, Tribal Council or Society/Organization will be eligible for funding.

Ineligible

• Organizations or individuals who are not from a B.C. First Nation
• Collectives
• For-profit organizations and businesses, entities, individuals and commercial ventures
• Organizations or previous grant recipients with incomplete or outstanding reporting with FPCC or FPCF. These applicants are ineligible until all required documentation is complete.
• Government organizations, including municipalities.

For more information, visit FPCC.