The Edmonton Heritage Council is accepting applications for two funding opportunities that support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants in Edmonton and Treaty 6. Depending on the scope of your initiative, funding is available for larger heritage projects or smaller cultural connection experiences.

FIRE Impact Grant: Up to $10,000

The Funding Indigenous Resurgence in Edmonton (FIRE) Impact Grant provides up to $10,000 for Indigenous heritage projects that benefit Indigenous people and engage broader audiences and community in storytelling and heritage work. Eligible applicants include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, Indigenous-led collectives, and registered Indigenous-led non-profit organizations. 

Projects include but are not limited to cultural camps, research and writing, film and digital media, Elder-led learning opportunities, and initiatives that bring together technology, art, culture, or language. 

Eligible projects must explore Indigenous heritage and be connected to Edmonton in some way.

Application window: August 26th to October 15th, 2026 (11:59 pm MST)

Cultural Connection Fund (CCF): Up to $4,000

The Cultural Connection Fund (CCF) supports Indigenous individuals and small groups who want to strengthen personal or community connections to culture and heritage. Applicants can request up to $4,000 to participate in or organize cultural learning experiences connected to Edmonton.

Eligible activities include attending ceremonies, learning from Elders or Knowledge Keepers, making regalia, participating in language programming, or organizing cultural activities. Eligible costs can include travel, materials, honoraria, and gifts associated with appropriate Protocols.

Applications: Open August 26, 2026. Rolling intake.

Which Funding Stream is Right for Your Project?

The FIRE Impact Grant supports larger heritage projects designed to reach communities and broader audiences. The Cultural Connection Fund is designed for projects that strengthen personal and community ties to Indigenous culture and heritage.

Review the full guidelines, application resources, and support available on the Edmonton Heritage Council website.

Looking for Grant Writing Support?  

We can help! Our team can assist you throughout the grant application process—from identifying the right funding opportunity for your project to assisting your team with reporting requirements.

Click here to learn more about our grant writing support services.

The Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF) supports Indigenous-led, survivor-centred initiatives related to the legacy of Indian Residential Schools in Ontario. Funding is available for projects that promote healing, commemoration, education, and community engagement. 

Eligible applicants can apply for up to $250,000 to fund projects related to:

• Commemoration and legacy initiatives
• Survivor engagement and gatherings 
• Public education and awareness
• Culturally appropriate mental health and wellness supports
• Research and community-led investigations

For the 2026–2027 funding cycle, Ontario has introduced greater flexibility to support community priorities, including memorial projects, storytelling and documentation initiatives, educational resources, and other activities that honour and preserve the histories and experiences of Survivors, families, and communities.

Eligible Applicants: First Nations, Métis, Tribal Councils, Political Territorial Organizations, Indigenous organizations, and eligible partner organizations in Ontario.

Deadline: September 16, 2026, 4 p.m. EDT

Looking for support with your application?

Learning Bird provides grant support for Indigenous communities and organizations. We can help with the full grant scope from scoping and grant writing, through to project delivery and reporting. Whether you’re refining a project idea, developing a work plan and budget, or preparing an application, our team can help you build a proposal that reflects your community’s priorities and goals.

Contact our team to discuss your project or learn how we can support your application.

Read the application guidelines to learn more about the program.

The Four Pillars Society (FPS) distributes the $2.8 billion settlement fund awarded to 325 Band Class Members who opted into the related class action lawsuit. This funding is intended to help communities heal from the collective harms of the residential school system, including the loss of language, culture, heritage, and well-being.

As part of this process, each eligible community received a one-time payment of $200,000 in April 2025 from the Four Pillars Society to support the development of a community-led plan aligned with the Four Pillars:

• Language: Revival and protection of Indigenous languages
• Culture: Revival and protection of Indigenous cultures
• Heritage: Protection and promotion of heritage, traditions, and connection to land
• Wellness: Community and individual wellness through cultural and land-based practices

FPS recommends that communities develop a 10-year plan outlining how they intend to allocate future funds toward these pillars. 

Check eligibility here: List of Opt-In Band Class Members (PDF)

How We Can Support the Development of Your Four Pillars Society Plan

At Learning Bird, we recognize that every community has its own priorities and approaches. Our team can support your leadership in developing a plan that reflects your vision. We can assist with:

• Facilitating community outreach and consultation sessions
• Gathering and organizing feedback on initiatives
• Preparing budgets and scope documents
• Drafting and refining plan content based on community input
• Formatting and packaging the final plan documents for submission

If your community would like support in this process, please contact us at info@learningbird.com to start the conversation.