Indigenous Forestry Initiative

Over time, business development, skills training and knowledge sharing supported by IFI are expected to help make the forest sector more sustainable and bring lasting benefits to Indigenous communities. Therefore, all contributions, including those to eligible businesses, are non-repayable.

Indigenous Forestry Initiative - Grant funding

Grants of up to $45,000 per project are available to support Indigenous communities and entities in preparing for and participating in sustainable forest management planning, forest policy development and activities related to free, prior and informed consent in the forest sector.

Please be aware that the Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) has a limited budget. On a competitive basis, the merits, risks, and method for determining the amount of grant funding will be assessed for your proposed project. The assessment will consider your project’s purpose and expected outcome, work and financial plans (budget) and team capacity.

Eligible projects

Below are examples of potential projects that are eligible for funding under the IFI’s contribution stream. It is possible for activities to span across years, in which case a multi-year proposal is encouraged of up to three years.

Engagement and consultation activities

1. Engagement and consultation with government, industry and other forest sector stakeholders for the purposes of cultural awareness, exchange, relationship building, information sharing, impact assessments and accommodations, and for engagement and consultation with Indigenous groups potentially impacted by forest sector development
2. Capacity development and support to study, engage in, negotiate and undertake other activities in consideration of the issuance of free, prior and informed consent to forest sector development and conservation proposals and related impactful projects, programs, and policies by any level of government, industry, Indigenous groups and others
3. Participation in and hosting of events, conferences, workshops, etc., on forest sector development and the natural environment

Knowledge and science activities

1. Developing, undertaking, and safeguarding the integrity of Indigenous Knowledge and science, data collections and related agreements and projects with government, academia, not-for-profit research associations and Indigenous individuals and entities
2. Advocacy and storytelling, including the development and delivery (in person or remotely) of presentations, reports, videos or other media in one or more languages that convey the journey, experiences and outcomes for the eligible recipient in relation to the project and other matters of relevance to the eligible recipient related to forest sector and the natural environment
3. Capacity development and training for Indigenous institutions (e.g. associations) to study, research, advocate, represent and provide services to Indigenous constituencies and members on forest resources development and the natural environment

Planning and decision-making activities

1. Strategic collective and community planning and policy development for sustainable forest resource development and conservation
2. Studies, plans, research, evaluations, analyses, assessments or related activities to identify issues, opportunities and partnerships in forest sector development and the natural environment
3. Strategic project, business, feasibility, engineering, design, human resources, marketing, financial or other planning, due diligence and negotiations for identified opportunities and partnerships in forest sector development and the natural environment, including the preparation of funding applications (to other programs) and partnership agreements

Forest sector development, conservation and workforce diversification activities

1. Development of, and training for human resources markets in the forest sector, including institutional, group and individual supports — including for accredited and non-accredited training mentorship and on-the-job training
2. Capacity development and training to undertake operational planning, studies, surveys, research and physical work for the sustainable management of forest resources and for emergency management and mitigation of natural environment threats
3. Application for, and development of agreements, licenses or permits related to forest sector development and the natural environment
4. Development and expansion of Indigenous joint ventures, partnerships and businesses related to forest sector development and the natural environment
5. Development of tools, technologies, products, services and systems for forest sector development and the natural environment
6. Engineering design, environmental planning and permitting and other project design activities for forest sector development
7. Site development, facility construction and commissioning, and business start-up and expansion operations
8. Exploration, development, manufacturing/transformation and production of forest resources, products including energy, energy efficiency and products/processes that support a transition to net zero carbon balances in operations and markets

Information about eligible project expenditures can be found in the IFI Applicant Guide. See the email link below, to request the guide.

Funding activities

Eligible activities include:

1. Gathering, developing and protecting Indigenous Knowledge
2. Increasing internal capacity to prepare and participate in engagement and consultation with government and industry
3. Hiring subject matter experts
4. Land use and/or sustainable forest management planning
5. Participating in or organizing events, conferences and workshops on forest sector issues and interests
6. Meeting, engagement or consultation within the community and/or with government or industry. Such as:

• Experts advising the community on the merits and risks of the proposed plans or development
• Preparing for and participation in industry or government-led planning
• Development of forest sector policy