Indigenous Languages Component—First Nations Languages Funding Model

2. The Ongoing programmatic funding stream to support:

• the implementation of a long-term language plan or work plan.

The total financial assistance received from the Indigenous Languages Component and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of the total eligible project-related costs.

Canadian Heritage can fund up to 100% of eligible expenses.

Approved applications of $150,000 per year and under may be funded through a grant agreement.

Approved applications over $150,000 per year will be funded through a contribution agreement.

Canadian Heritage will determine if annual, multi-year or ongoing programmatic funding is disbursed as a grant, as a set contribution, as a fixed contribution or as a flexible contribution.

A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for an activity. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of the activity, the applicant will be required to submit a report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by the organization or group and by Canadian Heritage and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of the activity, the applicant must submit a final report.

A fixed contribution funding is an option to First Nations recipients where eligibility criteria are met. The funding level is predetermined annually to meet program requirements and achieve the planned results. When planned results are achieved for less than the amount provided, fixed contribution funding allows the recipient to retain the unexpended funds, subject that all the contribution agreement conditions are met and subject to approval from Canadian Heritage a plan on how the unexpended funding will be utilized.

A flexible contribution funding is an option to First Nations recipients where eligibility criteria are met. The funding level is predetermined in order to support work plan and recurring activities for more than 12 months. The recipient may retain, during the term of this agreement, an unexpended balance at the end of each fiscal year to spend towards eligible expenses incurred in subsequent fiscal years. Except for administration costs and travel expenditures, the recipient may transfer funds from one eligible expenditure category to another without the Minister’s authorization.

Eligible activities

To be eligible for funding from the Indigenous Languages Component—First Nations Languages Funding Model, the application must contribute to language fluency across the life cycle and support the efforts of First Nations communities and organizations in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining, strengthening and promoting First Nations languagesFootnote 1 such as:

1. language programs and services (e.g., language plan development, immersion activities, language nests, mentor-apprentice programming and land-based learning);
2. capacity building and training (e.g., curriculum development, leadership development, and teacher training);
3. community engagement (e.g., promotion and awareness, conferences and gatherings, and planning);
4. community-led research and studies (e.g., language community assessments, data development);
5. resource development (e.g., documentation and archiving, instructor resources, language templates and tools, and audiovisual and multimedia materials); and
6. management and administration for language programming and services (e.g., communication, consultation, and coordination).

Eligible expenditures

Only expenditures for activities related to the objectives of the Indigenous Languages Component—First Nations Languages Funding Model are eligible, these include:

1. start-up costs for First Nations organizations whose mandate is to support the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of First Nations languages;
2. salaries and employee benefits;
3. in exceptional circumstancesFootnote 2 stipends, allowances or honoraria for attendance in a course or activity;
4. travel expenses, which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business;
5. professional development and training programs;
6. meetings;
7. rent and utilities related to the activities;
8. photocopying and printing services related to the activities;
9. translation and communications;
10. professional, consulting and Elder fees;
11. equipment rental, service and purchase;
12. costs associated with information technology, including purchase and upgrade of hardware and software;
13. minor renovation in the context of promotional languages activities;
14. project supplies and resource materials related to the activities;
15. general liability insurances; and
16. administrative costs, such as: bookkeeping services, office supplies, telephone, fax, utilities, postage and courier fees, photocopying, printing, rent for office space, audit, legal, translation. Administrative costs cannot exceed 15% of the total approved funding.

Eligible expenses approved for a fiscal year must be incurred between April 1 and March 31 of that fiscal year.