Artwork:
nch7mut | One Heart, One Mind, One People
míkw’achi7m | Marissa Nahanee, sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Nisg̱a'a Nation
Photo Credit: Muncho Lake, British Columbia, Ryan Dickie, Fort Nelson First Nation
Indigenous Communities Fund
The TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund offers grants up to $50,000 for Indigenous-led social, health and community programs. Together, we can make the future friendly by supporting Indigenous leaders and community groups who know their communities best.
Our commitment to reconciliation
In partnership with Indigenous Peoples, TELUS is committed to progressing the path of reconciliation in a deeply meaningful way and is dedicated to fulfilling our role and responsibilities in this regard.
For more than a decade, TELUS has collaborated with Indigenous Peoples and organizations to enable connectivity and bridge digital, geographic and socio-economic divides.
Working together, we are helping create tangible outcomes that will impact generations to come.
Funding Indigenous-led solutions
The TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund provides flexible grant funding to Indigenous-led programs supporting Indigenous Peoples in Canada across all provinces and territories.
Funding is available for projects focused on, but not limited to:
Health, mental health and well-being
Access to education and resources
Preservation of the land and water
Community building and enhancement
Intergenerational language and cultural revitalization
Preference may be given to programs where technology is being used to advance reconciliation.
Application deadlines
Applications are reviewed two times per year. Please allow 12 weeks following the application deadline to receive a response regarding your application status. Applications are due by midnight (your local time) on the following dates:
Spring: February 5 to March 29, 2024
Fall: September 9 to October 11, 2024
Please note: Applying for the fund does not guarantee that an applicant will receive funding.
If you are an Indigenous-led registered charity or qualified donee supporting youth through health or education programs, you may want to consider applying for a TELUS Friendly Future Foundation Community Board grant.
Funding guidelines
The ICF provides one-time grants to Indigenous-led organizations such as Band Councils, Indigenous Governments or representative groups, community groups and non-profits.
Non-Indigenous-led organizations can apply if they demonstrate a clear and tangible relationship with an Indigenous organization and have documented support from an Indigenous-led organization or community.
Eligible organizations can apply once per calendar year. Grants are available up to $50,000 and are to support Indigenous-led initiatives that support tangible positive outcomes.
Requests eligible for funding:
Your organization, community group or project supports Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) within Canada
Your organization has not received funding from the Indigenous Communities Fund in the last two years
You clearly address a pressing social or well-being need and create measurable community outcomes such as, but not limited to:
Accomplishing individual and community wellness and healing
Reviving cultural strength, knowledge and skills
Helping overcome geographical and economical barriers
Increasing social connections to help foster community engagement.
Requests ineligible for funding:
For-profit initiatives
Retroactive funding
Religious-focused projects or organizations
Sponsorship requests
Sole proprietorship applicants
Lobbying
Projects that operate outside of Canada
Go-Fund-Me campaigns or individual fundraising initiatives
Indigenous Communities Fund recipients
TELUS is proud to announce the second round of 2023 recipients of the Indigenous Communities Fund.
Tahiuqtiit Women's Society in the Northwest Territories will use funds to support their weekly Sewing and Cooking Collective Initiative dedicated to Inuit women. These classes invite Elders to share cultural teachings such as traditional cooking, sewing techniques and the Inuktitut language with participants. This safe space is dedicated to gathering and strengthening cultural knowledge and skills.
Tassiujaqjuaq Tusaut Inuktitut Radio Society in Nunavut is leveraging funds to establish a local Inuktitut language community radio station through the launch of an Inuktitut language podcast. The Inuktitut Radio Equipment Startup project will be the first step in advancing the radio station's mission to produce programming in each community of Nunavut.
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) is the only pan-national pharmacy association representing a unique community of Indigenous pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants. They will use funds to deploy the Elders in Residence Guiding Circle pilot project with the objective of reviving traditional culture and healing practices. IPPC members will have access to mentorship, cultural training, and communal healing led by Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers from First Nations, Inuit and Métis ancestries.
Through the Indigenous Seniors Relief Project, the National Indigenous Health and Wellness Association is helping Elders through an innovative mental and physical health program. They will use funds to support their advocacy efforts in raising awareness of issues Indigenous seniors face while simultaneously strengthening their sense of community and cultural identity. Rooted in Indigenous heritage and teachings, this culturally responsive program also includes palliative care and interactive activities, and is dedicated to participants residing in geographically marginalized areas across Ontario.
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Quebec will leverage funds to invest in an underwater camera to capture photos and videos of the field activity that will support the growth and outreach of the Anishinabeg Natural Resources & Wildlife Office. The program aims to encourage community engagement from all members of Kitigan Zibi and the footage of young community members in the field and in the water will be used in the context of community events and school presentations.
Eel River Bar First Nation’s Msit No'kmaq Forest & Nature School Program in New Brunswick promotes community resurgence and healing by engaging community, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators, students and families through the practice of Indigenous land based education. Funds will enable the expansion of the Msit No'kmaq Forest & Nature School program which will support its capacity to reach more youth participants.
Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia will use funds to deploy Lnu' Kiju's Elo'lajik, the Indigenous Mom’s group for mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers and caregiving women both online and within the Millbrook Satellite Reserves. This program aims to bring together maternal figures in Millbrook to learn from one another and reconnect and move closer toward their roots of a social, supportive, matriarchal community.
Past recipients
TELUS’ commitment to artistic integrity
We are committed to supporting the artistic practices of Indigenous Peoples, while being mindful of the historic role organizations have played in the misappropriation of Indigenous art and culture. We have an obligation and responsibility to ensure that TELUS’ use of Indigenous art in our digital and physical spaces is respectful of Indigenous artists. TELUS works with each artist to ensure that they retain full intellectual property and control over their work.
Contact us
If you have a question or a funding request that falls outside of the application deadlines, please contact us at [email protected]