Indigenous Forestry Initiative - Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI)

Indigenous Forestry Initiative - Grant funding

Open

  • Start date: 2026-02-25
  • End date: 2028-09-01

Funding description

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.

You are strongly encouraged to consult the IFI Applicant Guide for detailed direction and/or examples of information sought in the application.

Eligibility

Eligible Recipients

Grants are available to Indigenous communities and other entities who hold collective Indigenous and Treaty rights under Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada (1982).

Note: Indigenous entities that do not hold collective rights should apply for contribution funding.

Eligible Projects

These grants are intended to strengthen Indigenous influence in the sustainable management of forests in Canada. Eligible projects may include those that support Indigenous preparation and participation in industry or government-led:

  • Sustainable forest management planning
  • Forest policy development (including land use planning)
  • Processes where free, prior, and informed consent is sought in relation to forest sector development

Funding activities

Eligible activities include:

  • Gathering, developing and protecting Indigenous Knowledge
  • Increasing internal capacity to prepare and participate in engagement and consultation with government and industry
  • Hiring subject matter experts
  • Land use and/or sustainable forest management planning
  • Participating in or organizing events, conferences and workshops on forest sector issues and interests
  • 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

How to apply

Download the IFI Applicant Guide

Note: You only need to apply using one of these methods, not both.

After you apply

Natural Resources Canada’s network of Regional Liaison Officers is available to answer questions and provide updates on the status of your application. Regional Liaison Officers may also connect you with other federal funding programs, if you are open to pathfinding support, to maximize project success and ensure broader access to alternative resources.

We continue to streamline our selection processes to reduce the time between application submission and funding decisions.

Natural Resources Canada will issue contributions according to yearly program funding levels and will keep unfunded applications for future consideration. You do not need to re-apply.

Contact

To request more information, contact ifi-ifa@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

Related link

Indigenous Forestry Initiative

 
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