Collaborative Process on Indian Registration, Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship: Funding for community sessions

Introduction

As part of the collaborative process on Indian registration, First Nation citizenship, and band membership, funding is available for First Nations and Indigenous organizations to hold community-organized sessions discussing these issues. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) has prepared an information package for those interested in submitting a proposal to host a community session.

A second round of funding for community sessions is now closed. The deadline for second round funding was October 5, 2018.

On this page

Who can apply?

For more details on which groups are eligible, consult Contributions for the Purpose of Consultation and Policy Development: Terms and Conditions.

Applicants who were successful in the first round of funding are not eligible for additional funding.

Applicants who were not successful in the first round of funding may reapply for the second round of funding.

Funding type

Three types of funding are available.

Funding type Example recipient Maximum funding available
Single community
  • a single First Nation
  • a community in an urban centre
$10,000
Multi-community
  • tribal councils
  • treaty organization
  • political or other groups/organizations representing First Nations in part of a province
$35,000
Regional organizations
  • Indigenous organizations representing an entire province
$75,000

In order to support fairness and transparency, guidelines and evaluation criteria have been established for the review of proposals and approval of funding.

Maximum levels of funding include administrative costs. Proposals that exceed the maximum amount of funding outlined above will not be approved for funding.

Eligible activities

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • community meetings
  • town hall sessions
  • group discussions
  • focus groups
  • dialogue circles
  • roundtables

First Nations and Indigenous organizations can be creative with respect to how to engage their membership and constituents. We encourage the use of technology, where available, to allow for the maximum number of participants in each session.

The Minister's Special Representative (MSR) was appointed to participate in community-organized activities. The MSR's participation is recommended, subject to availability. Government representatives are also available to participate in activities and provide information.

Ineligible activities

CIRNAC will be hosting an online survey that will be available for all individuals. As a result, funding for surveys will not be provided.

How to apply?

  1. Consult the proposal assessment criteria
  2. Complete a proposal.
  3. Develop a budget using the proposal budget spreadsheet (XLS) template.
  4. Include a contact name, phone number and e-mail address
  5. Email your proposal to aadnc.fncitizenship-citoyennetepn.aandc@canada.ca

Proposals are assessed against the assessment criteria once they are received. CIRNAC will confirm receipt of your proposal and may contact you for clarification purposes.

You will receive a written response confirming whether or not your proposal has been successful. If you applied during the first round of funding, you will receive confirmation between August 17 and August 31, 2018. If you apply during the second round of funding, you will receive confirmation between October 8 and October 19, 2018.

Please submit your proposal as soon as possible.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply for the second round of funding was October 5, 2018.

The deadline to apply for first round funding was August 17, 2018.

Assessment criteria

Proposals are assessed, recommended, and approved based on the following criteria:

Criteria Standard
Themes and issues

The proposal outlines relevant issues pertaining to Indian registration, band membership and First Nation citizenship in line with Annex A.

Additional issues may be acceptable as long as they pertain to the subject streams outlined above.

  • Does the proposal list the issues to be discussed?
  • Are the additional issues suggested relevant and does the proposal provide a rationale for their inclusion?
(Max score /4)
Activities

The proposal demonstrates activities that will lead to a discussion of the issues.

Funding will be awarded to proposals that specify how the issues will be discussed (for example, community meetings, focus groups, dialogue circles, etc.).

A consultation guide will be provided to successful applicants. Activities will need to be conducted, and data collected in line with the consultation guide.
  • Does the proposal list the activities?
  • Do the activities match the issues?
  • Is the activity conducive to discussion?
  • Is the activity time effective?
  • How will the activity result in a deliverable?
(Max score /5)
Audience

The proposal identifies participants.

Please note that it is not a requirement to consult all groups listed to the right.
The proposal should identify who are the participants to be consulted, such as:
  • chief and council
  • band staff/experts
  • community members
  • Elders
  • youth
  • women

Do activities clearly identify which audiences are being engaged?

(Max score /3)
Number of participants

The proposal identifies expected number of participants.

How many participants are expected?

(Max score /2)

Timelines and deliverables

The proposal demonstrates clearly-defined timelines that measure progress and deliverables.

A consultation guide will be provided to successful applicants. Activities will need to be conducted, and data collected in line with the consultation guide.
Does the proposal clearly identify that:
  • consultation activities must be completed in time for the submission of a final report by March 15, 2019?
  • there is a demonstration of effective data collection (for example, record keeping, tracking, minutes, etc.)?
  • there is an included schedule or timeline of deadlines to complete deliverables (for example, a review process, final drafting of report and preparation of financial statements)?

(Max score /3)

Capacity

The proposal must demonstrate the capacity of the recipient to manage the implementation of consultation activities successfully and complete them.

  • Does the proposal outline how existing capacity is utilized to oversee completion of activities?
  • Does the proposal outline how community resources will be used to help complete activities?
  • If additional capacity is needed, does the proposal provide justification?

(Max score /3)

Budget

The consultation work-plan proposal must include a detailed budget that does not exceed the respective level of funding being made available.

Administrative costs must not exceed 15% of the total proposed budgeted amount.

Proposals that exceed the maximum amount of funding will not be approved for funding.
  • Does the budget reflect reasonable costs for the proposed activities and workplan?
  • Are the administrative costs within the 15% limit?

(Max score /2)

Score for single-community funding / 22
For multi-community and regional organizations only

Please note we reserve the right to give priority to a single community to avoid duplication of efforts with multi-community and regional organizations proposals.

  • How is your organization adding to collaborative process that is distinct from community participation?
  • How is your organization adding to the collaborative process that is distinct from a single community?

(Max score /2)

Score for multi-community and regional organization funding / 25

Meeting these criteria does not guarantee funding. A proposal must achieve a minimum of 60% to be considered for funding:

Proposals that receive a minimum 60% score on the assessment criteria will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, subject to the total available funding and the number of proposals submitted.

We reserve the right to give consideration to geographic representation. In situations where CIRNAC receives proposals which represent a single community, multi-community, and regional organizations, we reserve the right to give priority to the single community to prevent the duplication of efforts.

Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures include, but are not limited to:

Administrative costs must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs. Proposal expenses must be incurred by the project completion date, as set out in the approved proposal.

Ineligible expenditures

The funding provided is project-based for the consultations under the collaborative process, and is not meant to supplement basic core funding. Therefore, ineligible expenditures include, but are not limited to:

  • office rent
  • professional services and salaries other than listed above
  • capacity, professional development and support activities
  • tuition
  • purchase of hardware and software needed to support data collection, analysis and reporting (phones, computers, laptops, tablets)

Funding

First Nations and organizations with a current funding agreement with CIRNAC

Funding will be provided to communities and organizations in the form of a set contribution. The funding approach used to transfer funds will be identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.

Organizations without a current funding agreement with CIRNAC

For organizations that do not have funding agreements in place, additional information will be required as part of the general assessment. The general assessment report summarizes the findings and determines a risk level. A high risk level on the general assessment will impact a recipient's ability to obtain funding.

Use of unexpended funds

Unexpended funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year must be returned to CIRNAC.

Reporting requirements

The applicants will submit a summary report of the findings and a final audited statement of revenue and expenditures, signed by a senior financial officer of the community for the total funds allocated by CIRNAC. These reports must be submitted no later than March 15, 2019. A sample expenditures report (DCI#4548549) can be found in the Reporting Guide, DCI #4548459.

Contact us

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
New Service Offerings
25 Eddy Street, 6th Floor, Room 196
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4

E-mail: aadnc.fncitizenship-citoyennetepn.aandc@canada.ca
Toll Free : 1-855-833-0033
Fax: 403-292-5393

Annex A: Issues to be discussed

The removal of the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act

  • Implementation date
  • Resourced required by First Nations for implementation
  • Concerns that may require mitigation
  • Evidence for proof of entitlement pre-1951

Remaining inequities related to registration and membership under the Indian Act

  • Issues relating to adoption
  • Second generation cut-off-rule
  • Unknown or unstated paternity
  • Enfranchisement
  • Categories in Indian registration and how they are applied
  • Border Crossing
  • Gender identity and registration
  • Registration for children of same-sex parents
  • De-registration

Devolution of the responsibility for determining membership/citizenship to First Nations

  • Will there be a continued federal government role in determining Indian status and band membership?
  • First Nation's authorities to determine band membership or citizenship
  • Community impacts and band issues
  • Self-government/self-determination and Indian Act divestment

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