all Heritage grants
The FPCC Heritage Stewardship Program (HSP) provides heritage funding to First Nations organizations in B.C. to address climate change, safeguard cultural sites, digitize cultural resources and record oral histories.
HSP supports B.C. First Nations inherent right to act as stewards and experts of their cultures and heritage. This program provides funding for up to three out of four priority areas including Sense of Place, Climate Change, Oral Histories and Protocols, and Digitization and Archiving. Applicants can apply for up to three priority areas in one application, with a maximum of $25,000 for each priority area.
Eligibility
The FPCC Heritage Program supports projects by B.C. First Nations communities and B.C. First Nations-led organizations with a mandate or focus that includes First Nations’ heritage.
The following are eligible to apply:
- B.C. First Nations communities
- B.C First Nations governments, bands and tribal councils
- B.C. First Nations-led organizations located in B.C.
FPCC respects the rights of all First Nations to deliver services to their communities. To align with this, FPCC requires at least 65% of an organization’s board members/directors be individuals who are members of or have ancestral connections to a B.C. First Nation.
Additional heritage funding may be accessed through Heritage BC, Department of Canadian Heritage, Vancouver Foundation, Telus Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact hsp@fpcc.ca.
If you have questions about registering your organization as a society, please see this resource with information on how to form a society in B.C. (Please note: This document is for reference only, FPCC is not able to provide advice on setting up a society.)
How to Apply
Applications are received via the FPCC Grant Portal.
Applications may be submitted until 4:30 p.m. PT May 23, 2025.
Watch the Information Video
Please view the video below for more information about the program, guidelines and application process.
Please note: FPCC will not be able to confirm the funding for the Heritage Stewardship Program 2025-26 term until early summer 2025. If the funding is secured, the HSP funding term will be shorter than previous intakes.
To account for the shorter timeline, we have adjusted the funding delivery and reporting processes accordingly. We will also prioritize applications for projects that demonstrate they are ready to start and can be completed within the 10-month timeline.
Click on each priority area below for descriptions and project examples.
Sense of Place
This priority area provides funding to safeguard cultural landscapes, places and sites. Projects should include a mentorship or training component so the youth learn traditional and contemporary ways to manage culture and heritage connected to the land.
Project examples:
- Land-based documenting projects
- Projects connecting Indigenous knowledge systems, the land and waters
- Knowledge-sharing projects that are connected to a specific place
- Research projects to understand and care for a site or place
- Mentorship and training projects related to cultural landscapes and activities
Please review the guidelines for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Climate Change
This priority area provides funding to explore how communities are experiencing and responding to climate change. Activities may include the development of mitigation measures for heritage sites and places that are impacted by climate change.
Project examples:
- Document the impact of climate change on local fisheries and other food sources
- Assess the impacts of climate change on cultural sites
- Develop strategies to reduce the impact of coastal erosion
- Document and share information about communities and landscapes that experience climate change impacts
Please review the guidelines for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Oral Histories and Protocol
This priority area contributes to documenting First Nations laws, protocols and ways of knowing and engages Elders and Knowledge Keepers in sharing their stories.
Project examples:
- Holding focus groups to draw out legal protocols to be integrated into community processes and bylaws
- Audio and/or video recording interviews of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
- Translating and transcribing oral histories
FPCC provides access to an online course for recording oral histories. It includes information about conducting oral history interviews, data management and technology recommendations.
Please review the guidelines for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Digitization and Archiving
This priority area provides funding to assist First Nations communities and organizations with work to digitize and archive heritage records. This may include maps, audio and video recordings, transcripts, photos, illustrations, books and other important materials.
Project examples:
- Community training about how to digitize and archive materials
- Create an inventory of cultural heritage materials to digitize
- Transfer audio and video cassettes to digital format
- Document and share heritage through new technologies
Please review the guidelines for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Please share this funding opportunity with your network by downloading the program poster.
The Heritage Stewardship Program is funded by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation through the Province of British Columbia.
We are here to support you!
Program staff are available to support you with your application. Contact the program staff listed at the bottom of this page if you would like assistance with your grant application.
Please reach out to the Heritage program staff no later than two weeks before the application deadline if you have any questions about the application process. This includes eligibility, would like to discuss project planning and/or if you need support in completing your application.
Applications are completed on FPCC’s Grant Portal which functions best when used on a laptop or desktop computer. For applicants that require assistance with technology, we recommend having a friend, family member or someone they trust to assist them with completing and submitting the application.
Tools and Resources
Funding Process
We are here to ensure that the funding application process is as easy as possible and offer a convenient online portal so applicants can more easily apply for programs and submit reports. For additional information please visit the Funding Process page.
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Page image by Ryan Dickie of Winter Hawk Studios, Fort Neslon B.C.
Program Contact
Nathalie Picard
Nathalie joined the Heritage team in January 2025 and is supporting the Heritage Stewardship Program. She has a background working in museums and heritage, with a focus on truth telling and amplifying marginalized communities’ history and cultural heritage.