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.
This program offers four funding streams combining existing and new grants, including Sense of Place, Climate Change, Oral Histories and Protocols, and Digitization and Archiving into four priority areas. Applicants can apply for up to three streams of heritage funding in one application, with a maximum of $25,000 for each stream.
NEW FPCC Funding Guidelines
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council Funding Guidelines for all programs is now available. This guide provides general information applicable to all FPCC programs and grants applications. We encourage all applicants to review, but this will be especially helpful for first-time applicants.
Eligibility
The FPCC Heritage Program supports projects by B.C. First Nations and B.C. First Nations-led organizations as per our legislated mandate. FPCC requires at least 75% of an organization’s board members/directors to include individuals from B.C. First Nations as they are the rightful stewards of their cultural heritage and are best equipped to lead the important work of protecting, sharing and revitalizing B.C. First Nations Heritage on these lands.
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 the program contact listed at the bottom of this page.
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. Please click the links below to access the portal and to review the guidelines specific to this program. Applications may be submitted until March 22, 2024.
FPCC’s Heritage Program has been made possible with funding from the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation through the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation.
Watch the Information Video
Please view the video below for more information about the program, guidelines and application process.
Click on each program stream below for descriptions and project examples.
Climate Change
The climate change stream 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.
Digitization and Archiving
This stream 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.
Oral Histories and Protocol
This stream provides funding to engage Elders and Knowledge Keepers in sharing their stories and contributing to documenting Indigenous laws, protocols and ways of knowing.
Project examples:
- Audio and/or video recording interviews of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
- Translating and transcribing oral histories
- Research projects or focus groups to document and articulate Indigenous laws, protocols and knowledge systems
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.
Sense of Place
This stream provides funding to safeguard cultural landscapes, places and sites. Projects should include a mentorship or training component so the youth learn Indigenous and contemporary ways to manage culture and heritage that are 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.
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.
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.
Click the image to enlarge
Page image by Ryan Dickie of Winter Hawk Studios, Fort Neslon B.C.
Program Contact
Heritage Team
If you would like any assistance with this program, please contact us, and a staff member of the Heritage Program will be in touch.