Residential Schools Community Research Grant

Important dates

Overview

The Residential Schools Community Research Grant funds Indigenous-led engagement, research and related activities associated with the documented and undocumented deaths and burials of Indigenous children at any of the historical Indian residential school sites in Alberta.

This is one way Alberta is taking action on the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action relating to Indigenous children and residential schools.

Grant funding will be available to Indigenous communities and organizations for the following purposes:

• community-driven research, including gathering oral histories and knowledge of Elders (as appropriate)
• community-led engagement to determine how communities wish to proceed with a burial site
• use of ground penetrating radar and other technologies to explore potential unmarked burial sites
• this will be done with experts experienced in locating human burials
• the Alberta government will provide guidance and resources to ensure fieldwork and analysis are conducted according to the highest standards
• maintenance and commemorative work, such as installing or restoring grave markers, placement of memorials or commemoration events

Funding

For joint submissions, there is no funding cap. Decisions will be made based on the proposal.

For individual communities and organizations, funding will be capped at $150,000.

There is no requirement for the applicant to contribute financially to the project costs. All sources of funding should be disclosed in the proposal.

The grant stack funding level to a recipient from all government sources (including federal, provincial and municipal) for any initiative can be up to 100% of eligible costs. Applicants may be required to redirect funding to other residential school grant purposes if they receive funding from other sources after receiving provincial funding.

Eligibility

The following, located in Alberta, are eligible for funding:

• First Nations
• Metis Settlements General Council and Metis Settlements
• Métis Nation of Alberta
• Aseniwuche Winewak Nation
• Tribal councils and Treaty organizations
• Indigenous not-for-profit organizations, including Friendship Centres with projects related to ARSCRG objectives
• other communities/organizations with close connections to Residential Schools may be eligible for funding

Applicants must comply with the terms and conditions of any previous Indigenous Relations funding.

Joint proposal submissions, where appropriate, for any work to be conducted at a residential school site by more than one organization or potential applicants are encouraged

A single community may wish to undertake research that includes more than one school site.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding.

Indigenous Relations will determine final eligibility for the Residential Schools Community Research Grant program after receiving, reviewing and processing the complete application package.

After you apply

Proposals will be accepted immediately and evaluated as they are received.

A preliminary assessment is conducted to ensure the application package is complete and signed by an authorized representative of the organization. Additional information may be requested.

Only correct and fully completed applications with all required documents submitted will be reviewed and considered for funding. Applications will be evaluated by Alberta government staff against the program’s purpose.

Funding decisions

A grant manager will communicate the status of the application by email.

A final decision will be sent by letter from the Minister of Indigenous Relations.

If an application does not meet criteria, staff will work with the applicant to address any issues.

Resources

Recommended Pathway for Locating Unmarked Graves around Residential Schools (PDF, 240 KB)

Contact

Connect with Indigenous Relations:

Email: [email protected]

Address:
Indigenous Relations
9th Floor, Forestry Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2M4