Contributions to Support the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
On this page
- Introduction
- Definitions
- Authority
- Purpose, objectives and expected results
- Eligible recipients
- Eligible activities and initiatives
- Type and nature of eligible expenditures
- Stacking limits
- Method for determining the amount of funding
- Maximum amount payable
- Basis for payment
- Application requirements and assessment criteria
- Performance measurement and reporting
- Official languages
- Repayable contributions
- Redistribution of contributions
- Effective date
1. Introduction
Levels of violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) people are disproportionately high. Indigenous women are physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, or robbed almost 3 times as often as non-Indigenous women, and make up nearly one-quarter of female homicide victims in Canada despite only representing 4% of the population. Likewise, 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals face distinct challenges in their efforts to meet their needs for culture, identity, health, security, and justice in the face of discrimination and violence, both within and outside of Indigenous communities.
In response to decades of advocacy and to Call to Action 41 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Government of Canada announced the launch of an inquiry to seek recommendations on actions to address and prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls in December 2015. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) conducted an in-depth study and analysis between September 2016 and December 2018. On June 3, 2019, the National Inquiry launched its final report: "Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" including 231 Calls for Justice.
Addressing the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) people is an urgent priority for the Government of Canada. This includes supporting those who have lost loved ones.
2. Definitions
"Indigenous" is defined as First Nations, Inuit and Métis people living on-reserve and off-reserve anywhere in Canada, including status and non-status Indians.
"The National Families and Survivors Circle" is an advisory body that was established as part of the advisory structure to co-develop and implement the National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. It is chaired by the MMIWG Liaison Unit Manager of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). Its members are representative of distinctions and regions, and include First Nations, Inuit, Métis and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people from across Canada.
3. Authority
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Act, S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 337 s7(c)
Authority is also conveyed under Budget 2021.
4. Purpose, objectives and expected results
The "Support for the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People program" aims to provide support to Indigenous groups and organizations who provide assistance and services for the healing journeys of individual Indigenous family members and survivors who have lost loved ones to such violence. The National Families and Survivors Circle will provide advice on the program to ensure it is trauma-informed, community-based and culturally relevant. CIRNAC, as the responsible department, will retain the final decision on content of the program, activities to be funded, and funding amounts.
Outcome
The wellbeing of family members and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is improved.
5. Eligible recipients
Contributions may be made to:
- First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities
- Indigenous groups with a signed self-government agreement or modern treaty (modern treaties negotiated since 1973 under Canada’s Comprehensive Claims policy or those under the Inherent Rights Policy since 1995)
- Indigenous organizations representing or providing services to Indigenous people
- National or regional Indigenous organizations
- Indigenous non-governmental and voluntary associations and organizations, including non-profit organizations and corporations
6. Eligible activities and initiatives
Eligible activities are focused on supporting individual family members and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people to find healing in whatever form that is meaningful to them. Activities are grounded in Indigenous culture, and fill gaps in existing programming for mental wellness, social assistance and other programs already available to family and survivors. This can include, but is not limited to:
- celebrations of life and legacy, such as by having feasts.
- establishing items of commemoration such as grave markers, or community memorial items.
- holding healing gatherings both at the national and regional level.
- resources and/or navigators/coordinators to assist family members and survivors, where other programs such as the Family Information Liaison Officers do not provide services, in navigating the wellbeing supports that are available to them, specifically culturally relevant ones.
7. Type and nature of eligible expenditures
Eligible expenses for supporting healing journeys are broad, as healing is a broad concept. They include, but are not limited to:
- honoraria for Elders
- domestic travel and transportation
- meetings
- traditional medicines, cultural foods
- hospitality
- equipment
- rent and utilities
- salaries
- communications products (for example websites, brochures etc.)
- materials and supplies
- volunteer participation expenses
8. Stacking limits
The stacking limit is the maximum level of funding to a recipient from all sources (including federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal) for any 1 activity, initiative or project. The limit is 100% of eligible costs.
9. Method for determining the amount of funding
The program is proposal driven, and proposals, including a detailed budget, can be submitted to the department throughout the fiscal year.
The amount of funding is determined by completing an assessment of the proposed project objective, activities, coverage (number of individuals or community beneficiaries, rural, urban or remote location etc.), and described budget needs at the minimum level required to implement the proposed activities.
10. Maximum amount payable
The maximum amount payable per organization is not to exceed $500,000 per fiscal-year.
11. Basis for payment
Contributions are paid on the basis of achievement or performance objectives or as reimbursement of expenditures incurred.
Recipients of a contribution must meet and continue to meet the specific terms and conditions of the contribution agreement prior to payments being made.
Payments will be made under flexible and fixed contribution funding approaches, in accordance with the Treasury Board’s Directive on Transfer Payments.
12. Application requirements and assessment criteria
Application requirement
Applications require a duly completed application form that includes:
- The applicant’s name, or the name of the applying organization, contact details, and website (if applicable).
- A proposal or work plan that includes:
- a cover page with the name of the applicant, the planned time frame for the project or initiative, the date submitted, and the name, title and address of the individual submitting the proposed project
- a brief description of the applicant, including their background and experience as related to providing trauma-informed, Indigenous healing services or programs for Indigenous people
- a brief overview of the overall objectives of the proposed initiative
- a description of the types of services, number of beneficiaries (communities or individuals), location of the initiative (urban, rural, remote)
- a description of the elements, steps and timelines of the proposed initiative.
- a description of the organization’s capacity to deliver, including their community connections, or connections to existing services for families and survivors (for example Family Information Liaison Units, or others) and
- a detailed budget by activities
Assessment criteria
Criteria for the selection of projects will be further developed through engagement with the National Families and Survivors Circle, and will need to be broad, so as not to inadvertently exclude activities that are part of the broad concept of healing. Criteria for the selection of the projects will include:
- demonstration of a clear unfulfilled need for the activity for the healing journeys of Indigenous families and survivors, including children and youth
- grounding in Indigenous culture
- experience of the implementing organization or person in supporting the healing from the trauma of loss and knowledge of the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and their capacity to deliver
- a trauma-informed approach
- cost-effectiveness
Final project approvals may also take additional criteria into consideration.
13. Performance measurement and reporting
The recipient shall provide an activities and expenditures report. At the end of the project, they will have to provide a final report that must include:
- a narrative of activities undertaken
- a final account of expenditures
- a description of the outcomes, including on the change in wellbeing and the healing journey experienced by families and survivors that took part in the initiative
14. Official languages
Where a program supports activities that may be delivered to members of either official language community, access to services from the recipient will be provided in both official languages where there is significant demand and Part IV of the Official Languages Act is applicable. In addition, the department will ensure that the design and the delivery of programs respect the obligations of the Government of Canada as set out in Part VII of the Official Languages Act.
15. Repayable contributions
Given that all recipients of the Support for Wellbeing for Families and Survivors are Indigenous groups or organizations, who are providing support to Indigenous family members and survivors, contributions are not intended to generate profits and are not repayable.
16. Redistribution of contributions
Where a recipient delegates their authority or further distributes contribution funding to an agency or a third party (such as an authority, board, committee, or other entity authorized to act on their behalf), the recipient shall remain liable to the department for the performance of its obligations under the funding agreement. Neither the objectives of the programs and services nor the expectations of transparent, fair and equitable services shall be compromised by any delegation or redistribution of contribution funding.
17. Effective date
These terms and conditions will come into effect on July 30, 2021.