Indigenous Habitat Participation Program

The Indigenous Habitat Participation Program is a funding program that gives Indigenous communities opportunities to participate in the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat.

Context

Indigenous peoples participated in consultations during our review of the changes to the Fisheries Act. They let us know that they wanted to be more involved in the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat. As a result, Canada launched the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program with $50 million on June 7, 2019.

The program supports our commitment to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Funding types

This program will support the participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada by providing funding through grants and contributions.

Grant funding available across Canada

Grant funding for consultations is available to Indigenous peoples across Canada. It supports their participation in consultations on departmental Crown conduct (i.e., decisions, such as arrangements, approvals, authorizations and permits) in relation to fish and fish habitat conservation and protection under the Fisheries Act or Species at Risk Act.

Contribution funding available across Canada

Contribution funding for engagement and collaboration is available to Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Engagement funding supports groups who want to provide input to the development of fish and fish habitat conservation and protection:

• policies
• regulations
• programs, including changes to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program

Collaboration funding helps increase collaborative activities in conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat, such as:

• planning
• protection of fish and fish habitat
• monitoring
• conservation
• data collection

Contribution funding available where provinces manage the fisheries

Contribution funding for capacity building is available for Indigenous peoples in inland areas where provinces manage the fisheries. This funding goes toward capacity building related to the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in the inland regions of Canada. Capacity building includes:

• supporting information awareness, exchange and training
• establishing and supporting organizational structures for coordinating and managing activities across multiple communities or groups

Expected outcomes

This program will help to create:

• safeguards for the participation in the consultation process with Indigenous groups whose rights may be affected by Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act project authorization decisions
• more collaborative and partnering activities relating to fish and fish habitat conservation across Canada
• increased participation in the development of policy, program and regulatory initiatives related to fish and fish habitat conservation and protection
• partnering opportunities for making organizational structures and capacity building in inland areas of Canada, where the provinces manage fisheries and Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for managing impacts on fish and fish habitat under the Fisheries Act

Contact us

Questions can be submitted to the appropriate regional addresses.