There are two funding opportunities available through the Indigenous Justice Fund at the Law Foundation of BC in 2023/2024. You are viewing the Weaving Justice Grants Call funding notice page.
Table of Contents
PURPOSE
The Law Foundation of British Columbia is headquartered on the traditional, unceded lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations. The Foundation is the recipient of funds derived from transactions taking place on Indigenous territories, treatied and un treatied, and is delegated the responsibility to distribute those funds for the advancement of the Foundation’s mandate and the public good. The Foundation, therefore, has an extraordinary duty to build good relationships with, and actualize its responsibility towards, Indigenous peoples in the lands known as British Columbia.
The Foundation has worked with its Indigenous Advisory Circle (IAC) to develop a funding opportunity as part of our work to breathe life into those commitments. All IAC members are Indigenous and contribute their perspectives arising from their professional, educational, community-based and personal experiences. Following an immersive consultation with this group, the Foundation is putting forward this funding opportunity based on the scope and priorities recommended by the Advisors.
The IAC has provided direction to establish the Weaving Justice Grants Call to support building respectful, reciprocal, accountable and trust- based relationships with Indigenous communities. The Weaving Justice Grants Call is created to uplift and support the work of Indigenous people, organizations and communities addressing the impact of these systems and institutions, while restoring power to their communities and creating connection.
The Weaving Justice Grants Opportunity provides financial support for Indigenous communities to use law to restore power to their communities in ways that bring people together. A total of $10 million in funding is available through this opportunity . This opportunity is focused on supporting work to heal Indigenous families and communities through Indigenous legal education, legal research, legal services and law reform. Eligible applications may include a range of activities connected with the development and application of law and legal education, including but not limited to land-based activities, harvesting, gathering of traditional foods and medicines, arts and ceremonies. Eligible applications may also include those focused on drafting Indigenous laws for communities.
WHO CAN APPLY
We welcome applications from:
- Indigenous communities, Nations, tribal councils, treaty organizations, Indigenous leadership organizations;
- Existing non profit organizations;
- Collaborative entities or groups; and
- People who are seeking to establish new organizations, collaboratives or groups.
Applicants are only eligible if they operate (or intend to operate) in BC and/or for the benefit of people living in BC.
Grant seekers do not need to be registered charities or non profit societies. Grant seekers do not need to identify as specifically law- focused groups or organizations as long as the proposed work relates to Canadian law or Indigenous law, or the impact of laws and policies on the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples.
Only Indigenous-Led organizations/entities or Indigenous Partnerships are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Indigenous-Led applications will be prioritized.
The Foundation is benefitting from the Circle on Philanthropy’s work to define the terms “Indigenous Led” and “Indigenous Partnerships”, which is laid out in the following resource, linked here. More information on the Foundation’s understanding of these terms is included in our FAQ.
Share with your network
Please share this funding call with your network! You can share the link to this page: www.lawfoundationbc.org/IJGC or we also have prepared graphics for various social media platforms available for download HERE.
PRIORITIES AND VALUES
Priorities:
The Foundation has established the priorities below for the Weaving Justice Grants Call as identified by our Indigenous Advisory Circle, but we welcome applications that touch on many aspects of Indigenous life and the relationship of Indigenous people to their own laws, and to Canadian laws. If you have questions about whether your proposed project is eligible, please reach out to Foundation staff.
Key priorities for the Weaving Justice Grants Call include:
Indigenous Laws Revitalization
- Work to identify, draft, codify and/or advance Indigenous law and legal orders in collaboration with community members and knowledge keepers. This could include the engagement of Indigenous law through ceremony, language and cultural activities.
Family and Community Healing
- Initiatives that use law to support healing for families and communities, including those that address gaps in legal support and/or those that address the impacts of colonial legal systems past and present.
Land-Based Laws
- Work to study, share and/or advance Indigenous laws through land- based and water-based activities, harvesting, gathering of traditional foods, arts and/or medicines.
- Work to advance access to territories through law reform initiatives concerning rights and/or title.
Guiding Values:
The following values will guide the Foundation’s assessment of applications:
Transformation
- The proposed project is transformative in its intent – that it aims to improve systems and restore power in ways that are prioritized by the specific Indigenous community/communities.
Generations
- The proposal shows an understanding of potential generational impacts grounded in Indigenous wisdom and worldviews.
Connections
- The project draws on the wisdom and knowledge that flow from having rooted, reciprocal relationships. The project has a significant relational aspect and/or an intent to create or steward meaningful connections.
Land
- The application communicates an understanding and relationship with land and/or water as well as rights- holding Nations on whose territory the work will be carried out.
Community Accountability
- Community-based applications will be prioritized. Those seeking to support named Indigenous communities need to have support and continuous engagement or consultation with that specific community. Where applicants are intending to serve a specific community and the Foundation has further questions, Foundation staff will communicate this and a support letter may be required.
GRANT TYPES
There are several grant types contained in the Weaving Justice Grants Call.
They are:
- Cedar Grant (4-Year Grant, $250,000 per year, total $1,000,000) – The largest grant type with funding available to support work aligning with the purpose of this Grants Call, its priorities and values. Grant funding is available over a period of up to four years.
- Willow Grant (2-Year Grant, $125,000 per year, total $250,000) – Grant funding available to support work aligning with the purpose of this Grants Call, its priorities and values. Grant funding is available over a period of up to two years.
- Sweetgrass Grant (One-time Grant, $100,000) There are two types of Sweetgrass Grants. Both are one-time grants of $100,000.
- Development: Funding to support the development of capacity, ideas and infrastructure to advance future intended initiatives or programs. The funding can be used to bring people together to make a plan for creating some future impact in the community.
- Land & Law: Funding for discrete opportunities that advance Indigenous legal education, legal research and law reform on the land, where communities study and share their Indigenous laws and practices in ways that advance the priorities of this Grants Call. Applicants must communicate how the initiative connects with Indigenous laws and legal orders, and/or with the Canadian justice system.
- Gathering (One-time, $250,000) – Funding is available to support gatherings that align with the purpose of this Grants Call and the priorities and values contained in it.
Please refer to the FAQ document for more information about these grant types.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Stage 1
Grant-seekers will complete an application using the Law Foundation’s SmartSimple online grant submission and management system. The application form can be accessed HERE.
For those applying for Willow, Sweetgrass and/or Gatherings Grants under the Weaving Justice Grants Call, Stage 1 will be the only step in your application process unless staff reach out to you with further questions.
Stage 2
This stage only applies to applications for the Cedar Grants under the Weaving Justice Grants Call.
Stage 2 is an opportunity for the Foundation to learn more about your proposed project through your choice of either an Oral Conversation or a Written Supplement. For more information, please see our FAQ document.
KEY DATES
December 15th, 2023 | Funding Notice Posted |
February 8th, 2024 | Informational webinar and opportunity to respond to any questions at 12:00pm and 6:00pm |
March 8th, 2024 | Applications due at 11:59pm |
By June 30th, 2024 | Willow, Sweetgrass and Gatherings: Application final decisions will be communicated to applicants. |
By June 30th, 2024
| Cedar Grants: Invitations to proceed with Stage 2 will be communicated to applicants. |
July – August, 2024 | (Cedar Grants only) Stage 2 of the application process (please see FAQ for more information) |
By November 30th, 2024 | (Cedar Grants only) Final decisions will be communicated to applicants. |