Indigenous gender equality protects can be awarded 250k

The newly launched Indigenous Innovation Initiative (III) is seeking indigenous project proposals that advance gender equality in Indigenous communities.

The initiative can award up to $250,000 per project.

“We are an Indigenous innovation platform. Our goal is to empower Indigenous innovators and communities to identify and solve their own challenges, transforming lives and driving inclusive growth and health through innovation.

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday May 20th to learn how to apply for the Indigenous Gender Equality program,” reads the III website.

The organization aims to promote social entrepreneurship and innovation, and is supported by $10 million in funds through the federal Department for Women and Gender Equality Canada. With matching funds, the program has the potential to inject $20 million into communities and kick start “groundbreaking” projects.

This would include those that have already held success.

In 2017, the Wachiay Friendship Centre in Courtenay, B.C., was involved in a fund that started with a group of grandmothers and bloomed into a successful social enterprise.

The grandmothers wanted to share their knowledge about traditional plants, medicines and gardening with community members.

They started selling tea, which generated new revenue. They reinvested that in a screen printing press for the packaging, taught youth how to use the press, and with some innovation money, opened up a community radio station.

The program is meant to bring seed funding to help Indigenous women and gender-diverse people overcome the barriers they face in business and entrepreneurship.

The projects can be up to two years in length and applicants can request less than the maximum $250,000.

The first round for applications launched this week (May 13) and there will be a second round in the fall. The organization is also creating workshops for people to develop their ideas and apply to future rounds of funding.

Applicants can be any organization registered legally in Canada, and any person can apply, so long as the proposed project will advance gender equality in Indigenous communities and projects do not have to be revenue generating when they apply, nor with existing matching funds.

Related Posts