We’re Celebrating National Indigenous History Month With These Grants

Check out these exciting grant and award opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses to celebrate National Indigenous History Month.

June is National Indigenous History Month and to honour this, we want to draw your attention to some exciting grant and award opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses

Did you know that in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, Call 92, the onus is put on the corporate sector to educate, amplify, and restore equity for Indigenous people in business?

“We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.”

Part of Pocketed’s mission is to democratize access to funding, especially to underrepresented groups. We proudly support Indigenous-owned and operated businesses to access any specialized funding programs. We also support all business owners in finding grant funding to improve Indigenous representation within their workforces.

Read on to learn all about exciting grant and award opportunities for Indigenous owned businesses to celebrate National Indigenous History Month.

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital

This grant program provides Indigenous businesses with access to non-repayable contributions for supporting eligible business proposals and leveraging additional funds. The amount of funding depends, but individual Indigenous entrepreneurs could receive up to $99,999 in funding.

2. Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund

This grant is for Indigenous-led organizations running projects at the community level that serve vulnerable populations especially affected by COVID-19. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $30,000.

Awards

Ever heard of the 2022 Indigenous Business Award? Well, the IBA program aims to honour and share the impact of Indigenous-owned businesses in British Columbia.

It is the 14th year and as of June 1, nominations are being accepted. Some awards won last year include Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Business of the Year and Award of Distinction.

Alumni from 2020 and 2021 encourage nominations because it can instill a sense of pride, create possibilities, inspire entrepreneurship and benefit local communities and the province.

Nominations close on June 30 and awardees will be announced in October.

Celebrating Indigenous-Owned Businesses

For this Indigenous History Month, we wanted to highlight some of our favourite locally owned and operated Indigenous businesses. If you’re looking to support an Indigenous-owned business this month and ANY MONTH, here are some shining stars to check out!

Nahanee Creative Inc.

Nahanee Creative, owned by Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee from Squamish Nation, offers facilitated workshops, on-demand mini courses, workbooks and more to help with decolonizing practices in everyday life.

Massy Books

Massy Books is 100 percent Indigenous-owned and operated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded and occupied territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Their book selection ranges from off-beat, rare finds to familiar and current-day bestsellers.

Iskwew Air

Iskwew Air provides flights between Qualicum Beach and Vancouver. The name was chosen to celebrate the first Indigenous woman-owned airline, with Iskwew being a Cree word for women. It was chosen as an act of reclamation of womanhood, matriarchal leadership and language.

At Pocketed, it’s important we celebrate the individuals and businesses that make up our platform.

Pocketed operates on the traditional, ancestral, unceded and occupied territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, with many of our employees working from other unceded territories across the country.

During Indigenous History Month, reflect on the land on which you reside, visit and support Indigenous-owned business, nominate an Indigenous entrepreneur for an award, listen to Indigenous healers, elders and knowledge keepers.

Create a free Pocketed account and make sure to check “Indigenous” on the founder demographics section of your profile. This will ensure grants specifically available to Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous-led businesses will be available to you!