Apply for Grants
Copper Legacy offers grants of up to $5,000 to BC First Nations people, for projects that revitalize Indigenous culture and language, and that strengthen art, wellness and food systems.
We accept applications year-round — there is no deadline. Apply whenever your project is ready.
Every application is made under one of our four program areas. Choose the one that best fits your project.
WHAT WE FUND
Your project must sit under one of these four areas. Pick the closest fit — if you're between two, tell us in the application and we'll sort it out with you.
REVITALIZATION PROJECTS
Indigenous cultural revitalization — reestablishing and strengthening the practices that Residential School, religion and colonization took from communities. This covers ceremony and protocol, Big House teachings, songs and dances and their meanings, regalia, oral history, traditional place names, and the knowledge passed to up-and-coming leaders — alongside language revitalization and language learning. Culture and language are not separate projects here. If your work is about a community reclaiming what it was cut off from, it belongs in this stream.
ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS
Artist mentorship — artists at any level learning from master artists, and master artists expanding their practice into new mediums.
EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS
Mind-body-spirit healing through community workshops and support groups; traditional means of healing; holistic health and wellness initiatives covering emotional as well as physical health.
LEGACY PROGRAMS
Restoring traditional food gathering and harvesting practices, food security work, and environmental stewardship and protection.
WHO CAN APPLY
BC First Nations people. You must be registered under the Indian Act (Status) — we ask for your status number on the application form — and your project must take place in British Columbia.
We accept applications from individuals (artists, language learners and speakers, knowledge keepers, community members); groups and collectives (cultural groups, dance groups, and other groups without formal registration); and registered organizations (societies, non-profits, and Nation or Band offices).
One application per person per year, for one project. You can't submit two projects at once, or come back for a second grant in the same year. If you're funded, you're welcome to apply again next year.
HOW MUCH
Grants up to $5,000 max.
WHAT YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE
A complete application has all of the following:
– Your status number, and your contact details.
– The program area your project falls under — one of the four above.
– A description of the project — what you'll do, and why it matters.
– Who it reaches — the community, group or audience, and roughly how many people.
– Where in BC it takes place.
– Start and finish dates.
– The amount you're asking for, up to $5,000.
– A budget: a simple line-by-line list of what the money would be spent on. It doesn't need to be a spreadsheet; a short list is fine.
– Any other funding you've confirmed or applied for, if there is any.
HOW TO APPLY
– Choose the program area your project fits.
– Fill in the application form below.
– We'll confirm we've received it by email.
– We aim to respond within four to six weeks.
Questions before you apply? Email copper.legacy@gmail.com
IF YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED
A short written agreement setting out what the funding is for; the full amount paid up front; and a short written summary and receipts once the project is done.