The Indigenous Relations Office Sponsorships provide funding in alignment with the City's Indigenous Framework, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Municipal Response Plan and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Municipal Response Plan.  

Funds are directed towards initiatives that:

  • Are Indigenous-led
  • Support healing and cultural revitalization
  • Address the impacts of systemic inequalities

New Process for 2026

This year all applications for Indigenous Sponsorships 2026 must be sent using the City of Edmonton’s online portal. The Indigenous Relations Office is piloting this new process to streamline applications. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.

In-Person Information Session

To help applicants with the new process, the Indigenous Relations Office will be hosting an in-person information session December 17 from noon-1pm at the Stanley Milner Library, in the Civic Employee Fund Room 1. Chili, soup and bannock will be provided.

Any questions regarding the new process can be directed to chancy.blackwater@edmonton.ca.

Sign Up for the information session

Sponsorship Priorities

This funding prioritizes Indigenous-led activities that align with one or more of the pillars of action outlined in the City’s TRC and MMIR Action Plans.

Awareness

Programs and activities that help people learn about the effects of residential schools and colonization on Indigenous communities, especially on women, girls, and people who identify as 2SLGBTQQIAz. This includes truth-telling about systemic racism, gender-based violence and oppression, and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+).
 

Addressing

Activities and programs that deal with the effects of residential schools, violence related to colonialism, and ongoing discrimination. Also, to prioritize safety, justice and healing for MMIWG2S+ survivors and their families by supporting community-led and culturally grounded solutions.

Resurgence

Events and initiatives that support the reclamation of culture, knowledge, language and autonomy of Indigenous communities. Through the restoration of traditional knowledge and kinship systems, Indigenous groups and Nations can strengthen protections against violence and foster collective healing. 

Advocacy

Indigenous-led initiatives and programs that work to advocate for change within institutional and governmental bodies that respond to the 94 Calls for Action and or 231 Calls for Justice.

3 indigenous persons sitting at table

Sponsorship Timelines and Eligibility

Timelines

Funding is limited, and the City reserves the right to accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Incomplete and/or ineligible applications will not hold their place in the queue.

Intake #1 - For events occurring from January to June

Application intake is from December 8, 2025 until February 18, 2026, or until funds are no longer available.

Applications will be reviewed and organizations will be notified of the decision within 4-6 weeks.

Intake #2 - For events occurring from July to December

Details and dates to be determined.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must be in good standing with the City of Edmonton. This means that the organization does not have any outstanding reports and is not in arrears of payments to their City of Edmonton accounts.

Eligible applicants will include:

Non-profit organizations

Registered for at least 1 year and in good standing with the incorporating body (Alberta Society, Non-profit Private Company, Non-Profit Public Company, Extra Provincial Non-profit Company), such as:

  • Indigenous-Led Organizations
  • Educational Institution
  • Local grassroots group that has a fiscal agent that meets the above eligible category. (If the applicant is awarded funding through this sponsorship program, the fiscal agent must agree to act on the applicant’s behalf to sign a funding agreement with the City and to receive, administer and report on the funding)
First Nations, Metis or Inuit Community

Additional consideration will be given to proposals led by or that include the participation of Indigenous organizations.

See Sponsorship Guide and Frequently Asked Questions for more details.

Funding Criteria

  • Demonstrate alignment with one or more of the funding priorities
  • Demonstrate the ability to provide City recognition, including but not limited to the use of the City of Edmonton Logo
  • Demonstrate the ability to acquire and maintain comprehensive event insurance coverage for the dates and venue of the event, with the City of Edmonton listed as an “Additional Insured”
  • The event must be held within the greater Edmonton area (an exception to location may be made for cultural and ceremony purposes at the discretion of the Indigenous Relations Office)

Eligible Expenses

Examples of eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to:

  • Cultural protocol
  • Honorariums
  • Wages for event staff, artists, performers and more
  • Venue costs
  • Event insurance
  • Volunteer support
  • Catering and food expenses
  • Marketing and promotion expenses related to the event
  • Other production and event costs

Ineligible Expenses

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Prize money
  • Award costs
  • Alcohol purchases
  • Capital expenses

Application Process

Requests Assessment Criteria

Requests are assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Organizational eligibility
  • Alignment to program priorities
  • History of the event or initiative in Edmonton
  • Benefit to the Indigenous community
  • Responsiveness to community need
  • Details provided in the request
  • Proposed recognition for the City 

Additional consideration will be given to proposals led by or that include the participation of Indigenous organizations.

Final Reporting

Within 90 days of the completion of the event or initiative, successful applicants and any identified partners will be responsible for reporting on the progress of their work, including:

  • Event activities
  • Alignment to sponsorship priorities
  • Proof of recognition
  • Participant Information

Reporting will be done via the Community Investment Grant Portal.

Contact Us

Email  indigenousrelations@edmonton.ca