Help that may fit you

Open Lesser-known

BC Arts Council – Indigenous Arts Program Pilot (Individuals, Groups, Collaborations)

Who runs it: BC Arts Council

Who can get it: Indigenous artists (BC). Arts projects

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Amount not stated

Apply by: Nov 12, 2026

Good to know: Apply by Nov 12, 2026 (new applicants register by Nov 4, 2026).

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly Entrepreneur Equity-Matching Initiative (CNA-EEMI)

Who runs it: Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly with Interior Indigenous Community Futures

Who can get it: Members of participating CNA bands. Establishing, modernizing or expanding a business

What it gives: Equity-matching grant

Amount: Up to $10,000

Good to know: Example of a Nation fund delivered through an IFI.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

First Citizens' Fund business loans (via TRICORP, TACC and other BC IFIs)

Who runs it: BC First Citizens' Fund delivered by BC Aboriginal Capital Corporations

Who can get it: First Nations (BC). Start-up/expansion; 15% equity

What it gives: Partially forgivable loan

Amount: TRICORP: lifetime max $116,725 individual / $350,175 community, 40% forgiven on full repayment; TACC: up to $75,000, 40% forgivable

Good to know: Part of the loan (40%) is forgiven when you pay back the rest.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

New Relationship Trust – Equity Matching for Entrepreneurs

Who runs it: New Relationship Trust (BC)

Who can get it: BC First Nations. Individual & community businesses (via regional AFIs)

What it gives: Grant (equity match)

Amount: Up to $7,500 individual; up to $25,000 community business

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Nisga'a Business Development Fund

Who runs it: Nisga'a Lisims Government

Who can get it: Nisga'a citizens / Nisga'a businesses. Start-up, expansion, feasibility, business skills

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Contact: nisgaabusinessdevfund@nisgaanation.ca or 250-633-3000 (from the official page).

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

PacifiCan (BC) – Indigenous applicants

Who runs it: Pacific Economic Development Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. BC

What it gives: Contributions

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not Indigenous-only.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

AAFC Indigenous Pathfinder Service

Who runs it: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Agriculture/agri-food individuals & businesses

What it gives: Free advisory & referral

Amount: Free

Good to know: 1-866-367-8506.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program – Access to Capital (delivered as NACCA Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program)

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada via NACCA, IFIs and Métis Capital Corporations

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Start-up, expansion, acquisition; individuals and community-owned businesses

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution (with IFI loan)

Amount: Up to $99,999 individuals; up to $250,000 community-owned businesses (per NACCA IEP page)

Good to know: Apply through your local IFI/Métis Capital Corp, not ISC directly. No deadline.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Build Native 2.0

Who runs it: Centre for Native Nation Builders (Shopify as platform)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Start-up to scale, e-commerce

What it gives: Training, mentorship, digital tools

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Successor to Shopify's discontinued Build Native.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Canada Council – Creating, Knowing and Sharing

Who runs it: Canada Council for the Arts

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Artists, cultural carriers, groups, orgs

What it gives: Grants (travel, small-scale, short/long-term projects)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Useful for artisans/creative businesses.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

CCIB Tools for Indigenous Business (TIB) & grants listing

Who runs it: CCIB

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Entrepreneurs (free for members)

What it gives: Training, templates, grant listings

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FCC Indigenous Agriculture & Food Lending

Who runs it: Farm Credit Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit, economic development corps, communities. On- and off-reserve agriculture, food, harvesting

What it gives: Loans

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Futurpreneur Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP)

Who runs it: Futurpreneur Canada with RBC Origins and BDC

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit (self-identify), on or off reserve. Youth 18–39; pre-launch or ≤24 months operating

What it gives: Collateral-free loan + 2 yrs mentorship

Amount: Up to $75,000 ($25,000 Futurpreneur + up to $50,000 BDC); follow-on up to $40,000

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Indigenous Business Navigator

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Businesses, organizations, communities

What it gives: Free single-window referral to federal programs

Amount: Free

Good to know: Email navigator@sac-isc.gc.ca; reply in ~3 business days.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Prosperity Foundation

Who runs it: NACCA (charitable arm)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Entrepreneurs, youth

What it gives: Grants/awards & programs via IFIs

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Screen Office funding (Production for All, Marketing/Distribution, Travel, Development)

Who runs it: Indigenous Screen Office

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Screen-based creators/companies

What it gives: Grants

Amount: Amount not stated

Apply by: Nov 25, 2026

Good to know: Production Program for All deadline Nov 25, 2026.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program – find your local provider

Who runs it: ESDC via ~110 Indigenous service delivery organizations

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit & urban/non-affiliated. Job seekers; some fund self-employment training

What it gives: Training, wage subsidies, skills funding

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NACCA Business Financing Program

Who runs it: NACCA / IFIs

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Entrepreneurs

What it gives: Loans via IFIs

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NACCA Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program (IEP)

Who runs it: NACCA / IFI network

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Entrepreneurs and community businesses

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Up to $99,999 individual; up to $250,000 community-owned

Good to know: Same money as AEP Access to Capital; entry point is your IFI.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NACCA Indigenous Tourism support

Who runs it: NACCA / IFIs

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Tourism businesses

What it gives: Financing & support via IFIs

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

NACCA Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Program (IWE)

Who runs it: NACCA / IFIs

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Women; business >50% owned & controlled by Indigenous women

What it gives: Micro-loan + grant + coaching

Amount: Up to $25,000 total (typ. 50% loan / 45% grant / 5% equity – per IFI guidelines)

Good to know: Delivered by each IFI; terms vary slightly.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NACCA Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurs program

Who runs it: NACCA / IFIs

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Youth (NADF version: 18–39)

What it gives: Micro-loan + grant + training

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NWAC #BeTheDrum entrepreneurship navigation

Who runs it: Native Women's Association of Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Women, Two-Spirit, transgender & gender-diverse

What it gives: Navigation, mentorship, workshops

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

RBC Origins – Indigenous banking & entrepreneurs

Who runs it: RBC

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, businesses, communities

What it gives: Banking, capital, partners (e.g., Futurpreneur IESP)

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Scotiabank services for Indigenous peoples

Who runs it: Scotiabank

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, bands, economic development corps

What it gives: Banking, financing

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

TD Indigenous Banking (personal & commercial)

Who runs it: TD Bank Group

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, businesses, communities

What it gives: Banking, financing

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026