Help that may fit you

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ACOA – Indigenous economic development in Atlantic Canada

Who runs it: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

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

What it gives: Contributions (Business Development Program etc.)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Lists REGI, Innovative Communities Fund, BDP, Community Futures.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Membertou L'nui-Kina'masi (entrepreneurship and supplier development)

Who runs it: Membertou First Nation

Who can get it: First Nations (Mi'kmaw). Entrepreneurs and Indigenous suppliers

What it gives: Advisory / supplier development

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Nation-run support; no grant amount shown.

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

BDC Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan

Who runs it: Business Development Bank of Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Businesses operating ≥12 months; Canadian citizen/PR

What it gives: Loan (preferred rate, no fees)

Amount: Up to $350,000

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

EDC Indigenous entrepreneurs (incl. Inclusive Trade Investment Program)

Who runs it: Export Development Canada

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned/led exporters. Exporters

What it gives: Guarantees, credit insurance, equity

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

Indigenous Business Export Support Program

Who runs it: Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

Who can get it: Indigenous majority-owned businesses. Exporters

What it gives: Export funding, trade missions, advice

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Continuous intake.

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 Growth Fund (IGF)

Who runs it: NACCA with BDC Capital (fund manager), federal & private investors

Who can get it: Indirect – lends to IFIs who lend to First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Growth-stage businesses via IFIs

What it gives: Debt capital to IFIs (evergreen fund)

Amount: Fund of ~$153M committed (not a per-business amount)

Good to know: Entrepreneurs access it through their IFI.

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

Mitacs Indigenous Pathways

Who runs it: Mitacs (non-profit, federally funded)

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned businesses, Indigenous governments, Indigenous-led non-profits, or Indigenous interns. R&D internship, min 4 months

What it gives: Internship cost share

Amount: Partner pays 25%; Mitacs funds up to 75%

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

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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

NRC IRAP (Indigenous-owned SMEs eligible)

Who runs it: National Research Council Canada

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned/led SMEs (not Indigenous-only). Incorporated, for-profit, ≤500 employees, technology innovation

What it gives: Advisory + non-repayable funding

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Open to all small businesses, including Indigenous-owned ones.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Who runs it: Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Who can get it: Indigenous-led ventures (Canada & US). Seed to Series B, scalable

What it gives: Venture equity

Amount: First investments usually $250,000 to $3 million

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

Open Not free (membership fee)

CAMSC Supplier Certification (Indigenous-owned businesses)

Who runs it: Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (non-profit)

Who can get it: Indigenous (51%+ owned, managed, controlled); also visible minorities. For-profit Canadian businesses

What it gives: Certification (access to corporate buyers)

Amount: Not free (membership fee)

Good to know: Not free: there is a yearly membership fee. Free options: the federal Indigenous Business Directory and CCIB Certified Indigenous Business.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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CCIB Certified Indigenous Business (CIB)

Who runs it: CCIB

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Business ≥51% Indigenous-owned & controlled

What it gives: Certification, procurement marketplace

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

First Nations Procurement Authority

Who runs it: NACCA (FNPA)

Who can get it: First Nations. Communities & businesses

What it gives: Group purchasing / procurement savings

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) + Indigenous Business Directory

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Business ≥51% Indigenous-owned and controlled

What it gives: Access to set-aside federal contracts (5% federal target)

Amount: n/a (contract access)

Good to know: Register at services.sac-isc.gc.ca/REA-IBD; PSIB contracts need ≥33% Indigenous content.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026