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FedDev Ontario programs (Indigenous applicants eligible)

Who runs it: FedDev Ontario

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

What it gives: Contributions/loans

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not Indigenous-only; FedDev has a dedicated Indigenous support team.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedDev Ontario – Indigenous businesses and organizations pathway

Who runs it: FedDev Ontario

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned businesses, IEDCs, Indigenous not-for-profits. Scale-up, community economic development, ecosystem projects

What it gives: Repayable (business) / non-repayable (organizations)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Dedicated team: indigenous-autochtones@feddevontario.gc.ca. No deadline; no form needed to start.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedNor – Northern Ontario Development Program (Indigenous eligible)

Who runs it: FedNor

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

What it gives: Contribution

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not Indigenous-only; Indigenous applicants eligible.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

First Nations Youth Entrepreneurship Program (FNYE)

Who runs it: First Nations Agriculture & Financing of Ontario (IFI)

Who can get it: First Nations. Youth; South Central/Eastern ON (farm/food anywhere in ON)

What it gives: Micro-loan + grant

Amount: Loan up to $13,800 (6%) + grant up to $6,200

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

FNAFO – Beginning Farmers Program

Who runs it: First Nations Agriculture and Financing of Ontario

Who can get it: First Nations (Ontario). New farmers: machinery, inputs, buildings, storage

What it gives: Loan + grant

Amount: Financing up to $50,000 with grant of 30% up to $15,000

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

FNAFO – First Nations Women's Entrepreneurship Program (FNWE)

Who runs it: First Nations Agriculture and Financing of Ontario

Who can get it: First Nations women (Ontario). Any sector, full- or part-time, on or off reserve

What it gives: Micro-loan + grant

Amount: Loan up to $13,800 (6%, no payments first year) + grant up to $6,200; 5% equity

Good to know: The women's version of the FNYE youth program.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Economic Development Fund – Business and Community Fund

Who runs it: Ontario MIAFNER (delivered via Indigenous lenders)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Start-up & expansion of small/medium Indigenous businesses

What it gives: Grants & financing

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: The individual-business stream of IEDF; ask your Ontario IFI.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund – Indigenous Women in Business

Who runs it: NADF (IFI)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Women 18+, ≥51% owner, NADF area

What it gives: 45% grant + 50% loan

Amount: Up to $25,000 project

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund – Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship

Who runs it: NADF (IFI)

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

What it gives: 45% grant + 50% loan

Amount: Up to $25,000 project

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

OFNEDA (Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association)

Who runs it: OFNEDA

Who can get it: First Nations. EDOs & entrepreneurs

What it gives: Training, mentorship, procurement readiness

Amount: Entrepreneur membership $20/yr

Good to know: Ontario funded $8M 2025–28.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Ontario Arts Council – Indigenous Arts Projects

Who runs it: Ontario Arts Council

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit (Ontario-based). Artists, collectives, organizations

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Up to $15,000 individual / $20,000 collective / $25,000 organization

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Tecumseh Community Development Corp – loan programs

Who runs it: TCDC (IFI, Sarnia)

Who can get it: First Nations. Southwestern Ontario

What it gives: Loans (under/over $5,000), loan guarantees

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (WELF) at IFIs

Who runs it: Delivered by däna Näye Ventures, AIIC, Waubetek, Akaitcho BDC and others

Who can get it: Indigenous women (majority-owned business). Any size business

What it gives: Loan

Amount: däna Näye: up to $50,000; AIIC: up to $50,000; Waubetek: up to $50,000 (package ≤ $100,000)

Good to know: Ask each lender how it works with the IWE micro-loan.

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