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Where: Ontario · Who: First Nations, status, living off reserve · Need: Start a business
The federal Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program gives up to $99,999 that you do not pay back, for one person’s business (up to $250,000 for a community-owned business). It comes with a loan from your IFI. You apply to your local IFI (or Métis Capital Corporation), not to Ottawa. No deadline.
Lenders in Ontario. Ask the one near you if you are in their area:
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open Lesser-known
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.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open
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
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
These are closed right now. Check their page for the next time they open.
Closed
Who runs it: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Who can get it: First Nations, Métis, Inuit. Agriculture and food-system projects
What it gives: Non-repayable
Amount: Amount not stated
Good to know: Ended (ran 2018 to 2023). Try the AAFC Indigenous Pathfinder Service instead.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Closed
Who runs it: Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Who can get it: First Nations, Métis, Inuit tourism operators. All ITAC programs
What it gives: n/a
Amount: n/a
Good to know: Programs suspended (2026). A federal note (May 15, 2026) says ITAC paused all programs and services until further notice.
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Closed
Who runs it: Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), federally funded
Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Indigenous-majority-owned tourism businesses
What it gives: Non-repayable grant
Amount: Up to $25,000
Good to know: Programs suspended (2026)
Official page ↗Last checked Oct 31, 2026
Open means we did not see it closed when we checked. Always check dates and rules on the official page.