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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

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ACOA – Innovative Communities Fund (Indigenous communities)

Who runs it: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Who can get it: Indigenous communities and Indigenous-controlled non-profits. Community economic development projects

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Funded e.g. Innu Business Development Centre and MCPEI/Epekwitk economic office.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI)

Who runs it: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Who can get it: Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati communities (eligible Atlantic/Gaspé). Communal commercial fishing enterprises

What it gives: Non-repayable contributions, training, business advice

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Community enterprises, not individuals.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program – Access to Business Opportunities

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations & Inuit communities, Indigenous-owned organizations/associations. Regional or national projects only – NOT individual start-ups

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Up to $500,000 per recipient per year (stream budget $850,000/yr)

Apply by: Oct 31, 2026

Good to know: 2026 deadline Oct 31, 2026.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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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

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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

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Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program

Who runs it: Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CDEV)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit groups/communities. Equity stakes in major natural resource & energy projects

What it gives: Loan guarantee

Amount: $20 million to $1 billion per guarantee ($10B program)

Good to know: Community-scale, not small business.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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CIB Indigenous Equity Initiative

Who runs it: Canada Infrastructure Bank

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities. Equity in infrastructure projects CIB also invests in

What it gives: Loan

Amount: $5 million to $100 million; up to 90% of Indigenous equity

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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Community Opportunity Readiness Program (CORP)

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations and Inuit communities/governments (provinces). Feasibility, business planning, equity gap for community-owned businesses, multi-business infrastructure

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Up to $3 million (economic opportunities, infrastructure); up to $1 million (business planning and advice)

Good to know: You need other money too, plus at least 10% cash. Contact the ISC regional office.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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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

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Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) – 20/20 Catalysts Program

Who runs it: Indigenous Clean Energy

Who can get it: Indigenous clean-energy champions. Capacity building

What it gives: Training/mentorship

Amount: Amount not stated

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI)

Who runs it: Natural Resources Canada / Wah-ila-toos, with Indigenous Clean Energy

Who can get it: Remote Indigenous communities. Clean-energy champions, planning, project development

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Works in groups (cohorts). No open intake found.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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Lands and Economic Development Services Program (LEDSP)

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations and Inuit communities. Core funding for community economic development officers and land management

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Community-level. Same application package as CORP.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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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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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

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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

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Strategic Partnerships Initiative

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada (federal partners)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities. Community-scale multi-year opportunities; no direct applications – federal partners bring projects forward

What it gives: Contribution

Amount: Program budget $14.45M/yr (not per project)

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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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

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Wah-ila-toos (clean energy single window)

Who runs it: Government of Canada (NRCan, ISC, CIRNAC, ECCC)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities, Indigenous governments, dev corps. Clean energy projects

What it gives: Funding & technical support (multiple programs)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: CERRC fully committed; check which sub-programs are open.

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

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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