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Reflecting Indigenous values and priorities through grantmaking

This program was developed by an Indigenous advisory who are all living in the capital region. With deep knowledge of community needs, from 2022 to 2024, they shaped a new granting process, completed application reviews and made granting recommendations for the Indigenous Priorities Fund Pilot program. In 2025, the pilot was extended for an additional year, following the granting process developed by the advisory. See below for more information about the grantees and funding distributed (2025 grantee list coming soon).

The full program is anticipated to be launched in late 2026. More information about this program will be available by the summer. In the meantime, the Community Grants Program Vital Stream is open for applications from February 3 to March 10 to all Nations and registered charities in our region. Please reach out to our granting team for more information.

Indigenous Granting Advisory guiding values

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Good mind and

good heart.

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Work and collaborate

in a good way.

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Rethink ways of doing,
especially around granting.

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Walk and learn

with humility.

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Be reflective.

Victoria Foundation logo, Indigenous theme

Be proactive
and responsive.

The granting objectives of the Indigenous Granting Advisory are:

  1. Develop a granting approach that better reflects Indigenous values and priorities.
  2. Review applications following this process.
  3. Make granting recommendations to the Victoria Foundation’s Board of Directors.

This collaboration builds on the Victoria Foundation’s ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities and on the recommendations of the Foundation’s Reconciliation Task Group.

Support the Indigenous Priorities Fund

The purpose of the Indigenous Priorities Fund is to support social, cultural and legal infrastructure for Indigenous communities in the capital region. The first two grant cycles guided by the Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot received funding through the Indigenous Priorities Fund.

This funding is made possible through our Community Action Funds, discretionary funds and additional gifts from donors with a special interest in supporting Indigenous communities.

Grant recipients

To date, the Indigenous Priorities fund has granted $1,604,581 to 30 grantees including eight local Nations and 22 Indigenous-led and Indigenous-serving organizations for a variety of purposes and projects.

Granting priority was given to the following applications (in this order):

  1. Nations
  2. Indigenous-led organizations
  3. Organizations that are not Indigenous led but that offer Indigenous-serving programs

Applicants were all based within the capital region and the benefits of their initiatives all serve Indigenous people living in this region. Please review this map.

The Literacy Circle

The Literacy Circle is working hard to improve literacy skills for Indigenous elders and adults, Residential and Day School survivors and multi-generational survivors.

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Reviving the cultural past for a resilient future

When the tide is out, the table is set. Learn about the Pauquachin First Nation’s sea garden restoration project. Also, learn how the South Island Reciprocity Trust, in collaboration with local Nations and the Smokehouse Foundation, are helping local residents and small businesses bring more meaning to their words of gratitude.

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Oasis Society

The Oasis Society is working together as one, to inspire, empower and reconnect Indigenous people impacted by homelessness.

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Evolving an Indigenous-led granting process

“The process (is now) more streamlined and feels more empowering. Often, we are shoehorning into what a grant can offer versus fitting our needs within a grant. The Pilot is very Nation-centered and feels more about meeting the needs of the community,” shares Kalie Dyer, Director of Education, Esquimalt Nation.

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Ultimate Spirit

Ultimate Spirit is an ultimate-frisbee-focused program run through the BC Ultimate Society in collaboration with First Nations School Authority schools. The program is unifying connection, healing and wellness in communities through the culture, spirit and sport of ultimate.

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Xwsepsum Esquimalt Nation

“The Indigenous Priorities Funding allowed us the flexibility to identify community needs and action them in a meaningful way. Other granting opportunities are often quite prescriptive, so the way that the Victoria Foundation approached this grant gave a lot of power and autonomy to the Nation in advancing the goals that they have identified and established themselves.”

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Land acknowledge­ment

The Victoria Foundation acknowledges with respect the Lekwungen speaking people of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on whose traditional lands our offices are located.