About – First Nation Adapt Program

About the program

This program funds First Nations-led climate change adaptation projects across Canada for communities and organizations located south of the 60th parallel to assess and respond to the impacts of climate change, and increase climate resilience, in support of self-determined priorities. The program accepts project proposals year-round.

The program works with First Nations to identify context-specific priorities for climate change adaptation projects. Priority areas identified through discussions with First Nations include sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, drought , winter road failures, risks to archaeological and cultural sites, forestry and fishery management, water source vulnerabilities and other emerging priorities.

The program can fund the following types of projects:

  • risk assessments of climate change impacts
  • identification and assessment of adaptation options
  • small-scale implementation of adaptation actions (maximum $250,000)
  • development of tools to support climate change adaptation planning

Examples of eligible activities for funding include:

  • supporting community discussions on climate change adaptation
  • gathering and/or utilizing Indigenous Knowledge or science-based data
  • assessing risks and mapping hazards (including flood maps)
  • integrating adaptation options in land-use and/or emergency management planning for communities’ key priorities
  • implementing small-scale adaptation options, such as native vegetation planting to support water retention, backflow water valves to reduce flooding, or fuel management to reduce the risk of wildfire on infrastructure

Want to discuss a project idea?

If you have a project idea but are not sure where to begin, we would be pleased to discuss the eligibility of your project, answer your questions about the application process or provide general guidance about other suitable programs.

Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

This is not a complete list, and First Nations are encouraged to identify project activities that address their individualized needs. Staff are readily available to help scope out project activities.

Approximately $9.5 million of contribution funding is available annually.

Who can apply?

  • First Nation communities
  • First Nation organizations including:
    • First Nation associations
    • Band councils
    • Tribal councils
    • Self-governing First Nations governments
    • other organizations understood to be First Nations in nature

This program supports climate change adaptation projects in First Nations south of the 60th parallel. Northern First Nations looking for funding for their climate change adaptation projects should consult the Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program.

Deadlines

There is no deadline to apply. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

How to apply

  1. Review the program funding guidelines and the budget spreadsheet.
  2. Contact us to discuss a potential project idea.
  3. Seek and confirm community support for your project with a band council resolution or other proof of community support.
  4. Contact [email protected] to obtain a budget spreadsheet (MS Excel) and complete a project proposal as described in the guidelines.
  5. Submit the project proposal, budget spreadsheet, and band council resolution to [email protected]
Learn More - First Nation Adapt Program

Examples of Previous Funded First Nation Adapt Projects

British Columbia

Funding to conduct a risk assessment of climate change impacts to determine the risks posed to Nisga’a village of Gingolx, Nisga’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw, Nisga’a Village of Laxgalt’sap. Nisga’a Village of New Aiyansh community infrastructure.

Funding to conduct community risk assessment, adaptation planning, and cost-benefit analysis projects focused on inland flooding, drought and wildfires.

Funding to create more holistic and ecosystem-based approaches that prioritize place-based experiences while emphasizing water and land values within 8 First Nation Communities in British Columbia.

Funding to create a Charter to establish sustainability values and standards that will feed into a Climate Action Plan.

Funding to support the Indigenous Coastal Climate Coalition to create a summary report of the findings of the Coastal Vulnerability Study previously funded by First Nation Adapt.

Alberta

Funding to coordinate the collection and analysis of local watershed data within 2 of its communities, Meander River and Chateh, over 4 fiscal years.

Saskatchewan

Funding to identify ways in which emergency response strategies can anticipate and mitigate threats to social and cultural fabric of the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation community while enhancing existing social and cultural strengths.

Funding for a risk assessment project that will involve:

  • interviews with Shoal Lake Cree Nation community members
  • a housing condition/quality assessment
  • a Photovoice project
  • a youth art and poster-making project

Funding to conduct an assessment of climate impacts through interviews with Red Earth Cree Nation community members as well as youth art projects and awareness building.

Funding to build climate change awareness in member communities Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose, The Key First Nation, Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Sakimay First Nation and develop climate change risk assessments and adaptation plans related to community infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

Funding for a regional project to conduct risk assessments and adaptation planning focused on inland flooding, helping the community better understand flooding and climate change risks. Also to:

  • provide recommendations for infrastructure
  • inform Pelican Lake, Witchekan Lake community planning for adaptation measures

Manitoba

Funding to assist Bunibonibee Cree Nation:

  • conduct a comprehensive analysis to understand the source of inland flooding
  • produce flood maps
  • collect Indigenous knowledge related to flooding

Funding for Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation community participation and engagement in a plan designed to address climate change issues respectful of the Anishinabe language, culture and worldviews.

Funding for local integrated watershed planning to address the Swan Lake First Nation communities’ flooding, drought and shoreline erosion concerns in a changing climate.

Funding to complete a Peguis First Nation climate change vulnerability assessment that will feed-into a multi-year community-led and integrated emergency response planning process, complementing past regional adaptation efforts and supporting additional assessments required to address community-specific needs and priorities for future adaptation efforts.

Funding to support Ebb and Flow First Nation community capacity to meet the requirements for application to Infrastructure Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund call for proposals.

Ontario

Funding to increase knowledge and understanding of the current and future potential impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the wetlands and the subsequent community impacts.

Funding for a flood vulnerability study that will combine the knowledge of Elders and Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek community members with Geographic Information System and mapping technologies to clearly identify and outline the areas that are most susceptible to flooding events using historical data.

Funding to conduct a climate change risk assessment to determine the environmental and cultural impacts of past and future flooding and forecast how climate change is likely to affect Missanabie Cree First Nation’s traditional territory.

Funding to complete climate risk assessments of community assets and infrastructure, using the First Nation Infrastructure Resiliency Toolkit (FN-IRT), in Garden River First Nation and Sagamok Anishnawbek.

Funding to complete a Lac Seul First Nation community shoreline erosion assessment project that will identify, map, and create erosion and remediation plans for seven burial sites impacted by flooding, as well as wind and wave action.

Funding for a flood hazard mapping and modelling project that builds upon the flood vulnerability study and adaptation plan previously completed by Big Grassy First Nation in 2018-2020.

Quebec

Funding for a Bande des Innus de Pessamit community project to conduct adaptation planning with a focus on inland flooding, drought and wildfires.

Funding for a Mohawks of Kanesatake community adaptation planning and risk assessment project over 2 years to address community flooding and wildfire concerns.

Funding for a risk assessment and adaptation planning project to address shoreline erosion, including a Timiskaming First Nation community-led updated shoreline assessment in light of climate change.

Funding for a 2 year project to update the climate change adaptation plan completed in 2015.

Atlantic

Funding for community risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and adaptation planning with a focus on inland flooding, wildfires, coastal erosion and sea level rise.

Funding to conduct climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning for Bear River and Acadia, both of which were not involved in prior phases of the project.

National

Funding to develop a national Indigenous-led website, social media plan, and Indigenous communications online strategy aimed at encouraging active participation by past, present and future First Nation Adapt Indigenous community participants.

Funding for the development of an online course based on Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resource’s Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning (ICCAP) Toolkit through the online learning platform LearnDash.

Funding to support travel for Moose Cree First Nation, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Attawapiskat, Weenusk/Peawanuck, Fort Severn community residents to the 2022 Hudson Bay Summit in Montreal, QC on November 29-December 1, 2022. Co-funded with CIRNAC’s Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program and Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program.

Funding to support up to 20 participants representing First Nations across the country to attend the PIEVC Global Forum in Vancouver, BC on April 18-20, 2023.

Who Can Apply?

  • First Nation communities
  • band or tribal councils
  • Indigenous organizations

Deadlines and How to Apply

There is no deadline to apply. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

  1. Review the program guidelines and the budget spreadsheet
  2. Contact the program to discuss a potential project idea
  3. Seek and confirm community support for your project with a band council resolution or other proof of community support
  4. Complete a 3 to 5 page project proposal as described in the guidelines, as well as the budget spreadsheet (MS Excel)
  5. Submit the project proposal, budget spreadsheet, and band council resolution to [email protected]