Canada is advancing its position as a global leader in sustainably sourced minerals while promoting Indigenous reconciliation, partnerships, and regional economic growth. In line with this strategy, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a call for proposals for the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) Indigenous Grants stream, offering up to $3 million in total funding for Indigenous organizations or non-Indigenous organizations partnering with Indigenous communities.
The CMIF Indigenous Grants stream is designed to provide Indigenous groups with the resources needed to actively engage in, participate in, and benefit from critical minerals development. Grants of up to $150,000 are available for most organizations, with amounts up to $200,000 for initiatives supporting Indigenous organizations in northern or remote communities. Funding decisions will prioritize projects with significant potential benefits for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, the context and status of the associated critical minerals project, the impacts of development, and the equitable distribution of funding across Indigenous groups in Canada. Applications for this call are open until December 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT, with an information session scheduled for October 21, 2025.
The CMIF Indigenous Grants stream is part of Canada’s broader Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to develop resources and value chains to support a low-carbon economy and advanced manufacturing. The $1.5-billion CMIF program addresses infrastructure gaps, enables critical minerals production, and connects resources to markets through clean energy, electrification, and transportation projects. Indigenous involvement is central, particularly since many proposed projects are on traditional Indigenous territories and treaty lands.
Funding under the Indigenous Grants stream will support engagement, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing activities linked to clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects that increase production at mines where critical minerals represent at least 50% of the total output. For this call, eligible initiatives must take place between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2028, with the stream expected to provide up to $13.5 million by 2030 for qualifying projects.
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