Fire Stewardship Grant Program

• Indigenous Nations (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, communities, councils, tribal and regional organizations).
• Indigenous organization a community, registered not-for-profit organization, registered charity, First Nation band, Métis or Inuit Council.
• Indigenous-led groups (51% or more Indigenous governance) guiding and advancing Indigenous fire stewardship in collaboration with schools, local fire departments,  or non-Indigenous partners, as determined by the Steering Committee

Complete the application form (downloadable Word/PDF).

Fill in each question on the application form.

Make sure to include:

1. Applicant information
2. Project Plan: Objectives and activities (who, what, when, where, how)
3. Budget
4. Permissions/land access (if applicable)
5. Letters of support (from the Nation/Community, partner organizations).

Submit by email to grants@thunderbirdcollective.ca

 Funding activities must take place between June 2026 and March 2027. Only costs during this time will be eligible for reimbursement.

There will be future funding available from April 2027 to March 2028.

Projects must relate to Indigenous fire stewardship and fall under at least one of the four

pillars:

•  Knowledge Sharing: Workshops, seasonal gatherings, storytelling, recording or archiving traditional fire knowledge, or creating teaching resources.
• Land-based Learning: Cultural burns, youth or Elder camps, field training, demonstration projects, seasonal monitoring.
• Advocacy: Policy development, community engagement campaigns, creating educational materials, or presentations to decision-makers.
• Sovereignty: Developing fire stewardship protocols or laws, Nation-to-Nation knowledge exchanges, governance strengthening, or asserting Indigenous fire practices on the land.

Your project plan should show that your project is ready to be implemented. Include:

• A clear description of the project or event
• Goals and expected outcomes
• Timeline of activities
• Roles and responsibilities
• Budget aligns with activities
• Any community or partner involvement

Eligible expenses may include:

• Wages or honoraria (e.g., crews, Elders, Knowledge Keepers).
• Training and certification.
• Safety equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Travel, food, and accommodations for project activities.
• Community engagement and knowledge-sharing events.
• Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

• Major capital purchases (e.g., vehicles, buildings).
• Activities unrelated to Indigenous fire stewardship.
• Expenses incurred before the funding is approved.

Applicants may apply to one or more of the four funding pullars. The maximum funding amount is $70,000 per application, regardless of the number of pillars selected. The Steering Committee will assess applications based on project scope, need and available resources. 

Applicants are encouraged to request an amount that reflects the true costs of their project, supported by a clear budget.

Yes. Applicants must confirm:

• Where the project will take place.
• Who holds responsibility for that land (community, band, Crown, private).
• That permissions/permits (e.g., burning permits, landowner consent, cultural protocols) are in place or in process.

Each Community may submit applications for up to one project per pillar, to a maximum of two applications. Where possible, priority will be given to supporting one project per Nation/Community.

We encourage you to describe:

• Objectives (who, what, when, where, how).
• Outcomes (the changes you expect for people, community, and land). 

Try to use SMART objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

Yes. Applications can be submitted:

• In writing (form or Word/PDF).
• Applicants must us the provided application templates. Submissions that do not follow the required templates may not be reviewed or considered.

• Readiness with clear plan, realistic budget, achievable timelines and capacity.
• Relevance to Indigenous fire stewardship and the four pillars.
• Community leadership and involvement in advocacy and sovereignty.
• Demonstrate inclusion of Elders and Youth in implementation of the Project.
• Strong well-defined need that aligns with community priorities.
• Potential impacts and outcomes for community (ies).
• Detailed project plan and budget that aligns with the proposed activities.

Applications are evaluated based on key criteria to ensure fairness and alignment with program

goals. Each application is considered on factors such as community need, expected impact and

benefits, alignment with one of the program’s four pillars, and the proposed budget.

Proposal Indicators:

1. The proposed activities clearly advance one or more of the four pillars.
2. The proposed activities are deeply rooted in community knowledge, values and participation. It is shaped by the voices and lived experiences of community members.
3. The proposed activities have a clear, realistic plan achievable within the timeframe and a reasonable budget.
4. The proposed activities strengthen community capacity or share knowledge.

Each application is scored 1–5 in each pillar (max = 40 points).

Readiness and Assessment Criteria                                             Points Total

• Community-led initiatives------------------------------- 5 Points
• Reports and tools produced  --------------------------- 5 Points
• Gathering supported  ------------------------------------ 5 Points
• Need ---------------------------------------------------------  5 Points
• Impact / Benefits -----------------------------------------  5 Points
• Project Plan: Objectives and Activities -------------- 5 Points
• Alignment to funding pillars ----------------------------5 Points
• Budget --------------------------------------------------------5 Points

Maximum total 40 Points

• A short final report based on our template (written, video, or audio), including details on activities completed, outcomes achieved, and how funds were spent.
• Sharing of learnings with the broader Indigenous fire stewardship community, where appropriate.

The grant application will be launched on April, 2026. Applications will be accepted until

June 5, 2026 (noon, Pacific Time) to submit by email to grants@thunderbirdcollective.ca. Late or

incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

A letter of support is a mandatory part of the application process. If the Letter of Support is not submitted by the application deadline, a one-time extension up to two weeks may be granted, no later than June 19, 2026 (noon, Pacific Time).  

If the letter of support is not received by June 19, 2026, the application may be considered incomplete and may not proceed in the review process.

You will be notified after the review process is complete. We anticipate decisions will be shared

by June 2026 and we will provide updates if the timelines change.

Please direct all questions to grants@thunderbirdcollective.ca.