Thunderbird Collective Supports 15 Indigenous-Led Fire Stewardship Projects with Over $729,800 in Funding

As part of Thunderbird Collective’s ongoing commitment to strengthening fire stewardship, Thunderbird Collective’s Grant Program awarded $729,800.00 in funding to 15 Indigenous-led projects across Canada working towards advancing fire stewardship. 

The grant program funds Indigenous-led fire stewardship projects through four funding pillars: knowledge-sharing, land-based learning, sovereignty, and advocacy. By providing funding directly to Indigenous Nations, communities and organizations, the program seeks to support Indigenous-led fire stewardship that strengthens community well-being, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and upholds Indigenous sovereignty. 

The 2025-2026 grant cycle supported a wide range of activities across all funding pillars. Projects hosted community gatherings bringing together Elders, youth, knowledge holders, fire practitioners, and community members, and developed resources such as research articles, community booklets, and children’s storybooks to share teachings and lived experiences related to fire. Projects supported on-the-land activities that strengthened relationships with fire and land, including cultural burning practices, youth and land-based education programs, and land-based camps. Funding also supported the development of community fire stewardship policies, supported training opportunities, and initiatives that strengthened local capacity for fire management, response and governance.

Projects were funded across Canada, including multiple communities, Nations, and landscapes, and reflecting a wide diversity of Indigenous-led approaches to fire stewardship. Projects in the 2025-2026 funding cycle included: 

The success of this year’s projects demonstrates the importance of sustained investment in Indigenous-led fire stewardship. Thunderbird Collective remains committed to supporting communities as they strengthen relationships with fire, land, and cultural knowledge for future generations. 

The Thunderbird Collective Grant Program is now in its second year, continuing to support Indigenous-led fire stewardship initiatives with expanded timelines for project activities and ongoing opportunities for funding in the future 2027-2028 Thunderbird Collective Fire Stewardship grant cycle.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD COLLECTIVE: 

The Thunderbird Collective provides a safe, ethical space for Indigenous Peoples to work together: supporting and advocating for Indigenous involvement and leadership in wildland fire management. The Thunderbird Collective provides leadership and guidance in advancing Indigenous-led approaches to fire stewardship, ensuring that Indigenous knowledge, governance, and decision-making remain at the core of this work. This leadership is carried forward through the Thunderbird Collective Steering Committee (TCSC), a body Indigenous fire practitioners with specialized experience directly in Indigenous-led fire stewardship and practices, representing diverse regions across Canada, to ensure Indigenous knowledge holders guide priorities, strengthen collaboration, and shape the future of fire stewardship in Canada.

CONTACTS: 

For more information on the Thunderbird Collective Grant Program, please visit our grant page. 

For general inquiries about the Thunderbird Collective:
info@thunderbirdcollective.ca  

For grant-related questions or inquiries: 
grants@thunderbirdcollective.ca