Call for Indigenous Cultural Development Projects

The Call for Indigenous Cultural Development Projects program aims to increase the offer of activities, services and goods that significantly contribute to the Ministère’s objectives of strengthening and developing Indigenous cultures and communications. It also aims to meet the objectives of the 2022-2027 Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Wellness of the First Nations and Inuit.

Financial assistance granted by the Ministère makes it possible to conduct, over a specified period, defined actions that cannot be automatically renewed. The various calls for projects covered by the program include specific provisions according to the project type. This program is thus divided into three components.

• Indigenous Media Component
• Cultural Projects for School-age Youth Component
• Indigenous Languages Component

For each of the program’s three components, $50,000 is the maximum amount that can be awarded by the Ministère for the project.

Applications for financial assistance are normally completed online via a form available at di@pason . They are then automatically forwarded to the Ministère responsible for processing them. Upon request, applications may also be submitted in paper form, which must be forwarded to the Ministère located in the applicant’s region.

If you experience difficulties with di@pason, it is possible to get help by completing the Application for Project Assistance form (PDF 1.20 Mb).

Applications for financial assistance must be received by the dates determined each year by the Ministère. To learn more about these dates, see the program calendar.

Applicants must submit the information necessary for reviewing their application in the form or in attachments. This includes:

• A description of the project, including:
  • its objectives
  • its content
  • its relevance and consistency with the program’s objectives
  • important dates
  • expected results and impacts
  • a plan for public communication of project activities and results
• The names of the partners associated with the project and a description of the contributions they intend to make to the project (contributions of goods and services must be accounted for and estimated according to their market value)
• Information regarding the project management team, including its experience and skills
• A detailed project budget
• A project schedule (PDF 151 Kb)

N. B.: Particular attention will be paid to the coherence of the project objectives, the planned activities as per the project schedule and the detailed project budget.

• For organizations:
  • the organization’s most recent financial statements
  • consent from the organization’s competent authorities to submit an application for financial assistance
  • Any relevant information to support the application

While the project is under consideration, the applicant will be required to provide the Ministère with additional information and documentation as requested.

In order to be submitted for review, applications must be complete, comprehensible and based on accurate data. Applications for financial assistance that do not meet this requirement may be deemed ineligible. Required documents must be submitted before the program closing date. Applicants are responsible for correcting any defects found during the review of their application within the time frame allowed by the Ministère.

Applications are reviewed by the Ministère. If necessary, the Ministère may solicit external expertise.

General Criteria

Applications are reviewed based on:

• how well they meet the objectives of the Call for Projects
• the overlap or competition with existing activities or projects
• the clarity and precision of the project’s objectives
• the experience and skills of the project management team
• the applicant’s ability to complete the project
• the feasibility of the budget forecasts, financial arrangements and project schedule
• the diversity of funding sources and the judicious use of resources
• the project’s structuring effects and its contribution to the target sector and region
• the project’s impact on cultural and communications outreach

Terms and Conditions

In addition to the clauses relating to payment and use of the grant, the agreement that the recipient must sign to receive payment of the grant includes:

• a statement of accountability
• clauses relating to the transfer of copyright
• commitments related to communications regarding the purpose of the grant

Only expenses directly related to the project are eligible.

The applicant’s expected contribution to the project must be included in the submitted budget. This contribution may include:

• any goods and services to be provided, with an estimate of their market value
• the number of hours of volunteer work, if applicable

The program provides financial assistance covering up to 75% of eligible project expenses, depending on the nature of the project.  The cumulative amount of direct or indirect financial assistance received from Québec and Canadian government departments, agencies and Crown corporations, including tax credits, as well as from municipal entities that are not direct beneficiaries of the program, must not exceed 90% of eligible expenses.

For the purposes of calculating the accrual rate for public financial assistance, the term "municipal entities" refers to the municipal bodies included in section 5 of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (RLRQ, c. A-2.1).

The assets referred to in subparagraph 1º of the first paragraph of section 89 of the Act establishing the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government (RLRQ, c. G 1.04) are not considered in the accumulation rule of this standard.

For the purposes of calculating the accrual rate, all forms of financial assistance granted by a public body must be calculated at 100% of their value, whether or not they are repayable.

The Ministère will pay at least 50% of the grant amount upon signing the agreement. The remainder will be paid according to terms and stages that depend on the nature of the project, its duration and the expected deliverables.

Specific Requirements

Expenses incurred prior to the project being formally accepted by the Ministère are not considered eligible and must be clearly indicated as such in the budget.

The applicant’s contribution to the project must cover at least 10% of its total eligible expenses, of which at least 5% must be monetary. Only expenses directly related to the project are eligible. These expenses may include:

• labour costs (including benefits)
• costs related to the rental of property or equipment
• costs related to the purchase of materials or equipment
• reporting and consulting fees
• advertising expenses
• travel expenses
• other project costs - must be specified
• administrative fees (up to 5% of the total eligible expenses described above)

Expenses related to the following are not eligible:

• awards, scholarships or events
• the organization’s regular activities (associated with operations)
• fixed assets or leasehold improvements

The Accountability Report (PDF 131 Kb) will be completed in accordance with the provisions of the results agreement:

• It is completed according to the time frame established therein or at the end of the project, depending on its nature and duration.
• Preparing the report involves one of the following approaches:
  • the applicant participates in a meeting or meetings called by the Ministère, the content of which is recorded in a written report
  • the applicant prepares a final report and, if necessary, progress reports

The Accountability Report must include:

• a summary of activities completed
• a description of the project results and how they compare to the project objectives
• a report detailing how the grant was used in order to verify that the funds were used for the purpose for which they were intended
• any information or documentation required by the Ministère in accordance with the Results Agreement
• any other information or documentation requested by the Ministère

The Ministère reserves the right to visit the project site and verify use of the grant money at any time.