Funding Opens Applications for Indigenous-Led Remembrance, Research and Reconciliation Projects
TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing $7 million in new funding to support Indigenous communities and organizations leading healing, remembrance and commemorative initiatives connected to the legacy of the Residential School System.
The investment is being delivered through the Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF) and will support projects focused on honouring missing children, Residential School Survivors, families and communities affected by the institutions. Eligible applicants can receive up to $250,000 to support activities including public education, engagement, research and community-based healing efforts.
The funding initiative is part of Ontario’s continued efforts to advance reconciliation by supporting Indigenous-led approaches that preserve history, promote awareness and provide culturally appropriate opportunities for reflection and healing.
Ontario Supports Indigenous-Led Healing and Commemoration Projects
The IRSCEF allows communities and organizations to develop projects that respond to local priorities and experiences related to Residential Schools. Supported activities may include ceremonies, monuments, healing gardens, interpretive displays and commemorative plaques designed to create spaces for remembrance, storytelling and education.
The fund also continues to support broader community needs, including engagement activities, mental health and addictions assistance, staffing resources and research initiatives related to the impacts of the Residential School System.
“The voices and priorities of Indigenous communities continue to guide our approach as we advance meaningful reconciliation in Ontario and support the sacred work of healing, truth-telling and commemoration,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation. “We remain committed to working in partnership with communities to support Indigenous-led initiatives that honour Survivors, the children who never returned home, their families and communities.”
Ontario said the program is designed to ensure communities have the resources needed to lead their own reconciliation efforts while addressing the lasting impacts of Residential Schools.
Funding Applications Open Until September 16, 2026
Applications for the Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund are currently open and will be accepted until September 16, 2026.
Eligible applicants include Political Territorial Organizations, Tribal Councils, First Nation and Métis communities, regional or provincial organizations representing First Nation, Métis, Inuit or urban Indigenous peoples, Indigenous service providers, and Indigenous organizations undertaking initiatives related to Indian Residential Schools.
Through the program, Ontario aims to strengthen community-driven efforts that document experiences, educate the public and create meaningful opportunities for Survivors, families and future generations.
Part of Broader $20 Million Indigenous Support Investment
The IRSCEF forms part of a broader $20 million investment planned for 2026-27 to support Indigenous-led burial investigations at former Residential School sites, increase public awareness and provide culturally appropriate, trauma-informed supports for Survivors, families and communities.
Ontario has also highlighted its ongoing financial commitment toward identifying, investigating, protecting and commemorating burial sites connected to Residential Schools across the province.
To date, the province has invested $144.5 million toward these efforts, supporting initiatives aimed at recognizing the experiences of Survivors and ensuring the history of Residential Schools continues to be acknowledged and preserved.
Community Priorities Remain Central to Reconciliation Efforts
The Ontario government said continued collaboration with Indigenous communities remains central to its reconciliation work. Through funding programs such as the IRSCEF, the province is supporting projects that are developed and guided by Indigenous communities themselves.
The latest investment reflects Ontario’s ongoing focus on supporting truth-telling, remembrance and culturally informed healing initiatives while providing communities with resources to address the impacts of the Residential School System.