Aboriginal Languages Initiative

• Objectives
• Eligible Recipients
• Eligible Projects
• Eligible Expenditures
• Ineligible Expenditures
• Proposal Format

Objectives

The overall goal of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) is to support preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages for future generations of Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians. Specific objectives include:

• increasing the number of Aboriginal language speakers;
• expanding the domains in which Aboriginal languages are spoken; and
• increasing the rate of intergenerational transmission.

Expected results and outcomes of the ALI program include:

• Community-based access to programs and activities that support Aboriginal communities in the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages and cultures;
• Aboriginal communities have the capacity to enhance languages and cultures; and
• Aboriginal languages and cultures are preserved and promoted as living cultures.

These objectives can be attained through the delivery of high quality projects developed by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and through the development of long-term strategies for language renewal and preservation.

Canadian Heritage recognizes that any intervention to recover Aboriginal languages must be flexible and responsive to the broad range of community needs, goals, and priorities.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients include the following:

• Not-for-profit Aboriginal organizations, societies and community groups;
• Aboriginal service delivery and voluntary organizations;
• Aboriginal academic institutions (does not include development of regular curriculum);
• Aboriginal cultural, educational and recreational organizations/centres;
• Aboriginal youth and women's organizations; and
• Where there exists an absence of an Aboriginal organization(s), non-Aboriginal organizations in a clearly defined partnership with Aboriginal organizations or Aboriginal advisory committees.

N.B.:  ALI third party delivery organizations are not eligible for project funding under the ALI. Please refer to the ALI Third Party Delivery guide for eligibility information.

Please note that the following are not eligible to apply for funding:

• Individuals;
• Non-Aboriginal organizations (unless in partnership with Aboriginal organizations or Aboriginal advisory committees);
• For-profit organizations;
• Federal departments and agencies; and
• Provincial/territorial and municipal governments and their agencies.

 

Eligible Projects

A project has the following characteristics:

• stated start and end dates;
• one or more goals;
• measurable objectives; and,
• the identification of an activity or activities designed to achieve the goal(s) and objectives.

Core operations, and any activity or expense that is not specific and exclusive to the objectives of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative, are not eligible for funding under this Initiative.

To qualify for funding, ALI projects must:

• comply with the goals, objectives and principles of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative,  particularly the objectives of preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages; priority will be given to projects which enhance and reinforce early language learning; and,
• not duplicate or replace existing federal or provincial/territorial Aboriginal languages education programs.         

Examples of eligible projects include community-based activities such as:

• recording, documenting and preserving endangered Aboriginal languages;
• conducting assessments of the status of languages use at the community level;
• developing materials to increase Aboriginal language use and proficiency;
• developing programs for training and certifying Aboriginal language teachers and resource people in the community;
• developing systems for facilitating communications in Aboriginal languages;
• promoting traditional approaches to learning, such as language camps, immersion programs, etc;
• developing mechanisms for sharing information, materials, and other resources among Aboriginal languages groups;
• improving community and public understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal languages; and
• developing promotional materials for the use of Aboriginal languages.

Eligible Expenditures

Subject to ministerial approval, eligible expenditures must be directly related to the project activities and may include:

• salaries¹ and employee benefits related to the delivery of the project
• training related to the performance of ALI responsibilities rental costs for facilities specifically required for the project and/or project activities
• equipment rental/service/purchase²
• project supplies and resource materials photocopying/printing/translation directly related to project activities communications directly related to project activities
• honoraria for Elders and professional services/consulting fees related directly to the project
• travel³ within Canada related to the project
• insurance directly related to project activities
• administration (see below)

Administrative costs will not exceed 15% of the total approved funding. Administrative costs at the project level may include:

• bookkeeping services
• office supplies
• insurance
• telephone, fax
• utilities
• postage, courier
• photocopying/printing
• rent for office space
• audit
• legal
• translation

N.B.: An audit will be required for projects receiving $50,000 or more under the ALI

Ineligible Expenditures

Ineligible expenditures are:

• capital construction and renovation
• stipends, allowances or honoraria for attendance in a course/activity
• costs incurred before the application is received by the Department
• salaries and honoraria for a principal officer or Board members
• start-up and operational costs for organizations including;
  • institutions
  • training organizations
  • commercial enterprises
  • cultural/professional industries
• employment training programs including apprenticeship or job training
• festivals and gatherings, including career fairs and conferences
• contingency/miscellaneous fees
• deficit recovery

How to Apply for Funding

ALI funding is delivered on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage by a number of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations. Different regional organizations have different timelines for selection of projects and different funding availability.

Please refer to the ALI Contact List for information about the Delivery Organization for your region.

Proposal Format

In addition to submitting the information required in the General Application Form, in preparing your proposal it is required that you provide information to address each of the following points:

Objectives

The proposal must include the objectives of the project in a way that relates clearly to the objectives of the AL.

Support

The proposal must include:

• a minimum of three letters of support from the community to be served, including letters from individuals within the target group to be served, and from community service organizations; and,
• the name(s) of any organization(s) with which the applicant organization is affiliated.

Need

The proposal must include information on:

• the target population, including the number of people living in the community;
• why this project is needed; and
• who was consulted, including individuals and organizations from the target group and the community, to identify this need.

Activities

The proposal must:

• describe the activity/activities to be funded, including:
  • project objectives
  • description of what will take place
  • expected results or outcomes (see "Expected Results" below)
• describe how the proposed activity/activities meet the language needs;
• include a workplan showing when each activity would take place; and
• identify staff position(s) to be funded under the proposal (e.g., full-time project coordinator) and their responsibility in relation to the activities to be carried out.

The following points should be adhered to during the creation of digital content:

• Standard formats must be used; and
• The capture format chosen must be appropriate for the content and the mode of content delivery.

If any of the proposed activities are a continuation of those carried out in the previous fiscal year please describe how the activity has evolved, and/or why the activity is to be continued/repeated.

Expected Results

The proposal must describe the expected results of the proposed activity/activities, i.e., who is expected to benefit and how, performance indicators used, and how these results relate to the project objectives.

The performance indicators should include:

• Quantitative indicators related to the project, e.g., number of workshops, number of participants, etc.; and
• Qualitative indicators that describe the impact of the project, e.g., as a result of the workshop, the participants gained knowledge/awareness/capacity in XYZ, etc.

Budget

The proposal must include:

• a detailed budget and a signed, authorized monthly cashflow that clearly links to the proposed activity/activities, and that provides a breakdown of administrative costs;
• budget notes that show how amounts were calculated;
• information on any other funds requested for the proposed activity/activities, including the source of funds, and how they are to be applied against the budget;
• an estimate of the total revenue of the project for the fiscal year in question, including the funding sources; and
• details on how any equipment costing $1,000 or more will be used or disposed of when the project is over.

N.B.:    Equipment purchase/lease/rental directly related to the project may be included in the budget under the following conditions:

• each item is identified and costed;
• an explanation of the need/use of the item is provided; and
• the total cost of the equipment purchase/lease/rental does not exceed 10% of the total amount approved after salary costs are deducted.

Note: If your organization is applying for a multi-year funding agreement, please refer to the “Multi-Year Funding Guidelines: Direct Delivery” document when preparing your proposal.

Partnerships

The proposal must identify any organizations and institutions that will be involved in meeting the objectives of the proposal, and clearly identify the role that they will play in the project.

Reporting

The proposal must commit to providing timely activity, evaluation, and financial reports and other related information, as requested by the Department. For detailed reporting requirements, please refer to the ALI Community Project Reporting Guide.

Recognition

The applicant must describe how the Department's contribution will be recognized in a way that ensures that both the participants and, to the fullest extent possible, the community are aware of the support provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.  

Former Public Servants

The applicant must disclose the involvement of former public servants who are subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.

Notes

1 Each position covered by salaries must be identified along with the rate of pay for each.

2 The organization is required to maintain an inventory of all materials and equipment costing in excess of $1,000.00. The total cost of the equipment purchase/rental may not exceed 10% of the total amount approved, after salary costs are deducted.

3 In the case of travel, the rate of reimbursement may not exceed Treasury Board Guidelines on travel expenses.