Indigenous cultural development assistance program - Component 1: Aboriginal cultural development agreement;

Purpose of the program

The Aboriginal Cultural Development Assistance program aims to support the development of the 11 Aboriginal nations in Quebec, recognized by the National Assembly. The nations recognized by the National Assembly are as follows: (Abenaki, Algonquin, Attikameks, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Micmac, Maliseet, Naskapi, Mohawk, Inuit and, Innu).

It promotes cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Communications and its First Nations and Inuit partners in order to contribute to the cultural vitality of the communities concerned.

This program is part of the Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Development of the First Nations and Inuit 2017-2022. Various interventions are grouped together in this planning in order to ensure the social and cultural development of indigenous peoples by focusing on a real cohesion of government action. The Aboriginal Cultural Development Assistance program aims, in this sense, to bring together all of the Department's interventions with First Nations and Inuit and to ensure better deployment of the support offered by the Department in terms of culture and communications to the region. all indigenous nations.

As the government's action plan indicates, cultural development is inseparable from social development. The program is also one of the specific commitments made with regard to Aboriginals in Quebec's cultural policy.

The partnerships and projects put in place through this program take into account the needs of citizens as well as those of communities, and they are based on a common understanding of the issues and challenges in terms of the development of cultures and communications. . They can be established at the instigation of the Ministry or result from initiatives of partners to which the

Purpose of the program

Government guidelines for Aboriginal people 

The First Nations and Inuit are the original inhabitants of the territory and thus occupy a special place in the history of Quebec, both culturally and politically. The 15 principles, adopted on February 9, 1983, by the Council of Ministers, constitute the foundation of government action regarding Indigenous peoples. The first principle stipulates that "Quebec recognizes that the Aboriginal peoples of Quebec are distinct nations who have the right to their culture, their language, their customs and traditions as well as the right to direct the development of this identity themselves."

First Nations and Inuit have their own systems of knowledge transmission, which often rely on oral tradition and intergenerational relationships. However, many social changes have the effect of reducing the frequency of these relationships, thus undermining the vitality of Indigenous cultures. The Government of Quebec's efforts are aimed at supporting Indigenous people—in urban areas and communities—who wish to strengthen their cultural transmission systems or supplement them with formal or informal education programs.

First Nations and Inuit members face their own cultural challenges and issues. To address the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by the Government of Canada, it is important to strengthen the relationship between the Government of Quebec and Indigenous peoples based on constructive exchanges, mutual respect, and a willingness to work together. Culture offers a unique opportunity for collaboration in this regard.

In accordance with government guidelines regarding relations with First Nations and Inuit, the Ministry of Culture and Communications (Ministry) must act in an exemplary manner by promoting dialogue upstream of projects and initiatives that concern them, with the objective of fostering reconciliation, better adapting to the specific realities of each Indigenous community and nation and thus contributing to the development of these unique and diverse cultures.

This is how the Indigenous Cultural Partnership program is in line with the orientations of Quebec's cultural policy, Culture Everywhere, including its commitments to Indigenous people. The first of these commitments stipulates that:

Indigenous nations must also be given the opportunity to play a greater role in the management, promotion and transmission of their cultural heritage, including traditional knowledge. In accordance with this process, which promotes the autonomy of Indigenous nations in matters of culture, the government will offer equitable support to each of them. It is committed to increasing the scope of partnership agreements with Indigenous nations, as well as the participation of Indigenous leaders and organizations in the knowledge, protection, promotion and management of their cultural heritage (Quebec Cultural Policy: Culture Everywhere , p. 14).

The vitality of Indigenous languages, which are an integral part of First Nations and Inuit cultures, is also of great importance to Quebec, particularly in the context of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages ​​2022-2032. Concerted action is desirable to effectively support Indigenous communities and nations, both locally and nationally, in their efforts to preserve, transmit, and promote languages.

The program is also part of the activities of the Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Well-being of First Nations and Inuit 2022-2027. Various interventions are grouped together in this plan with the aim of ensuring the social and cultural development of Indigenous peoples by focusing on true cohesion of government action. Particular importance has been given to Indigenous cultures and languages, as well as to reconciliation, which is one of the six priority areas. The Ministry plays a crucial role in the implementation of actions in this area.

A tool adapted to different realities 

Under the Act establishing the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications (MCC), the Ministry may "enter into development agreements with municipalities, regional organizations or groups, in matters of culture or communication" ( Act respecting the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications , CQLR, chapter M-17.1, section 14, paragraph 3). The conclusion of Indigenous cultural partnerships (PCA) with Indigenous organizations and authorities has been an essential means of intervention for the Ministry for over 30 years. Unlike municipal and regional cultural development agreements, with Indigenous cultural partnerships, the Ministry intervenes with distinct nations that have their own culture, language and heritage. The Ministry's intention is to offer them a versatile and structuring tool that allows them to decide for themselves what actions to take for their future.

By grouping together all cultural needs, the Indigenous Cultural Partnership program allows partners to no longer have to submit different financial assistance applications annually and ensures predictability in the funding of targeted actions. Project monitoring and reporting are also simplified. Thus, the program lightens the management of cultural projects by offering partners the opportunity to allocate their often limited human resources to the development and implementation of projects rather than their administration. In a context where the Ministry supports partners who are often poorly equipped and work in remote areas, it is necessary to propose simple methods adapted to different realities and which encompass all of their interventions. In summary, Indigenous cultural partnerships contribute to increasing the autonomy of partners in the preservation, transmission and promotion of Indigenous cultures and languages, based on their priorities and aspirations. They also strengthen the capacities of partners by supporting the hiring of human resources dedicated exclusively to Indigenous culture or languages, as well as the development of their knowledge, skills and collaborative links.

Due to their realities, legal status, languages, and cultures, Indigenous communities struggle to participate in the Ministry's generic programs. They have difficulty obtaining stable funding to enable them to plan structuring actions for the preservation, transmission, and promotion of their cultures and languages. Their needs also vary for projects taking place at the level of a community, a nation, or several nations. To ensure genuine government intervention in culture, the Ministry has developed expertise and methods that adapt to different realities.

Indigenous cultural organizations are key players in Quebec's Indigenous cultural ecosystem. They work in urban areas to raise awareness among the non-Indigenous population about the realities and cultures of First Nations and Inuit. These organizations also play a crucial role for Indigenous people living off-reserve, for whom access to their culture is often complex or difficult. Finally, these organizations work in communities through specific projects to offer Indigenous populations cultural activities that complement the various initiatives implemented by communities or nations. 

What is an Indigenous cultural partnership? 

The partnerships and projects implemented through this program take into account the specific needs of members of the various Indigenous nations and communities in Quebec, and are based on a shared understanding of the issues and challenges in culture and communication. They may be established at the instigation of the Ministry or result from initiatives by partners with whom the Ministry agrees to join.

An Indigenous cultural partnership entered into between the Ministry and an eligible applicant is defined as a comprehensive agreement that includes a set of cultural and communication initiatives. It helps to showcase the potential of each Indigenous partner, support cultural vitality by pooling their knowledge, and align their cultural and communication initiatives. To ensure long-term funding, the Indigenous cultural partnership can be entered into for a period of 1 to 3 years.

The Indigenous Cultural Partnership is a tool adapted to the realities and needs that Indigenous communities and nations are able to identify for themselves. It constitutes a lever for the preservation, transmission, and promotion of Indigenous cultures and languages, to which partners from diverse backgrounds are invited to contribute.

The priority beneficiaries are members of the various indigenous nations and communities of Quebec, with a view to developing and consolidating the cultural vitality of their nations and communities.

Objectives pursued

The objectives of this program are twofold. On the one hand, the conclusion of an indigenous cultural partnership aims primarily to:

• meet the specific needs of members of the different Indigenous nations and communities of Quebec in terms of culture and communication;
• consolidate the territorial coherence of public actions in culture and communication;
• contribute to efficient management of cultural and communication actions;
• strengthen the autonomy of indigenous nations and communities in the preservation, transmission and promotion of their cultures and languages.

On the other hand, throughout Quebec, the financing of actions whose beneficiaries are the First Nations and the Inuit aims to:

• promote access to their cultures and to a participatory cultural life;
• contribute to the affirmation of cultural identities and to highlighting the indigenous cultures and languages ​​specific to each nation;
• strengthen the capacity of Indigenous nations and communities to preserve, transmit and promote their cultures and languages.

The Indigenous cultural partnership allows for the funding of actions that are part of a cultural action plan specific to a nation, an Indigenous community, or an organization dedicated to Indigenous cultural development in Quebec. It is established according to jointly negotiated objectives, actions, and resource sharing. The principles of the partnership concluded between the Ministry and the Indigenous partner are as follows. Thus, the partnership:

• focuses on a common reading of the characteristics and dynamics as well as the issues and challenges of the nation, the indigenous community or the organization;
• promotes initiatives that are distinct from or complementary to other programs of the Ministry, agencies and state corporations under the Minister of Culture and Communications;
• allows for the adaptation of ways of doing things from one territory to another while respecting the priorities of the nation or the indigenous community.

Eligibility criteria and conditions

Eligible customers 

Eligible customers are:

• the 11 indigenous nations of Quebec recognized by the National Assembly and represented by:
  • designated national indigenous authorities: a body or political entity responsible for ensuring the preservation, transmission or promotion of the culture or language of a single nation and designated in this way by its members;
  • Indigenous cultural organizations: an autonomous organization linked to several nations or working in urban indigenousness and whose activities contribute to the preservation, transmission or promotion of Indigenous cultures or languages ​​in the territory of Quebec;
• Indigenous communities that are part of the 11 Indigenous nations of Quebec, recognized by the National Assembly.

Ineligible customers are:

• natural persons;
• non-indigenous organizations;
• for-profit organizations;
• non-Indigenous government bodies;
• applicants who find themselves in one of the following situations:
  • are registered in the Register of companies not eligible for public contracts, including their subcontractors registered in the same register;
  • during the two years preceding the application for financial assistance, have failed to meet their obligations under financial assistance from the Ministry after having been notified by the latter of their failure to comply with the conditions for granting financial assistance  (PDF 3.27 MB) and reporting;
  • have failed to meet their obligations after having been duly notified in connection with the granting of previous financial assistance by a ministry or body of the Government of Quebec;
  • do not meet the high standards of integrity that the public is entitled to expect from recipients of financial assistance paid from public funds;
  • used the financial assistance to make a payment to an entity in one of the situations indicated in the preceding paragraphs.

Eligible actions 

General Conditions 

Eligible action

In the text, an action or a project refers to the same definition.

An action is admissible if it:

• meets the objectives of this program;
• does not contradict a government policy or a measure approved by the Treasury Board or the Government of Quebec, nor does it cover an activity already financed by budgetary rules approved by the latter;
• complies with the legal and regulatory framework in force;
• contributes to at least one of the Ministry's intervention sectors and respects the guidelines applicable to Indigenous cultural partnerships ( Annex I  (PDF 195 KB) );
• is part of a complementary scope to the actions deployed by the Ministry in its other financial assistance programs, or to one of the assistance programs of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles or the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec or to existing actions in the territory concerned;
• is limited in time and of a one-off and non-recurring nature;
• aims:
  • the indigenous population as the ultimate beneficiary;
  • to offer a free or low-cost cultural activity;
  • to develop conditions conducive to holding cultural activities through temporary facilities, such as camps or shaputuan, or equipment linked to activities in the territory, excluding infrastructure.

Ineligible action

The following actions are not eligible:

• projects that relate to the day-to-day running of an organization (regular activities);
• recurring projects;
• projects aimed strictly at a show;
• scholarships and prizes;
• the implementation of international projects;
• the operation of events or festivals;
• fundraising activities, benefit activities for an organization or event sponsorship;
• activities aimed at making profits.

Specific conditions for hiring human resources 

The actions and expenses outlined below are specific to the hiring of human resources assigned exclusively to Indigenous culture or languages.

Eligible actions

• The hiring by the eligible applicant of professional or technical resources assigned exclusively to Indigenous culture or languages ​​and who meet the following condition:
  • permanent or casual employment (weekly employment of more than 21 hours per week).
• Continuing education and training in Indigenous culture and language for:
  • professional and technical resources employed by the eligible applicant;
  • elected officials and members of the community or indigenous nation participating in the implementation of an action.

Non-eligible actions

The Ministry reserves the right to refuse any action it deems irrelevant and that does not achieve the program's objectives. When there is a risk that an action will be funded in another program within the ministerial or government portfolio, an opinion is sought internally or from other relevant ministries and organizations.

Submitting an application

An Indigenous cultural partnership can be entered into at any time during the fiscal year. First, the applicant completes an "initial application." This phase allows them to inform the Department of:

• the desired duration of the agreement (1, 2 or 3 years);
• the list of actions envisaged, their cost and the sums which would be allocated to them, the target clientele for each action;
• the sum of the financial assistance requested and that of the contribution of the applicant and partners.

Please note that goods and services received as a donation or non-financial contribution are not countable under this program.

A decision regarding the applicant's eligibility for financial assistance, produced in thedi@pason online service, is communicated within a maximum of 10 working days following receipt of the initial request.

In a second phase, if the applicant is deemed eligible, the Ministry proceeds to analyze the initial application based on the criteria set out in the Selection Criteria section. The Ministry will prioritize applications as needed.

If the initial application is approved, the Ministry sends the applicant a financial proposal and invites them to complete their application. At this stage, the applicant specifies the detailed action plan. It sets out the objectives, actions, and financial resources that they and their partners intend to commit to during the planned period. The Ministry can assist the applicant in drafting their action plan.

The applicant undertakes to comply, at all times and throughout the duration of the financial assistance, with the program's eligibility criteria and the conditions set out therein. These criteria are prerequisites and compliance with them does not constitute a guarantee of payment of financial assistance, which also depends on compliance with the conditions for granting financial assistance (section Conditions for granting financial assistance) and accountability (section Control and accountability).

The applicant also undertakes to comply with the following compliance conditions:

• designate a human resource to ensure the implementation of the partnership;
• implement control measures to ensure the sound management of the partnership and to remain accountable for it in all circumstances (Control and Accountability section);
• provide complete, accurate and truthful information;
• update their profile data in the Ministry's online services system or inform the Ministry if any changes occur;
• comply with the conditions described in the document Conditions for granting financial assistance  (PDF 3.27 MB) , in particular the visibility requirements, and those described in the partnership agreement.

By submitting an application for financial assistance, the applicant consents to certain information appearing therein being communicated to another ministry or organization, including Crown corporations under the Ministry, to enable the latter to ensure compliance with certain administrative measures or to obtain the expertise required when analyzing the application.

Requested documents

The application for financial assistance is normally produced online, using a form accessible in thedi@pason online service, and automatically forwarded to the Ministry department responsible for processing it. It can also, upon request, be submitted using a paper form which must be sent to the Ministry department located in the applicant's region.

The completed application must be accompanied by the following documents:

• the resolution on the application adopted by the competent authorities and specifying: the desire to enter into a partnership, the duration of the partnership, the date on which the resolution was taken and, if necessary, the identification of the title of the agent;
• the duly signed document Conditions for granting financial assistance  (PDF 3.27 MB) ;
• any relevant additional document that supports and analyzes the request.

To be submitted for assessment, the application must be complete, understandable and based on accurate data; otherwise, it is up to the applicant to correct the deficiencies within the time allowed by the Ministry.

Bonuses

During program reopening periods, beneficiaries will be able to request an increase in an agreement that has already been announced and for which the maximum contribution has not been reached.

Requests for agreement enhancements will be subject to the same negotiation process as new agreements submitted during the program reopening period and will be analyzed based on the evaluation and prioritization criteria. Applicants who do not have an ongoing Indigenous cultural partnership will be prioritized.

Applicants who wish to request an improvement to their agreement must update the mandatory documents and submit them to the Ministry within the time limits prescribed by the program.

Selection of applications

Selection criteria 

The evaluation of applications is carried out by the Ministry. The latter may, if necessary, resort to external expertise.

The Ministry reserves the right to limit the number of applications selected or to make a lower financial proposal in order to respect the budget envelope and the amounts available.

In order to reach as many Indigenous people as possible through its Indigenous cultural partnerships, the Department prioritizes applications from Indigenous nations. However, communities not represented by a national cultural body will also be prioritized. Finally, applications from Indigenous cultural organizations will be considered.

If a nation and an Indigenous community included in that nation apply for financial assistance separately, the community and the nation must make every effort to ensure that the actions they undertake under this program are complementary to those carried out by their counterparts in order to ensure a coherent Indigenous cultural partnership within the nation's territory. The Ministry may support the community and the nation in their efforts to coordinate.

A request is studied according to the criteria below.

Table I

Selection criteria for a financial aid application

Rating and prioritization of requests 

Applications are graded according to the following scale.

Table II

Scoring scale

Requests are prioritized according to the scale below:

• from 80% to 100%: priority 1;
• from 60% to 79%: priority 2;
• from 0 to 59%: not retained.

Allocation of financial aid

Eligible expenses are those directly linked to the implementation of an action plan for which financial assistance is granted and which are carried out exclusively for this purpose for the duration of this assistance.

Calculation of financial aid 

The program's financial distribution is designed to be fair and takes into account the specific characteristics and realities of each Indigenous nation and community. First, the available funding is distributed among the 11 nations. Second, if a nation and a community within that nation apply for financial assistance separately, a calculation will be made to determine the maximum amount that can be allocated to the community.

Distribution of the envelope between nations 

The distribution of the available budget is made by nation according to the following criteria.

Table III

Distribution criteria for calculating financial aid by nation

*The level of remoteness from the nation is assessed according to the proximity of an urban environment, which influences accessibility to cultural services supported by the Ministry (examples: cultural activities, museums, library).

The amount of the contribution granted by the Ministry to a nation cannot be less than $5,000 per agreement. The maximum amount of financial assistance per agreement for a nation is $400,000 per year. It can reach $1,500,000 per year for Northern nations, whose territory is included in a government action plan for northern development, isolated nations and highly isolated nations.

1. The Northern nations whose territory is included in a government action plan for northern development include the Innu, the Cree, the Inuit and the Naskapi.
2. Isolated nations are those that reside alone in a territory and have no access to any cultural services other than those offered by the nation.
3. Highly isolated nations are characterized by the absence of land links between the communities that form the nation.

The distribution may be different in the case of specific envelopes from other government departments or agencies. In this case, if there are residual amounts for a nation, a new distribution by nation will be made according to the parameters set out above and depending on requests.

Distribution of the envelope between a community and its nation 

In the event that a Nation and an Indigenous community included within that Nation apply for financial assistance separately, the financial support offered to applicants varies according to the criteria below, up to the maximum amount possible for the Nation. 

Table IV

Criteria for the distribution of financial aid calculation between a community and its nation, if applicable

The amount of the contribution granted by the Ministry to a community cannot be less than $5,000 per agreement.

Contribution from the Ministry 

The financial contribution granted by the Ministry can reach up to 75% of the expenses eligible for the program.

Public or private partners (third-party partners) may participate in the implementation of the actions or their financing. In the latter case, the amounts could be matched by the Ministry depending on financial availability. Note that, in the case of an Indigenous cultural partnership, third-party partners are not signatories to the agreement.

Rule for the accumulation of public financial aid 

The calculation of the cumulative direct or indirect financial assistance received from ministries, agencies and state corporations of the governments of Quebec and Canada, including tax credits, as well as from municipal entities that are not direct beneficiaries of the program, must not exceed 100% of eligible expenses.

For the purposes of calculating the cumulative rate of public financial assistance, the term “municipal entities” refers to municipal bodies included in section 5 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (RLRQ, chapter A-2.1).

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

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

Also, when the cumulative rate of public financial aid is less than 100% of eligible expenses, a minimum contribution from the beneficiary is required to ensure that government aid does not finance all of the eligible expenses of the project.

Furthermore, financial assistance from the Business Development Bank of Canada, Farm Credit Canada and Financière agricole du Québec should be considered private contributions if they do not offer any conferred benefit or are agreed upon under market conditions.

Eligible expenses 

The following expenses are eligible:

• salaries and benefits of professional and/or technical resources hired by the eligible applicant and working exclusively on the implementation of eligible actions of the Indigenous cultural partnership, up to a maximum of $60,000 in gross annual salary, per resource;
• training costs for resources hired under this program (technical, professional, college or university training, participation in conferences, forums, congresses or gatherings);
• fees related to a business or service contract;
• the costs of carrying out studies or diagnostics (professional fees);
• the following costs, other than those related to the day-to-day operation of the applicant:
  • training,
  • writing,
  • linguistic revision,
  • translation,
  • research and graphics,
  • impression,
  • promotion, advertising, marketing and communication (such as designing and printing posters or leaflets),
  • traditional or digital edition, printing or publication of a book or journal;
• the cost of the equipment intended for customers and necessary for the implementation of the action plan;
• the rental cost proportional to the use of premises other than those of the applicant for carrying out the action;
• the purchase of non-integrated equipment, only when it is necessary for the completion of a project under the agreement and cannot be rented or whose purchase cost is lower than the rental cost. These costs are limited to 50% of the cost of the project (with the exception of a digital project);
• the purchase of tickets for shows as part of a project aimed at the indigenous population, linked to a broader project and complementing existing government programs in force;
• artists' fees for animation, cultural mediation or training, creation or dissemination for the benefit of the indigenous population (in the case of creation, indigenous cultural partnerships support projects for the benefit of the indigenous population while creation projects, aimed at supporting the artist's creative or artistic approach, are the responsibility of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec);
• the non-refundable portion of the Quebec sales tax (QST) and the goods and services tax or harmonized sales tax (GST/HST);
• travel and accommodation expenses in Quebec directly related to the implementation of the project and the mandate of the resources hired under this program and which are not part of day-to-day operations. These travel expenses must not exceed the scales in effect in the public service.

Ineligible expenses 

The following expenses are not eligible:

• expenses incurred or incurred before the date of the announcement letter;
• current operating expenses or charges related to the regular activities of the applicant or an engaged organization;
• an organization's operating deficit, the repayment of loans or the replenishment of its working capital;
• expenses related to projects already completed;
• expenses already financed by the Quebec government for the same project;
• any expense not directly related to the project;
• the refundable portion of taxes;
• alcoholic beverages, tobacco and cannabis expenses, liquor license and meeting permit;
• the purchase of gifts, including gift cards;
• legal fees;
• costs of extended warranty, replacement parts, maintenance or use of equipment;
• the acquisition of land or property and other fixed assets.

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