2024-25 Reporting on the Calls for Justice 16.1 to 16.46: Inuit Specific Calls

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.1 by funding the Government of Nunavut to address housing shortages and infrastructure needs, in a manner that honors federal commitments related to housing and economic development. Indigenous families, survivors and communities are served by the initiative's work to address territorial disparities in housing quality and accessibility.

• Investment in Nunavut housing: Funding has been used to construct new public housing units for rural and remote communities, develop additional housing for vulnerable populations, and conduct major repairs to existing social housing stock to ensure safety and longevity.
  • Example: Funding allocated to the Government of Nunavut was used to expand and improve availability of social housing, including constructing new public housing units in remote Indigenous communities such as Coral Harbour and Pond Inlet.
• Infrastructure preservation: Funding supports major infrastructure upgrades reduced safety risks, ensuring better family well-being.
  • Example: Funding allocated to the Government of Nunavut for major mold remediation projects across Nunavut, facilitating the preservation of existing housing units managed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

Budget 2022 provided $150 million over two years. Nunavut and to Northwest Territories have each been allocated $60 million, and Yukon has been allocated $30 million. Of these funds, a minimum of 60% must be directed toward housing, and the remainder can be directed to infrastructure.

This Distinctions-based Housing Initiative's Inuit Housing Investment responds to part of Call for Justice 16.1 by investing in Inuit Treaty organizations work as they deliver self-determined housing programs and make housing prioritization decisions based on Inuit determined needs, and implementing the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy in order to improve housing outcomes in Inuit Nanangat so that they align with outcomes for the rest of Canada. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from improved socio-economic conditions, increased housing security, and the strengthening of Inuit governance and self-determination capacities.

• Increased housing availability: Construction of 60 Inuit housing units by March 31, 2025, addressing immediate gaps in housing provision.
• Enhanced community safety: Renovations and improvements to housing infrastructure contributing to safer living conditions, particularly benefitting those vulnerable to violence. Renovation of 40 units by March 31, 2025.
• Economic and social stability: Housing stability supports improved community health outcomes, economic security, and reduced vulnerability among Inuit populations.
• Culturally appropriate solutions: Housing projects and decisions informed by Inuit governance and cultural practices, enhancing relevance and effectiveness.
• Self-determined housing priorities: Empowering Inuit Treaty Organizations to govern and deliver housing programs aligned with Inuit-specific priorities, bolstering Inuit governance and decision-making, and respond effectively to emergent and existing crises.

Funding has been allocated to support critical infrastructure projects and respond to the housing needs of the communities, by investing in the construction and purchase of new housing units, renovation of existing housing units, and subsidized rent. Detailed examples are not provided in this report due to the autonomous and community-led nature of project implementation. This approach aligns with the principle of self-determination, ensuring that Inuit governance structures have full authority over decision-making processes.

Budget 2023 allocated $845 million specifically for Inuit Treaty Organizations, guided by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Board of Directors' regional distribution decisions. This targeted approach ensures that funding is responsive to the unique housing needs and priorities established by Inuit communities, facilitating measurable improvements in housing conditions across Inuit Nunangat. The funding supports both new housing construction and critical repairs, impacting thousands of Inuit community members across the region.

To date, as of the 2024-25 fiscal year, the National Housing Strategy has committed the following funding to Indigenous and northern housing:

• $336.78 million has been committed through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative toward the construction of 37 new shelters and 34 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence.
• $138.1 million through the Affordable Housing Fund (formerly called the National Housing Co-Investment Fund):
  • $25 million to repair 560 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock community housing stock.
  • $13.1 million for two emergency shelters in the territories.
  • $100 million to support the construction and repair of Housing in the Northwest Territories and Yukon
• $896 million through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy:
  • $686.05 million through an Indigenous Homelessness stream to maintain the community-based approach and to continue to address local priorities, and
  • $210.4 million to be invested in priorities determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners. $10 million of this funding has been allocated for communities in the territories
• Meeting the housing needs of vulnerable Canadians is a priority under the NHS. 2SLGBTQI+ people are identified as a priority group. As of December 31, 2024, 148 new units have been committed and seven repair units committed through the Rapid Housing Initiative and Affordable Housing Fund for 2SLGBTQI+.

The NHS also provides funding exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing through NHS bilateral agreements with provinces and territories:

• $200 million is allocated through the Canada Community Housing Initiative delivered by Provinces and Territories under the NHS Bilateral Agreements to support 7,000 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock so they continue to be made available to low-income households
• $300 million is allocated through funding for the Territories, as part of the $606.6 million federal-territorial joint investment delivered by Territories under the NHS Bilateral Agreements.

Overall, the National Housing Strategy plays a critical role in addressing Indigenous housing insecurity, ensuring that housing policies and programs uphold Indigenous rights, self-determination, and culturally relevant solutions. By incorporating long-term, community-led strategies, the NHS seeks to rectify historical and systemic injustices, while supporting the development of safe, stable, and resilient housing for Indigenous people across Canada.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.1 by investing in Inuit-led housing development and repair initiatives, but additional long-term support is required to fully meet the needs of Inuit communities. The NHS prioritizes new housing projects, shelter expansions, and infrastructure development to ensure Inuit communities have access to safe, culturally appropriate housing. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from improved housing conditions that foster well-being and economic opportunity.

• Increased housing for Inuit communities: Funding for 4,181 rapid housing units led by Inuit governing bodies.
• Economic growth in Inuit Nunangat: Creating jobs through housing construction, maintenance, and homeownership support.
• Community-led, self-governed housing solutions: Inuit self-determined policies, including Inuit-led housing initiatives and Inuit governance of shelters and transitional housing.
• Expanded safe housing access: Funding for new construction of homes, multi-unit dwellings, and community-led housing projects, and for upgrades and repairs to ensure existing housing stock meets safety, sustainability, and accessibility standards.
• Expansion of emergency and transitional shelters: Committed $336.78 million through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative toward the construction of 37 new shelters and 34 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence.
• Prioritizing vulnerable populations: Safe, stable housing for women, children, seniors, and those at risk of homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
• Long-term housing and economic security: Investments in transitional and second-stage housing, rental assistance, and affordable housing for low-income Inuit families.
• Preventing family separation and child welfare interventions: Housing programs that provide stability for Inuit families, reducing the risk of child apprehension due to poverty, overcrowding, or unsafe living conditions.
• 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive housing solutions: Culturally informed shelters, affordable housing, and advocacy for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals facing housing insecurity.

This initiative responds to part of part of Call for Justice 16.1 by engaging with a range of Inuit partners, including Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Land Claim Organizations, regional Inuit Associations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and the Government of Nunavut, to support homelessness programs, services and research to improve the housing and economic outcomes of Inuit. Through the Distinctions-based Approaches stream, Reaching Home provides direct funding for homelessness programs, services and research, for Inuit living within and outside of Inuit Nunangat, to four Inuit Treaty Organizations:

• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation;
• Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated;
• Makivvik Corporation; and
• Nunatsiavut Government.

Reaching Home's Territorial Homelessness stream also supports homelessness programs and services for Inuit in Nunavut.

• Community-driven, culturally relevant approach: Funding decisions are made locally, prioritizing Inuit-led initiatives that incorporate traditional knowledge, healing practices, and language supports.
• Holistic housing solutions: Investments in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and long-term housing security for vulnerable populations, including Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, and families fleeing violence.
• Economic and social empowerment: Programs connect individuals to income supports, employment services, and education, reducing poverty-related risks and supporting self-sufficiency.
• Family and child welfare support: Inuit-led programs strengthen family unity, prevent child welfare interventions, and provide culturally appropriate services to keep families together.
• Targeted investments for vulnerable populations: Inuit, including Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and families fleeing violence, receive priority support through Inuit-specific funding through the Distinctions-based Approaches stream.
• Inclusive and culturally responsive services: Reaching Home can be used to fund wraparound supports, including culturally appropriate services and connection with community (e.g. cultural ceremonies, traditional healing, services provided by Elders and Indigenous language and culture classes).
• Infrastructure and capacity development: Sustainable investments in housing, support services, and safe spaces, including in Inuit Nunangat.
• Inuit-specific housing and economic initiatives: Investment in Inuit-led housing projects to prevent displacement and support economic development through employment and education opportunities tailored to Inuit communities.
• Preservation of Inuit culture and language: Investments in programs ensuring access to Inuit cultural and linguistic resources, strengthening identity and connection to traditions.

In 2024-2025, $110 million was allocated to the Indigenous Homelessness stream and $62.1 million to the Distinctions-based Approaches stream. This includes dedicated funding for Indigenous-led homelessness programming that can support a range of services, support and resources for wrap-around services, emergency housing, prevention services, and long-term housing solutions.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.2 by supporting Inuit culture and language preservation through digitization. The collaboration between Library and Archives Canada and Inuit organizations prioritizes the safeguarding and accessibility of Inuit knowledge and language materials. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit by gaining access to digitized materials that reinforce language learning, cultural identity, and historical preservation.

• Cultural and language revitalization: Supports the preservation of Inuit languages and cultural heritage.
• Community-led digital preservation: Encourages Inuit governance over their own historical documentation efforts.
• Improved access to Inuit knowledge: Enhances digital availability of Inuit historical records and teachings.
• Capacity building for Inuit organizations: Strengthens Inuit-led digital preservation skills and expertise.

Budget 2021 allocated $14.9 million over four years, with $2,962,843 allocated to Listen, Hear Our Voices. Library and Archives Canada provides funding through to Indigenous communities for small projects (up to $24,999) and large projects ($25,000-$100,000).

The ILP responds to Call for Justice 16.2 by working to advance access to federal services in Inuktut. The department collaborates with over 20 federal departments to identify opportunities for increased access to federal services in Inuktut. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by gaining increased access to essential government services in their language, ensuring linguistic and cultural continuity.

• Interdepartmental coordination to expand access to federal services in Inuktuk: Enhances collaboration between federal departments to increase access to services in Inuktut starting in Nunavut.
  • Since 2022, PCH has worked to increase access to federal services in Inuktut in Nunavut through a senior-level interdepartmental steering committee to guide its work and complete a survey and analysis of current federal services in Inuktut in Nunavut.
  • To expand on this work, in 2024-25, PCH launched a working-level committee comprised of 21 federal departments and agencies to further explore opportunities to increase access to services across the federal government.
  • The Department has also begun engaging other federal departments on the development of pilot projects that can inform the advancement of potential regulations.

In November 2024, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) released the final report of its systemic investigation into the RCMP's handling of public complaints in Nunavut. The final report presented 14 findings, and nine recommendations aimed at strengthening key areas of the public complaint system. Among the recommendations were calls for mandatory training on public complaints for investigators and administrators working in the public complaint system, a culturally appropriate alternative complaint resolution mechanism, and targeted recruitment of Inuit public complaint investigators and administrators. The CRCC also emphasized the importance of a system to track and analyze complaint trends to improve accountability and transparency.

As part of its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, the CRCC prioritized translating the report into Inuktitut to ensure it is accessible to Inuit communities. The report underscored that a robust and culturally responsive complaint system is essential for public trust and community safety. The CRCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with Inuit-led organizations, communities, and the RCMP to co-develop solutions that reflect the lived realities and legal rights of Inuit in Nunavut.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.3 by recognizing Inuktut as the founding language of Inuit Nunangat and committing to its accessibility in public service processes. By translating its systemic investigation reports into Inuktitut, the CRCC has demonstrated respect for the Inuit language and taken steps to make essential information available in a culturally appropriate manner. This aligns with the call for governments to ensure Inuktut is given the same recognition, protection, and promotion as English and French.

Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this initiative by gaining improved access to justice-related information in their own language, strengthening their ability to navigate and engage with the public complaint process effectively.

• Enhanced accessibility: Public complaint process findings are available in Inuktitut, ensuring language is not a barrier to understanding rights and procedures.
• Respect for Inuit language and culture: Translation of key documents acknowledges the importance of Inuktut as a foundational language in Nunavut.
• Improved engagement with the RCMP complaint system: Inuit communities are better equipped to participate in discussions on police accountability.

This initiative is funded internally by the CRCC.

The initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.4 by prioritizing Inuit governance over early learning and child care. Investments in the Inuit Early Learning and Child Care Framework support programs designed by Inuit for Inuit, ensuring that Inuit children receive education from Inuit teachers that are rooted in their culture, history, and language. This initiative responds to the Call for Justice by prioritizing the teaching of Inuit knowledge to Inuit children within the context of early learning. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit as Inuit children grow up in environments that celebrate and uphold their cultural heritage, and receive teaching that strengthens their cultural identity, language retention, and Inuit self-determination.

• Equitable access to education: Ensures that Inuit children and families have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate early learning education. Targeted investments are made based on a recognition of the barriers that Inuit communities face in accessing education, including geographic isolation, lack of resources, and the need for culturally relevant curriculum.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $656,861 was allocated to Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society's Improving Early Learning and Child Care Quality for Indigenous Children with Disabilities in Nunavutprojectas part of IELCC's Quality Improvement Projects funding. This project supports efforts to identify existing opportunities and gaps for children with disabilities; actively involve families in shaping an inclusive child care system; develop culturally relevant curricula and training on inclusive programs; and implement a quality assurance and evaluation framework to ensure programs effectively meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in Nunavut.
• Inuktut language integration: Expands Inuit-led language immersion programs in child care settings.
• Investment in Inuit-led educational programs: Supports Inuit-led, community-driven education that reflects Inuit knowledge, language, and traditions. Expanding programs that preserve and revitalize Inuit culture, particularly in early learning settings.

The IELCC Initiative is supported by a permanent and ongoing funding structure. To strengthen early learning and child care programs and services for Indigenous children and families, the Government of Canada has made investments through Budget 2017, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2021. Investments were also made under the COVID emergency restart for one year of funding ($120M in 2020-21).

The majority of federal Indigenous ELCC investments are housed in flexible distinctions-based funding envelopes to enable Indigenous leaders at the national and regional level to direct funding allocations at any number of priorities.

In 2024-25, the total funding for each distinction includes $446 million for First Nations-led child care; $56 million for Inuit-specific early learning programs; and $189 million for Métis Nation-directed child care services.

The remaining 2024-25 IELCC funding is not dedicated to the distinctions-based funding envelopes. Instead, $16 million is dedicated to the Quality Improvement Projects fund that finances projects that foster innovation and quality improvement in IELCC. Similarly, funding is also provided through the three IELCC Legacy funding streams. In 2024-25, $42 million was dedicated to the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, $29 million to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program, and $55 million to the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative. An additional $80 million was also directed to legacy funded sites in 2024-25 for urgent repairs and renovations.

This is in addition to any funding that may be allocated to Indigenous communities for ELCC, via funding agreements with provinces and territories.

The UBF responds to Call for Justice 16.5 by addressing critical infrastructure gaps in Nunavut and other Inuit communities. It ensures that Inuit can access essential government services, education, telehealth, and economic opportunities. The program recognizes that connectivity is vital for upholding Inuit rights, as outlined in the National Inquiry's recommendations. By enabling digital access, social and economic disparities that have historically marginalized Inuit communities are challenged. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit the capacities to gain access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and culturally relevant services provided by improved digital connectivity.

• Improved digital access in Inuit communities: Through its goal of 98% of Canadian households having access to high-speed Internet by 2026 and 100% by 2030, the Government of Canada is working towards all of Nunavut's 25 communities benefiting from federal connectivity investments. This is supporting education, telehealth, and governance.
• Enhanced economic participation: Strengthens opportunities for Inuit businesses and remote work options.
• Support for self-governance: Enables Inuit leadership to engage in digital governance, education, and service delivery.

The UBF is a $3.225 billion program, inclusive of $50 million for enhanced cellular coverage projects that primarily benefits Indigenous communities. Implementation ongoing, with goals for 98% of Canadian households having access to high-speed Internet by 2026 and 100% by 2030.

In February 2024, PHAC released the first national CCWIS report on rates of out-of-home care among children in Canada by province or territory, year, sex/gender, age, and placement type. The report includes data from provinces, territories, and publicly available data from ISC. ISC data were included to estimate a maximum national rate, that covered First Nations child welfare agencies. However, distinction-based estimates were not included, as partnerships were not secured from Indigenous or provincial/territorial partners.

Despite this limitation, the report represents a crucial foundation for future distinctions-based reporting. Last year (2024-25), the initiative achieved improvements in both data quality and national coverage including new and/or more granular breakdowns by year, sex/gender, age, placement type, and legal status. PHAC will continue to release plain language summaries to support accessibility and public understanding of the findings.

These enhancements support more accurate, population-level monitoring of child welfare involvement, and enable better understanding of the scope and nature of out-of-home placements across Canada.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.6 by maintaining partnerships with provincial, territorial, and with Inuit representative organizations. These partnerships are essential for developing disaggregated data, especially regarding Inuit children in care outside the Inuit homeland to support the goal of upholding their rights and maintaining their benefits.

Indigenous families, survivors, and communities—particularly Inuit—benefit from this initiative as it supports Indigenous data sovereignty. This collaborative effort is a necessary step toward tracking and reducing inequities in child welfare outcomes, ensuring that policies reflect the priorities, geographies, and lived experiences of Inuit families.

• Collection of disaggregated data: Over time, the CCWIS aims to improve the national data landscape by acknowledging the unique experiences, needs, and priorities of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous communities across the country. This foundational work supports future distinctions-based analysis that centres on identity, geography, and intersectional realities.
• Foundation for distinctions-based reporting: The CCWIS reports create a baseline for future distinctions-based monitoring of Indigenous child welfare outcomes, including disaggregated data by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis identity.
• Supports evidence-based policy: The CCWIS enables disaggregated analysis of national child welfare data to inform inclusive, culturally grounded, and responsive programming across jurisdictions. This ensures that interventions are shaped by the realities of those most impacted.
• Informs monitoring and accountability: The CCWIS supports the ability to track progress toward improved health and social outcomes, particularly for Inuit children in care within and outside Inuit Nunangat, helping ensure their rights are upheld and benefits maintained.
• National child welfare monitoring: The CCWIS establishes a mechanism for tracking and reporting national trends of children in out-of-home care, supporting system-wide efforts to reduce child apprehensions and promote family unity.
• Cross-jurisdictional collaboration: Developed in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations, provinces, territories, and ISC, the CCWIS initiative strengthens shared accountability in child welfare reporting.
• Data accessibility and transparency: The release of the first CCWIS report (2023-24) and its companion blog increases public access to national child welfare data, promoting transparency and public understanding of how children's experiences in care are measured and addressed.
• Informed public health and social policy: The CCWIS contributes to a public health approach to child and family well-being by generating the evidence base needed for prevention-focused interventions that improve long-term outcomes.

The CCWIS is supported through PHAC, with an annual ongoing funding allocation of $175,000. Additional time-limited funding was provided from 2022 to 2025 to strengthen national data coverage and infrastructure.

In the spring of 2024, the principle of a Shared Responsibility Model and six of the seven Guiding Principles put forward by Inuit partners were endorsed by Canada. ISC received the direction to co-develop with Inuit Partners a National Framework that would set common parameters and ultimately govern the implementation of Inuit CFI at the national level and to co-develop initial regional approaches, with a planned return for endorsement in March 2025. Inuit partners were then engaged in the Fall of 2024 and Winter of 2025 to co-develop the National Framework and interim regional approaches.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 12.4 by providing health, social and educational supports and services to Inuit children.

The program has had $387.5 million allocated to date.

• Budget 2024 allocated $167.5 million over two years (2023–24 to 2024–25).
• Budget 2019 allocated $220 million over five years (2019–20 to 2023–24).

In 2024–25, PHAC advanced key strategic priorities for AHSUNC, distributing $66.8 million in funding to support 134 sites across urban and northern communities.

Significant progress was made toward devolution, including joint work with the National Aboriginal Head Start Association of Canada (NAHSAC) to advance governance transition planning and build administrative readiness. These efforts focused on establishing the operational foundation for Indigenous-led delivery models grounded in community-defined priorities and values.

PHAC also collaborated with Indigenous partners to update performance measurement approaches. These revisions aim to ensure evaluation frameworks remain culturally appropriate and better reflect Indigenous perspectives on success and outcomes in early childhood programming.

The AHSUNC program responds to part of Call for Justice 16.10 by incorporating healing and health programs within early childhood education systems. The program addresses disparities in health and social outcomes by fostering holistic development in Indigenous children and ensuring that Indigenous knowledge and traditions are central to early learning. By embedding culturally relevant health promotion and well-being initiatives into early childhood education, AHSUNC contributes to the broader goal of improving Indigenous health outcomes and supporting long-term community well-being.

Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this program as it ensures their children grow up with a strong sense of cultural identity and access to health-promoting environments.

• Early learning and cultural foundations: Provides Indigenous children with culturally rooted education that strengthens identity and self-esteem.
• Health and well-being promotion: Offers programs that promote physical, emotional, and social health within an educational context in Indigenous communities.
• Parental and community involvement: Strengthens family and community connections through active participation in early childhood education and cultural activities.
• Indigenous language and cultural revitalization: Supports the preservation and transmission of Indigenous languages and traditions. Embeds cultural pride and Indigenous identity into early education contexts.
• Improved long-term outcomes: Contributes to better educational success, health, and social well-being for Indigenous children and their families. Lays a foundation for lifelong learning and school readiness, supporting educational success that is rooted in culture and wellness.
• Indigenous-led service delivery and governance: Program design and delivery are co-developed with partners to ensure cultural relevance, responsiveness to local priorities, and alignment with Indigenous values. Efforts are underway with the National Aboriginal Head Start Association of Canada (NAHSAC) to strengthen their governance capacity, with the long-term objective of enabling NAHSAC to oversee program delivery and funding directly.

In the 2024–25 fiscal year, AHSUNC received a total of $66.8 million in federal funding. This includes $29.7 million in secure existing funding, $34.2 million through the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) framework, and $2.9 million in strategic governance support. AHSUNC is delivered by Indigenous organizations at the community level, with PHAC serving as the primary funder. PHAC provides support through contribution agreements, training, technical assistance, and performance monitoring guided by culturally appropriate evaluation frameworks.

In 2024–25, the Mental Wellness Program continued to flexibly fund a suite of mental wellness services, with most services delivered by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations. The Program funds access to trauma-informed mental health supports for Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, family members, and others impacted by Indian Residential Schools; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people; Federal Indian Day Schools; and other colonial sources of trauma. This program funds access to mental health counselling (such as psychologists and social workers) and emotional (such as community-based health workers, peer counselling) and cultural (such as Elders, Traditional Healers) support services. The program also supports Indigenous-led suicide prevention, life promotion and crisis response programs and services – including crisis line intervention services and enhancing the delivery of culturally-appropriate substance use treatment and prevention services throughout Indigenous communities.

Some examples of organizations funded in 2024-25 through the Mental Wellness Program include:

• National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC)
• Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network (NAWN)
• Empowering Indigenous Women for Stronger Communities (EIWSC)
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
• First Light St. John's Friendship Centre
• Regroupement Des Centres D'Amitie Autochtones Du Québec (RCAAQ)
• Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council
• Qavvivik
• Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre
• Indigiqueer
• 2-Spirited People of The 1st Nations
• Manitoba Métis Federation
• Métis Nation of British Columba (MNBC)
• Northwest Territory Métis Nation (NWTMN)
• Métis Settlement General Council (MSGC)
• Otipemisiwak Métis Government
• Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)
• Métis Nation - Saskatchewan (MN-S)
• Métis National Council (MNC)
• Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN)
• Two Spirits in Motion Society (2SIMS)
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• First Peoples' Wellness Circle
• We Matter
• Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services
• Thunderbird Partnership Foundation

The Mental Wellness Program engages at national and regional levels with Indigenous organizations to identify mental wellness priorities, gather feedback on existing programs, share funding opportunities, and discuss ongoing funding arrangements.

The Mental Wellness Program responds to Call for Justice 16.13 by supporting the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy (NISPS) through targeted funding and culturally grounded mental wellness initiatives in Inuit communities. The program recognizes the distinct mental health needs of Inuit and invests in community-led, trauma-informed approaches that align with Inuit worldviews, values, and priorities. This includes funding for life promotion, suicide prevention, and crisis response services that are accessible, culturally relevant, and rooted in Inuit knowledge systems. These investments directly contribute to advancing the goals of the NISPS and addressing the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma and systemic inequities experienced by Inuit. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program as it strengthens Inuit-led mental wellness supports.

The Mental Wellness Program continues to be supported by investments from Budget 2021, Budget 2022, the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, and Budget 2024. Specifically, Budget 2024 provided $630.2 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to support Indigenous people's access to mental health services, including through distinctions-based mental wellness strategies.

In 2024–25, ISC continued its work with Indigenous governing bodies to support the implementation of the Act. While the final figures can only be confirmed once the Government of Canada's 2024-25 Public Accounts become available, ISC estimates that, since the Act came into force on January 1, 2020 and up until March 31, 2025, the Department has provided over $750 million to more than 14 Indigenous governing bodies to exercise their jurisdiction under the Act. In 2024-25, ISC estimates that more than $90 million was provided to Indigenous groups for capacity building and participation in coordination agreement discussions.

Progress was also made on the upcoming five-year review of the provisions and operation of the Act, which will be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous partners beginning in 2025. Pre-engagement activities included the development of a collaborative workplan and identification of initial themes and priorities for engagement. The Act's implementation continues to be guided by Indigenous communities and partners, ensuring that it remains responsive to community-identified needs and priorities.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.14 by affirming the rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services, including for Inuit children who may be placed in care outside of their communities. The Act introduces binding national standards that require culturally informed and equitable service provision regardless of location. Specific provisions ensure that Indigenous children in care must be connected to their language, culture, and community, and that apprehension based solely on socio-economic conditions is prohibited.

Families and communities affected by the MMIWG2S+ crisis benefit from improved recognition of Inuit jurisdiction and cultural rights within child welfare systems. The prioritization of community-based placements and continued engagement with cultural identity serves as a protective measure and affirms Inuit-led solutions in supporting children's wellbeing.

• Strengthens Indigenous jurisdiction: Enables Indigenous communities to reclaim authority over child and family services and enact their own laws.
• Reduces overrepresentation: Supports preventive and culturally appropriate approaches to address the structural drivers of child welfare involvement.
• Protects the best interest of the child and cultural continuity: Prioritizes the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, kinship systems, and identity in care decisions.
• Enhances service equity: Mandates national standards that support substantive equality and prohibit child apprehension based on poverty.
• Promotes long-term safety and wellness: Improves conditions for Indigenous children and families through sustainable, trauma-informed, and community-led service delivery.

Since 2020, multiple federal budget allocations have supported the implementation of the Act:

• July 2020 Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542 million over five years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2021: $73.6 million over four years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2022: $428.1 million over three to ten years.
• Budget 2023: $444.2 million over three years (ending in 2026–27).
• Budget 2024: $1.8 billion over 11 years (ending in 2035).

These investments have supported capacity-building, coordination agreement discussions, and the implementation of Indigenous child and family service laws. All funding is administered through contribution and grant mechanisms, with implementation led by Indigenous Governing Bodies.

In 2024–25, ISC continued its work with Indigenous governing bodies to support the implementation of the Act. While the final figures can only be confirmed once the Government of Canada's 2024-25 Public Accounts become available, ISC estimates that, since the Act came into force on January 1, 2020 and up until March 31, 2025, the Department has provided over $750 million to more than 14 Indigenous governing bodies to exercise their jurisdiction under the Act. In 2024-25, ISC estimates that more than $90 million was provided to Indigenous groups for capacity building and participation in coordination agreement discussions.

Progress was also made on the upcoming five-year review of the provisions and operation of the Act, which will be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous partners beginning in 2025. Pre-engagement activities included the development of a collaborative workplan and identification of initial themes and priorities for engagement. The Act's implementation continues to be guided by Indigenous communities and partners, ensuring that it remains responsive to community-identified needs and priorities.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.16 by supporting distinctions-based data development in partnership with Indigenous organizations and governments. ISC participates in working groups with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit treaty organizations, Inuit women's and youth groups, and representatives from territorial and provincial governments to co-develop gender-based indicators and Inuit-specific data strategies. A data inventory scan for Inuit children in care was completed and publicly released, identifying key gaps and proposing concrete actions to improve data quality and reporting.

Indigenous families, children and communities impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis benefit from transparent and distinctions-based data systems that promote accountability. Strengthened data enables service providers and governments to track progress, identify systemic gaps, and make informed decisions that better respond to the realities and needs of Inuit children and families.

• Strengthens Indigenous jurisdiction: Enables Indigenous communities to reclaim authority over child and family services and enact their own laws.
• Reduces overrepresentation: Supports preventive and culturally appropriate approaches to address the structural drivers of child welfare involvement.
• Protects the best interest of the child and cultural continuity: Prioritizes the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, kinship systems, and identity in care decisions.
• Enhances service equity: Mandates national standards that support substantive equality and prohibit child apprehension based on poverty.
• Promotes long-term safety and wellness: Improves conditions for Indigenous children and families through sustainable, trauma-informed, and community-led service delivery.

Since 2020, multiple federal budget allocations have supported the implementation of the Act:

• July 2020 Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542 million over five years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2021: $73.6 million over four years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2022: $428.1 million over three to ten years.
• Budget 2023: $444.2 million over three years (ending in 2026–27).
• Budget 2024: $1.8 billion over 11 years (ending in 2035).

These investments have supported capacity-building, coordination agreement discussions, and the implementation of Indigenous child and family service laws. All funding is administered through contribution and grant mechanisms, with implementation led by Indigenous Governing Bodies.

In 2024–25, ISC continued its work with Indigenous governing bodies to support the implementation of the Act. While the final figures can only be confirmed once the Government of Canada's 2024-25 Public Accounts become available, ISC estimates that, since the Act came into force on January 1, 2020 and up until March 31, 2025, the Department has provided over $750 million to more than 14 Indigenous governing bodies to exercise their jurisdiction under the Act. In 2024-25, ISC estimates that more than $90 million was provided to Indigenous groups for capacity building and participation in coordination agreement discussions.

Progress was also made on the upcoming five-year review of the provisions and operation of the Act, which will be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous partners beginning in 2025. Pre-engagement activities included the development of a collaborative workplan and identification of initial themes and priorities for engagement. The Act's implementation continues to be guided by Indigenous communities and partners, ensuring that it remains responsive to community-identified needs and priorities.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.17 by affirming the rights of Inuit to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and by creating a federal legislative framework for doing so. Inuvialuit Regional Corporation has enacted its own child and family services law under the Act, which now has the force of federal law. Implementation is underway, supported by ISC through financial agreements, program delivery support, and coordination agreement discussions tailored to Inuit priorities.

For Inuit families, children, and communities impacted by the MMIWG2S+ crisis, the ability to exercise control over child welfare helps address root causes of harm, displacement, and systemic violence. Inuit-led systems that reflect cultural values, legal traditions, and kinship practices contribute to long-term safety, belonging, and healing for children and families.

• Strengthens Indigenous jurisdiction: Enables Indigenous communities to reclaim authority over child and family services and enact their own laws.
• Reduces overrepresentation: Supports preventive and culturally appropriate approaches to address the structural drivers of child welfare involvement.
• Protects the best interest of the child and cultural continuity: Prioritizes the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, kinship systems, and identity in care decisions.
• Enhances service equity: Mandates national standards that support substantive equality and prohibit child apprehension based on poverty.
• Promotes long-term safety and wellness: Improves conditions for Indigenous children and families through sustainable, trauma-informed, and community-led service delivery.

Since 2020, multiple federal budget allocations have supported the implementation of the Act:

• July 2020 Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542 million over five years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2021: $73.6 million over four years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2022: $428.1 million over three to ten years.
• Budget 2023: $444.2 million over three years (ending in 2026–27).
• Budget 2024: $1.8 billion over 11 years (ending in 2035).

These investments have supported capacity-building, coordination agreement discussions, and the implementation of Indigenous child and family service laws. All funding is administered through contribution and grant mechanisms, with implementation led by Indigenous Governing Bodies.

The CHIF responds to Call for Justice 16.8 by funding modernized, expanded, improved critical housing-enabling infrastructure projects that meet the social and economic needs of Indigenous people and their communities through better living conditions, safe drinking water, and essential waste management services. Inuit families, survivors, and communities, including Inuit children and people in care benefit from this program by gaining access to improved housing conditions, culturally appropriate infrastructure, and increased access to essential services that support Indigenous health, well-being, and long-term community stability.

• Safe and reliable infrastructure: Investments improve access to essential services for Indigenous communities.
• Community-led development: Indigenous governments and organizations can lead infrastructure projects tailored to their needs.
• Culturally responsive solutions: Infrastructure projects align with Indigenous housing and community planning priorities.

The CHIF is a $6 billion federal investment designed to support housing-enabling infrastructure across Canada over a ten-year period from 2024-25 to 2033-34. The fund is structured to ensure long-term financial support for infrastructure projects that enhance housing supply and sustainability. The program prioritizes Indigenous-led projects and requires provinces and territories to allocate at least 20% of their funding to Indigenous, rural and northern communities. The funding is available to a range of eligible recipients, including Indigenous governing bodies, development corporations, non-profit organizations focused on Indigenous well-being, municipalities, and provincial and territorial governments. By mandating minimum targeted allocations in both streams, CHIF ensures that historically underserved communities receive the infrastructure investments needed to improve housing conditions and support long-term community stability.

In 2024–25, ISC continued its work with Indigenous governing bodies to support the full implementation of the Act. As of the current fiscal year, more than 12 Indigenous Governing Bodies are expected to receive over $350 million to exercise their jurisdiction under the Act. In 2023–24, six Indigenous Governing Bodies received $199.5 million. Additionally, ISC provided more than $90 million in capacity-building funding and over $5 million to support coordination agreement discussions.

Progress was also made on the upcoming five-year review of the Act, which will be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous partners beginning in 2025. Pre-engagement activities included the development of a collaborative workplan and identification of initial themes and priorities for engagement. The Act's implementation continues to be guided by Indigenous communities and partners, ensuring that it remains responsive to community-identified needs and priorities.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.18 through the implementation of the Act, which sets out national minimum standards that apply to Indigenous children in care regardless of geography. These standards ensure that Inuit children placed outside their homelands maintain access to language, family connections, and cultural identity. Cultural continuity is identified as a legal requirement, and service providers must prioritize placement within community and reassess options to reunite children with family members.

Inuit families, survivors and communities affected by the MMIWG2S+ crisis benefit from legal safeguards that prevent cultural disconnection and support family preservation. These protections are critical for promoting healing and mitigating long-term harm to children placed outside of their communities.

• Strengthens Indigenous jurisdiction: Enables Indigenous communities to reclaim authority over child and family services and enact their own laws.
• Reduces overrepresentation: Establishes preventive and culturally appropriate approaches to address the structural drivers of child welfare involvement.
• Protects the best interest of the child and cultural continuity: Prioritizes the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, kinship systems, and identity in care decisions.
• Enhances service equity: Mandates national standards that support substantive equality and prohibit removals based on poverty.
• Promotes long-term safety and wellness: Improves conditions for Indigenous children and families through sustainable, trauma-informed, and community-led service delivery.

Since 2020, multiple federal budget allocations have supported the implementation of the Act:

• July 2020 Economic and Fiscal Snapshot: $542 million over five years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2021: $73.6 million over four years (ending in 2024–25).
• Budget 2022: $428.1 million over three to ten years.
• Budget 2023: $444.2 million over three years (ending in 2026–27).
• Budget 2024: $1.8 billion over 11 years (ending in 2035).

These investments have supported capacity-building, coordination agreement discussions, and the implementation of Indigenous child and family service laws. All funding is administered through contribution and grant mechanisms, with implementation led by Indigenous Governing Bodies.

The Distinctions-based Housing Initiative's Inuit Housing Investment responds to part of Call for Justice 16.18 by directly addressing the urgent need for safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing within Inuit communities and supporting Inuit residing outside their homelands. Investments made through this initiative contribute significantly toward mitigating the housing crisis, which is deeply linked to broader issues of violence, health disparities, and suicide in Inuit populations. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from improved housing stability and strengthened connections to their culture and kinship systems, fostering safer and healthier living environments.

• Increased housing availability: Construction of 60 Inuit housing units by March 31, 2025, addressing immediate gaps in housing provision.
• Enhanced community safety: Renovations and improvements to housing infrastructure contributing to safer living conditions, particularly benefitting those vulnerable to violence. Renovation of 40 units by March 31, 2025.
• Economic and social stability: Housing stability supports improved community health outcomes, economic security, and reduced vulnerability among Inuit populations.
• Culturally appropriate solutions: Housing projects and decisions informed by Inuit governance and cultural practices, enhancing relevance and effectiveness.
• Self-determined housing priorities: Empowering Inuit Treaty Organizations to govern and deliver housing programs aligned with Inuit-specific priorities, bolstering Inuit governance and decision-making, and respond effectively to emergent and existing crises.
• Mitigation of health risks: Investments in safe, suitable housing reduce risks associated with overcrowding, poor health conditions, and related social issues such as violence and suicide.

Funding has been allocated to support critical infrastructure projects and respond to the housing needs of the communities, by investing in the construction and purchase of new housing units, renovation of existing housing units, and subsidized rent. Detailed examples are not provided in this report due to the autonomous and community-led nature of project implementation. This approach aligns with the principle of self-determination, ensuring that Inuit governance structures have full authority over decision-making processes.

Budget 2023 allocated $845 million specifically for Inuit Treaty Organizations, guided by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Board of Directors' regional distribution decisions. This targeted approach ensures that funding is responsive to the unique housing needs and priorities established by Inuit communities, facilitating measurable improvements in housing conditions across Inuit Nunangat. The funding supports both new housing construction and critical repairs, impacting thousands of Inuit community members across the region.

This initiative responds to part of part of Call for Justice 16.18 by providing funding for housing and homelessness supports for Inuit, within and outside Inuit Nunangat, with the intention of providing accessible and culturally appropriate services for Inuit at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Further, the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Homelessness Working Group, co-led by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, is working to reduce Inuit homelessness by 2030 while supporting all Inuit experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

• Community-driven, culturally relevant approach: Funding decisions are made locally, prioritizing Inuit-led initiatives that incorporate traditional knowledge, healing practices, and language supports.
• Holistic housing solutions: Investments in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and long-term housing security for vulnerable populations, including Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, and families fleeing violence.
• Economic and social empowerment: Programs connect individuals to income supports, employment services, and education, reducing poverty-related risks and supporting self-sufficiency.
• Family and child welfare support: Inuit-led programs strengthen family unity, prevent child welfare interventions, and provide culturally appropriate services to keep families together.
• Targeted investments for vulnerable populations: Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and families fleeing violence receive priority support through Inuit-specific funding through the Distinctions-based Approaches stream.
• Inclusive and culturally responsive services: Reaching Home can be used to fund wraparound supports, including culturally appropriate services and connection with community (e.g. cultural ceremonies, traditional healing, services provided by Elders and Indigenous language and culture classes).
• Infrastructure and capacity development: Sustainable investments in housing, support services, and safe spaces, including in Inuit Nunangat.
• Inuit-specific housing and economic initiatives: Investment in Inuit-led housing projects prevent displacement and support economic development through employment and education opportunities tailored to Inuit communities.
• Preservation of Inuit culture and language: Programs ensuring access to Inuit cultural and linguistic resources, strengthening identity and connection to traditions.

In 2024-2025, $110 million was allocated to the Indigenous Homelessness stream and $62.1 million to the Distinctions-based Approaches stream. This includes dedicated funding for Indigenous-led homelessness programming that can support a range of services, support and resources for wrap-around services, emergency housing, prevention services, and long-term housing solutions.

The FVPP responds to part of Call for Justice 16.19 by providing funding for Indigenous-led emergency shelters and transitional housing for Indigenous women, children, families and 2SLGBTQI+ people. While more investment is needed to ensure universal access to shelters in every Indigenous community, especially those in remote and northern regions, this initiative is working to strengthen safety and security for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by having increased access to safe and culturally appropriate spaces that offer protection and healing from family violence.

• Expanded shelter access for Inuit: Increased emergency and transitional housing options for Indigenous communities, including Inuit communities. Funding for northern and urban regions provides increased access for some Inuit women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
  • Example: In 2024-25, the Family Violence Prevention Program developed a coordinated response to support Inuit women coming from the north to Ottawa who are fleeing violence and who become homeless, and developed the capacity of key service providers who may interact with Inuit women on the street so that they can refer them to appropriate culturally-relevant services at the first possible opportunity and do no further harm.
• Culturally informed service delivery: Training for shelter staff on trauma-informed and culturally relevant approaches, which may include Inuit-specific cultural practices, traditional healing, and land-based programming.
  • Example: In 2024-25, the Sexual Education Program provided sexual education workshops for young Inuit women and girls both in and out of school, to equip them with knowledge on healthy relationships and healthy sexuality.
• Sustainable shelter operations: Long-term funding support to maintain essential services for Indigenous survivors. Funding is provided for Indigenous-led shelters and second-stage housing across Canada, ensuring that Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals have access to safe spaces when fleeing violence.

The initiative is funded as part of the $724.1 million Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy. ISC received $304.1 million over five years starting in 2021-22, with $96.7 million ongoing to support the operation of new shelters and transitional homes, as well as to fund culturally appropriate violence prevention activities. The Family Violence Prevention Program spent its full allocation of $96.7 million in 2024-25. This includes $9.6 million to support facility operations, $21.5 million to support shelter project development, and $65.6 million to programs and services for Indigenous people facing gender-based violence.

The ICIF – Inuit Component responds to part of Call for Justice 16.19 by supporting infrastructure projects that include the construction of shelters. While some partners are investing in shelters, there is no universal commitment across all projects to ensure safe spaces for Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by gaining access to improved shelter and housing options that contribute to their safety and security.

• Strengthened infrastructure for community support services: Extends funding to community centers and emergency shelters, providing critical support services for individuals facing housing insecurity or fleeing violence. Increases the availability of safe spaces for Inuit women and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.
• Enhanced community stability and wellbeing: Supports improved quality of life by providing access to safe, stable living conditions, particularly for Inuit women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who may be at heightened risk of violence and exploitation.
• Increased availability of safe and culturally appropriate housing: Supports the construction of new housing and repairs to existing homes in Inuit communities. Enhances safety through improved living conditions and infrastructure upgrades.
• Inuit-led and regional self-determined housing solutions: Provides distinctions-based funding to Inuit Treaty Organizations, allowing Inuit governance structures to self-determine community-specific priorities for housing and infrastructure. Ensures housing aligns with Inuit cultural, environmental, and geographic needs, including considerations for northern climates and community structures. Addresses regional infrastructure needs that are developed and managed by and for Inuit communities.

The ICIF – Inuit Component provides distinctions-based funding that allows Inuit Treaty Organizations and other Indigenous-led entities to allocate resources in response to community-identified priorities. As a result, the specific impacts and project details remain with the funding recipients, who determine how best to meet the infrastructure needs of their communities.

Funding has been allocated to support critical infrastructure projects, including shelters and homes for vulnerable populations, heritage centres, and community centres. Detailed examples are not provided in this report due to the autonomous and community-led nature of project implementation. This approach aligns with the principle of self-determination, ensuring that Indigenous governance structures have full authority over decision-making processes.

Budget 2021 allocated $517.8 million for this initiative, enabling Inuit-led infrastructure development to address critical needs in Inuit communities. Funding is allocated regionally and split among Inuit Treaty Organizations based on a pre-determined funding formula approved by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Board of Directors.

The ISTHI responds to part of Call for Justice 16.19 by funding the construction and operation of emergency shelters and transitional housing for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, particularly in northern and urban areas. The initiative provides essential support to Inuit to prevent homelessness and strengthen culturally appropriate services, and ongoing investments are required to ensure sustainable, wraparound care. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit by having access to safe, culturally appropriate shelters and transitional housing that fosters healing and recovery.

• Indigenous-led housing expansion: Expansion of Indigenous-led emergency shelters and transitional housing.
• Enhanced safety for survivors: Increased safety and security for Inuit individuals escaping violence.
• Housing stability and homelessness prevention: Strengthened housing stability and homelessness prevention.

Since 2021, $336.78 million has been committed towards the construction of new shelters, with construction funding managed by and flowed to Indigenous partners.

As of December 31, 2024, in fiscal year 2024-2025, CMHC funded 32 new projects through ISTHI and provided $161,706,675 in funding.

To date, as of the 2024-25 fiscal year, the National Housing Strategy has committed the following funding to Indigenous and northern housing:

• $336.78 million has been committed through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative toward the construction of 37 new shelters and 34 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence.
• $138.1 million through the Affordable Housing Fund (formerly called the National Housing Co-Investment Fund):
  • $25 million to repair 560 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock community housing stock.
  • $13.1 million for two emergency shelters in the territories.
  • $100 million to support the construction and repair of Housing in the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
• $896 million through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy:
  • $686.05 million through an Indigenous Homelessness stream to maintain the community-based approach and to continue to address local priorities, and
  • $210.4 million to be invested in priorities determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners. $10 million of this funding has been allocated for communities in the territories
• Meeting the housing needs of vulnerable Canadians is a priority under the NHS. 2SLGBTQI+ people are identified as a priority group. As of December 31, 2024, 148 new units have been committed and 7 repair units committed through the Rapid Housing Initiative and Affordable Housing Fund for 2SLGBTQI+.

The NHS also provides funding exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing through NHS bilateral agreements with provinces and territories:

• $200 million is allocated through the Canada Community Housing Initiative delivered by Provinces and Territories under the NHS Bilateral Agreements to support 7,000 units in the existing urban Indigenous community housing stock so they continue to be made available to low-income households
• $300 million is allocated through funding for the Territories, as part of the $606.6 million federal-territorial joint investment delivered by Territories under the NHS Bilateral Agreements.

Overall, the National Housing Strategy plays a critical role in addressing Indigenous housing insecurity, ensuring that housing policies and programs uphold Indigenous rights, self-determination, and culturally relevant solutions. By incorporating long-term, community-led strategies, the NHS seeks to rectify historical and systemic injustices, while supporting the development of safe, stable, and resilient housing for Indigenous people across Canada.

The NHS responds to Call for Justice 16.19 by prioritizing the development of new shelters and transitional housing for Inuit individuals at risk of violence. Investments ensure that culturally appropriate, trauma-informed services are available across all Indigenous communities. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from secure housing options that promote healing and safety.

• Increased housing for Inuit communities: Funding for 4,181 rapid housing units led by Inuit governing bodies.
• Economic growth in Inuit Nunangat: Creating jobs through housing construction, maintenance, and homeownership support.
• Community-led, self-governed housing solutions: Inuit self-determined policies, including Inuit-led housing initiatives and Inuit governance of shelters and transitional housing.
• Expanded safe housing access: Funding for new construction of homes, multi-unit dwellings, and community-led housing projects, and for upgrades and repairs to ensure existing housing stock meets safety, sustainability, and accessibility standards.
• Expansion of emergency and transitional shelters: Committed $336.78 million through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative toward the construction of 37 new shelters and 34 new transitional homes for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people escaping gender-based violence.
• Prioritizing vulnerable populations: Safe, stable housing for women, children, seniors, and those at risk of homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
• Long-term housing and economic security: Investments in transitional and second-stage housing, rental assistance, and affordable housing for low-income Inuit families.
• Preventing family separation and child welfare interventions: Housing programs that provide stability for Inuit families, reducing the risk of child apprehension due to poverty, overcrowding, or unsafe living conditions.
• 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive housing solutions: Culturally informed shelters, affordable housing, and advocacy for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals facing housing insecurity.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.19 by providing direct financial support for culturally appropriate housing and support programs for Inuit including Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+, people within and outside Inuit Nunangat. It strengthens community-led solutions that address homelessness. Funding can be used to support a range of culturally appropriate interventions to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, including Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, such as delivering shelter, transitional and supportive housing services, and homelessness prevention and shelter diversion services.

• Community-driven, culturally relevant approach: Funding decisions are made locally, prioritizing Inuit-led initiatives that incorporate traditional knowledge, healing practices, and language supports.
• Holistic housing solutions: Investments in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and long-term housing security for vulnerable populations, including Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, and families fleeing violence.
• Economic and social empowerment: Programs connect individuals to income supports, employment services, and education, reducing poverty-related risks and supporting self-sufficiency.
• Family and child welfare support: Inuit-led programs strengthen family unity, prevent child welfare interventions, and provide culturally appropriate services to keep families together.
• Targeted investments for vulnerable populations: Inuit women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and families fleeing violence receive priority support through Inuit-specific funding through the Distinctions-based Approaches stream.
• Inclusive and culturally responsive services: Wraparound supports, including traditional food, medicine, and cultural ceremonies, tailored to Inuit including programs that prioritize family reunification and kinship care.
• Infrastructure and capacity development: Sustainable investments in housing, support services, and safe spaces, including in Inuit Nunangat.
• Inuit-specific housing and economic initiatives: Investment in Inuit-led housing projects prevent displacement and support economic development through employment and education opportunities tailored to Inuit communities.
• Preservation of Inuit culture and language: Programs ensuring access to Inuit cultural and linguistic resources, strengthening identity and connection to traditions.

In 2024-2025, $110 million was allocated to the Indigenous Homelessness stream and $62.1 million to the Distinctions-based Approaches stream. This includes dedicated funding for Indigenous-led homelessness programming that can support a range of services, support and resources for wrap-around services, emergency housing, prevention services, and long-term housing solutions.

Collectively, the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund contribute to strengthening Indigenous governance and organizational capacity, reducing reliance on store-bought food, and enhancing food security within local communities. Together, they play a critical role in revitalizing traditional food practices, supporting self-determined approaches to food sovereignty, and reinforcing Indigenous cultural continuity.

The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund funds a wide range of hunting and harvesting initiatives, and has supported over 15,000 traditional harvesters, with more than 700 new food-sharing initiatives and 400 community hunts and harvests taking place in over 112 remote communities, in partnership with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations. New partnerships are resulting in innovative supply networks, increased access to country food and the creation of low-cost food options which complement and inspire the restoration of traditional practices. A comprehensive list of funding recipients is also publicly available.

The specific impacts and project details for each project remain with the funding recipients, and detailed examples are not provided in this report due to the autonomous and community-led nature of project implementation. This approach aligns with the principle of self-determination, ensuring that Indigenous governance structures have full authority over decision-making processes.

The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund responds to part of Call for Justice 16.20 by financially supporting and promoting Inuit hunting, harvesting, and food sharing practices in Inuit communities. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from increased access to country foods, cultural continuity, and greater food security.

• Support for Inuit harvesting practices: Funds harvesting equipment, transportation and storage infrastructure to ensures Inuit communities can continue traditional hunting and harvesting activities.
• Enhanced food sharing networks: Strengthens community-driven, self-sufficient local food production and food distribution systems. Reduces reliance on store-bought food, which is often nutritionally inadequate and prohibitively expensive in northern communities.
• Culturally relevant food security solutions: Supports Inuit-led initiatives to improve food sovereignty.

Budget 2024 allocated $96.7 million to the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund (HSG/CFPF) for the 2024–2027 funding cycle. In addition, there is an ongoing annual budget of $8 million, totaling $24 million through 2027. Together, this brings the total investment in the HSG/CFPF programs over the three-year period to $120.7 million ($118.4 million has already been allocated, with the remainder in progress).

The NNC program only accessed Budget 2021 funding starting in 2022, which required compressing two years of funding into $72.5 million for 2022–23 and $40.2 million for 2023–24 (including the ongoing $8 million per year).

Overall, from 2019 to 2027, a total of $255.1 million has been invested in HSG/CFPF programs. This includes $64 million in ongoing funding (based on $8 million per year from 2019 to 2027), along with an additional $191.1 million investments over the eight-year period.

• Land-based programming: Dechinta continues to offer land-based university accredited programming in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon blending academic instruction with on-the-land learning led by Elders, faculty, and knowledge holders.
• Increased program accessibility for remote learners: Dechinta is enhancing accessibility for students from remote communities by continuing to cover travel costs, tuition, accommodations, culturally appropriate child-care, and food for participants, ensuring full participation without financial burden.
• Active research and knowledge mobilization initiatives: The Centre is leading Northern Indigenous-led (including Dene, Inuit and Inuvialuit) research initiatives on topics such as wellness, language revitalization, climate change, and governance, and is actively sharing knowledge through academic publications, presentations, workshops, community reports and collaborative research publications.
• Expanded partnerships with academic institutions: Dechinta maintains and strengthens partnerships with institutions working in education in the North on an ongoing basis. Dechinta's university accredited courses are currently in partnership with the University of British Colombia.

The Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning responds to part of Call for Justice 16.21 by addressing the educational needs of Inuit and Inuvialuit communities through culturally grounded, land-based post-secondary programming. Inuit families, survivors and communities are served by the way the Centre provides access to education that strengthens cultural identity, preserves traditional knowledge, and supports future Indigenous leaders in self-governance and economic development.

• Education reflecting Inuit and Inuvialuit needs: Programs incorporate Inuit and Inuvialuit knowledge, language, and governance perspectives.
• Retention of Northern students: By providing local, land-based post-secondary education, Dechinta reduces barriers to higher education for Indigenous students in the North.
• Strengthened community leadership: Courses in governance and law empower Inuit and Inuvialuit students with tools for self-determination.

Since Budget 2019, Dechinta has received $18.17 million, with an additional $150,000 in 2023 for wildfire recovery support. This includes $5.2 million over two years, approved in October 2024, to continue supporting Dechinta's educational programming. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) administers the funding for Dechinta.

FNIYES responds to part of Call for Justice 16.21 by providing accessible training, employment pathways, and career-building resources to First Nations youth living on reserve and Inuit youth living outside of their territory. Through its mentored work placements and wage subsidies, FNIYES helps break down employment barriers and increases equitable access to high-quality economic opportunities for First Nations and Inuit youth, including First Nations and Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people who face economic hardship, discrimination, and systemic obstacles. The initiative also plays a role in addressing employment gaps in Inuit Nunangat, where access to education and work experience opportunities is often limited.

First Nations and Inuit communities benefit from the way this program equips youth with the tools and resources to pursue stable employment, produces stronger local economies and reinforces Indigenous self-determination through economic empowerment.

• Equitable economic opportunities: Provides First Nations and Inuit youth with access to job training, mentorship, and career development that supports their economic success, and aligns with their aspirations and cultural values;
• Increased workforce participation: Helps First Nations and Inuit youth transition from school to employment, and cultivates their economic independence and self-sufficiency;
• Support for First Nations and Inuit women and 2SLGBTQI+ people: Helps to support First Nations and Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth facing barriers to employment by removing financial and systemic obstacles to career development;
• Empowerment through education and work experience: Ensures long-term economic stability by providing First Nations and Inuit youth with essential employability skills, exposure to different career options, and financial readiness for education.

FNIYES has annual ongoing funding of approximately $25.9 million. The 2022 Fall Economic Statement (FES) invested $54.0 million over 2 years ($27.0 million per year), which sunset in 2024-25. Through Budget 2024, this $27.0 million top-up was renewed for 2025-26.

Funding for IAFNYES was provided through FES 2022, in the amount of $100.2 million over 3 years. The IAFNYES pilot is not being implemented beyond 2024-25, as funding that supports this initiative was time-limited and sunset on March 31, 2025.

The initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.21 by supporting equitable access to language retention, cultural curriculum development, and Indigenous-controlled early childhood education within Inuit communities. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit as Inuit children are provided high-quality early learning experiences that teach, reinforce and cultivate understanding of their cultural heritage. The initiative also invests in economic opportunities for Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. As women are often primary caregivers, accessible and affordable IELCC programming provides essential support, empowering them to fully participate in the labour force. Additionally, it offers formal employment opportunities for individuals of all genders. Wage equity and stability from these employment opportunities can significantly impact the wellbeing of ELCC employees and their families.

• Equitable access to education: Ensures that Inuit children and families have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate early learning education. Targeted investments are made based on a recognition of the barriers that Inuit communities face in accessing education, including geographic isolation, lack of resources, and the need for culturally relevant curriculum.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $656,861 was allocated to Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society's Improving Early Learning and Child Care Quality for Indigenous Children with Disabilities in Nunavutproject as part of IELCC's Quality Improvement Projects funding. This project supports efforts to identify existing opportunities and gaps for children with disabilities; actively involve families in shaping an inclusive child care system; develop culturally relevant curricula and training on inclusive programs; and implement a quality assurance and evaluation framework to ensure programs effectively meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in Nunavut.
• Inuktut language integration: Expands Inuit-led language immersion programs in child care settings.
• Investment in Inuit-led educational programs: Supports Inuit-led, community-driven education that reflects Inuit knowledge, language, and traditions. Expanding programs that preserve and revitalize Inuit culture, particularly in early learning settings.

The IELCC Initiative is supported by a permanent and ongoing funding structure. To strengthen early learning and child care programs and services for Indigenous children and families, the Government of Canada has made investments through Budget 2017, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2021. Investments were also made under the COVID emergency restart for one year of funding ($120 million in 2020-21).

The majority of federal Indigenous ELCC investments are housed in flexible distinctions-based funding envelopes to enable Indigenous leaders at the national and regional level to direct funding allocations at any number of priorities.

In 2024-25, the total funding for each distinction includes $446 million for First Nations-led child care; $56 million for Inuit-specific early learning programs; and $189 million for Métis Nation-directed child care services.

The remaining 2024-25 IELCC funding is not dedicated to the distinctions-based funding envelopes. Instead, $16 million is dedicated to the Quality Improvement Projects fund that finances projects that foster innovation and quality improvement in ELCC. Similarly, funding is also provided through the three IELCC Legacy funding streams. In 2024-25, $42 million was dedicated to the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, $29 million to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program, and $55 million to the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative. An additional $80 million was also directed to legacy funded sites in 2024-25 for urgent repairs and renovations.

This is in addition to any funding that may be allocated to Indigenous communities for ELCC, via funding agreements with provinces and territories.

• Land-based programming: Dechinta continues to offer land-based university accredited programming in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon blending academic instruction with on-the-land learning led by Elders, faculty, and knowledge holders.
• Increased program accessibility for remote learners: Dechinta is enhancing accessibility for students from remote communities by continuing to cover travel costs, tuition, accommodations, culturally appropriate child-care, and food for participants, ensuring full participation without financial burden.
• Active research and knowledge mobilization initiatives: The Centre is leading Northern Indigenous-led (including Dene, Inuit and Inuvialuit) research initiatives on topics such as wellness, language revitalization, climate change, and governance, and is actively sharing knowledge through academic publications, presentations, workshops, community reports and collaborative research publications.
• Expanded partnerships with academic institutions: Dechinta maintains and strengthens partnerships with institutions working in education in the North on an ongoing basis. Dechinta's university accredited courses are currently in partnership with the University of British Colombia.

The Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning responds to part of Call for Justice 16.25 by ensuring that Inuit and Inuvialuit students have access to education rooted in their cultural and linguistic traditions. Inuit families, survivors and communities are served by the way the Centre fosters language preservation, strengthens Inuit identity, and ensures that education systems reflect and sustain Inuit cultural values.

• Culturally-specific curriculum: Inuit and Inuvialuit worldviews are embedded in program content, ensuring education is relevant to students' lived experiences.
• Support for Indigenous languages: Courses encourage the use and preservation of Indigenous languages, supporting language revitalization.
• Education for future generations: Dechinta strengthens the knowledge sector in the North by training Indigenous students as future educators and leaders.

Since Budget 2019, Dechinta has received $18.17 million, with an additional $150,000 in 2023 for wildfire recovery support. This includes $5.2 million over two years, approved in October 2024, to continue supporting Dechinta's educational programming. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) administers the funding for Dechinta.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.25 by digitizing Inuit-related content within LAC's holdings, ensuring that this material is available for Inuit communities and the broader public. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit by reclaiming access to historical records and language materials that are crucial for cultural preservation and revitalization.

• Inuit historical records digitization: Increases digital accessibility of Inuit documentary heritage.
• Language and cultural revitalization: Supports efforts to preserve and teach Inuit languages.
• Culturally-responsive digital collections: Ensures Inuit governance over their digital materials.
• Public awareness of Inuit contributions: Digitizes Inuit documentary heritage materials and makes them accessible through its public online collections, which expands knowledge and appreciation of Inuit culture.
  

Budget 2021 allocated $14.9 million over four years, with $2,962,843 allocated to Listen, Hear Our Voices. Library and Archives Canada provides funding through to Indigenous communities for small projects (up to $24,999) and large projects ($25,000-$100,000).

The initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.25 by ensuring that Inuit children receive education that reflects Inuit culture. Permanent and sustainable investments in Inuit early learning support Inuktut language programs and other culturally relevant curriculum, all of which work to revitalize and protect Inuit culture and identity. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit as Inuit children develop a strong sense of belonging through language and Inuit culture-centered learning environments. Additionally, the IELCC initiative's partnership model supports Inuit self-determination and jurisdiction over Inuit ELCC through flexible distinction-based funding envelopes. These envelopes enable Inuit leaders at the national level to direct funding allocations at any number of priorities including, the expansion of programs and services, the strengthening of governance capacity, and the funding of infrastructure repairs and renovations, both major and minor.

• Equitable access to education: Ensures that Inuit children and families have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate early learning education. Targeted investments are made based on a recognition of the barriers that Inuit communities face in accessing education, including geographic isolation, lack of resources, and the need for culturally relevant curriculum.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $656,861 was allocated to Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society's Improving Early Learning and Child Care Quality for Indigenous Children with Disabilities in Nunavutproject as part of IELCC's Quality Improvement Projects funding. This project supports efforts to identify existing opportunities and gaps for children with disabilities; actively involve families in shaping an inclusive child care system; develop culturally relevant curricula and training on inclusive programs; and implement a quality assurance and evaluation framework to ensure programs effectively meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in Nunavut.
• Inuktut language integration: Expands Inuit-led language immersion programs in child care settings.
• Investment in Inuit-Led educational programs: Supports Inuit-led, community-driven education that reflects Inuit knowledge, language, and traditions. Expanding programs that preserve and revitalize Inuit culture, particularly in early learning settings.

The IELCC Initiative is supported by a permanent and ongoing funding structure. To strengthen early learning and child care programs and services for Indigenous children and families, the Government of Canada has made investments through Budget 2017, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2021. Investments were also made under the COVID emergency restart for one year of funding ($120M in 2020-21).

The majority of federal Indigenous ELCC investments are housed in flexible distinctions-based funding envelopes to enable Indigenous leaders at the national and regional level to direct funding allocations at any number of priorities.

In 2024-25, the total funding for each distinction includes $446 million for First Nations-led child care; $56 million for Inuit-specific early learning programs; and $189 million for Métis Nation-directed child care services.

The remaining 2024-25 IELCC funding is not dedicated to the distinctions-based funding envelopes. Instead, $16 million is dedicated to the Quality Improvement Projects fund that finances projects that foster innovation and quality improvement in IELCC. Similarly, funding is also provided through the three IELCC Legacy funding streams. In 2024-25, $42 million was dedicated to the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, $29 million to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program , and $55 million to the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative. An additional $80 million was also directed to legacy funded sites in 2024-25 for urgent repairs and renovations.

This is in addition to any funding that may be allocated to Indigenous communities for ELCC, via funding agreements with provinces and territories.

The ILP responds to part of Call for Justice 16.25 by contributing funding to a Tripartite Agreement with the Government of Nunavut (for the Northern Arctic College) and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. This agreement aims to increase the number of Inuktut-speaking educators in Nunavut's education system. Through this investment, the ILP expands access to instruction in Inuktuk for students. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by ensuring that future generations can receive education in their language, reinforcing cultural identity and linguistic continuity.

• Increased number of Inuktut educators: Supports the training and hiring of Inuktut-speaking teachers.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $42 million over five years was allocated to the Tripartite Agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut (for the Nunavut Arctic College) and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. for the Nunavut Teacher Education Program and Innovative Measures for Inuktut Education to expand Inuit educator training in communities across the territory, beginning in 2021-22. The agreement is expected to increase access to Inuktut-language instruction in Nunavut; increase and maintain the number of proficient Inuktut-speaking Inuit educators in Nunavut; increase the number of fluent Inuktut speakers in Nunavut; and promote Inuktut revitalization.

Budget 2021 provided time-limited investments of $86.8 million, which ended in 2024-2025. PCH worked with Indigenous communities and organizations to implement Indigenous language revitalization agreements under Sections 8 and 9 of the Indigenous Languages Act. These agreements facilitate partnerships with Indigenous governments, governing bodies and organizations, as well as provinces and territories, to encourage cooperation, coordination, network-building and resource-sharing, fill gaps in language revitalization services, and foster innovative approaches to language revitalization.

The First Nations and Inuit Cultural Education Centres Program responds to Call for Justice 16.28 by providing access to Inuit-led cultural education sand through the development of culturally relevant curricula for First Nations and Inuit students. Inuit families, survivors and communities may benefit from these initiatives as the cultural education centres work toward an enhanced cultural environment and understanding within communities, as they support the development and promotion of First Nations and Inuit cultural heritage.

• The development of curricula for First Nations and Inuit schools which is culturally relevant to the student population.
• Reduced gap in educational outcomes between First Nations and Inuit students and other Canadian students.
• Better awareness and appreciation of Indigenous language and culture.

An annual allocation of $9,384,000 is distributed to eligible recipients such as First Nations or Inuit organization with a cultural education centres on or off reserve and First Nations cultural education centres. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) funds the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres, which manages and administers First Nations and Inuit Cultural Education Centre Program funds for a majority of First Nations cultural education centres.

The Inuit Cultural Education Centres Grant Program responds to Call for Justice 16.28 by providing access to Inuit-led cultural education activities. Inuit families, survivors and communities may benefit from this program as it supports Inuit individuals and communities in expressing, preserving, developing, promoting and sharing their cultural heritage with other Canadians, thereby promoting awareness of Canada's cultural diversity.

• An enhanced understanding of Inuit culture and a richer Canadian cultural fabric.

An annual allocation of $45,000 is distributed to eligible recipients such as Inuit individuals ordinarily resident in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Nunavik, Quebec, Nunavut or Inuvialuit Settlement Region in Northwest Territories, and community-based Inuit cultural education centres.

Through Budget 2019, ISC committed $47.5 million over five years to support the design and construction of Aqqusariaq and $9.7 million ongoing in support of treatment centre operations. In 2024-25 ISC provided an additional $10 million in funding towards the construction. Construction of Aqqusariaq is on track with a substantial completion date by December 2025.

Community consultations also took place in 2024-25, which included the main Inuit wellness organizations throughout Nunavut. These consultations were primarily focused on governance, informing the development of the future governance model for Aqqusariaq.

The initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.28 through the collaborative partnership between the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and ISC, reflecting the true spirit of reconciliation and the need for a system-wide, Inuit-led approach to substance use and trauma treatment in Nunavut.

Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit as Aqqusariaq will lead to comprehensive addictions treatment that integrates both cultural and clinical healing practices that allow Nunavummiut to receive treatment closer to home.

• Inuit-led healing: A fully Inuit-designed and Inuit-governed recovery centre based on IQ principles.
• Improved access: In-territory care reduces the need for individuals to leave Nunavut to seek treatment.
• Cultural continuity: Services delivered in Inuit languages and connected to land-based programs.
• Systemic reconciliation: Embeds Inuit self-determination and co-development into the health care system.
• Trauma-informed practice: Merges clinical and cultural approaches for holistic recovery outcomes.

Through Budget 2019, ISC committed $47.5 million over five years to support the design and construction of Aqqusariaq and $9.7 million ongoing in support of treatment centre operations. In 2024-25 ISC provided an additional $10 million in funding towards the construction.

This initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.28 by offering funding to Inuit organizations to support the digitization of culturally significant materials. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from strengthened access to language resources and historical documentation, ensuring the intergenerational transmission of Inuit cultural knowledge.

• Inuit-led digitization projects: Supports self-determined efforts in cultural preservation. Funding is provided to Inuit governing entities to support language and cultural documentation efforts through digitization.
• Intergenerational knowledge sharing: Ensures the preservation of Inuit teachings for future generations.
• Strengthened community identity: Enhances access to cultural materials that reinforce Inuit identity.
• Technical training for Inuit organizations: Builds local capacity for digital preservation initiatives.

Budget 2021 allocated $14.9 million over four years, with $2,962,843 allocated to Listen, Hear Our Voices. Library and Archives Canada provides funding through to Indigenous communities for small projects (up to $24,999) and large projects ($25,000-$100,000).

The CSHF responds to Call for Justice 16.29 by increasing access to Inuit-led, culturally safe healing programs. The initiative makes available funding for projects that integrate Inuit cultural knowledge, including land-based healing and connections to Elders, to create meaningful pathways for healing and resilience. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program through increased access critical healing spaces and culturally relevant support networks that help families navigate grief, loss, and trauma.

• Culturally safe and Inuit-led supports: Projects are designed and delivered by Inuit communities, ensuring cultural relevance.
• Promotion of Inuit-specific healing practices: Services incorporate traditional Inuit knowledge, including land-based healing and storytelling.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $150,000 was allocated to the Inuit Association of Manitoba's Kativiik Program to support outreach workers trained and practicing Inuit traditional culture working directly with Inuit family members directly affected by the experience of losing a loved one who is either missing or has been murdered.

Budget 2023 allocated $20 million over five years, with $4.15 million annually to sustain and expand the initiative. This funding has allowed for the growth in the number of projects funded each year, and since the funding is ongoing, multi-year workplans and activities can be funded. In 2024-25, 33 multi-year projects were approved following the October 2023 call for proposals, for a total investment of over $22.2 million over five years and over $4.85 million in 2024-25.

The FVPP responds to part of Call for Justice 16.29 by funding emergency and transitional housing, ensuring survivors of violence have access to safe spaces and holistic support. While further investment is necessary to fully meet Indigenous communities' needs, this initiative contributes to long-term housing stability and healing for survivors. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by gaining access to culturally appropriate, safe housing and essential support services.

• Housing stability for survivors: Increased availability of second-stage housing for long-term healing, including shelters and programs that support survivors in many remote and rural areas.
  • Example: In 2024-25, the Family Violence Prevention Program developed a coordinated response to support Inuit women coming from the north to Ottawa who are fleeing violence and who become homeless, and developed the capacity of key service providers who may interact with Inuit women on the street so that they can refer them to appropriate culturally-relevant services at the first possible opportunity and do no further harm.
• Indigenous-led, community-driven, and culturally-based safe spaces: Support for culturally relevant shelters and transition homes, and services that integrate Indigenous cultural knowledge, Elder teachings, and traditional healing practices.
  • Example: In 2024-25, Sexual Education program in Nunavik for Inuit women and girls aimed to increase awareness of healthy relationships guided by traditional knowledge leading to empowerment.
• Some Wraparound support services: Access to mental health, trauma recovery, and traditional healing programs. Some FVPP-funded shelters offer wraparound crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and Indigenous-led healing programs.
  • Example: In 2024-25, Aturrumaniq (Not Alone) is a community-focused initiative that supports Inuit families impacted by family violence and trauma, emphasizing a peer support model and provides critical mental health support and culturally-sensitive services which promote healing, education and prevention against violence.

The initiative is funded as part of the $724.1 million Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy. ISC received $304.1 million over five years starting in 2021-22, with $96.7 million ongoing to support the operation of new shelters and transitional homes, as well as to fund culturally appropriate violence prevention activities. The Family Violence Prevention Program spent its full allocation of $96.7 million in 2024-25. This includes $9.6 million to support facility operations, $21.5 million to support shelter project development, and $65.6 million to programs and services for Indigenous people facing gender-based violence.

In fiscal year 2024–25, the initiative continued to build on the expanded mandate introduced in Budget 2023 including:

• Enhanced inter-jurisdictional information sharing to inform renewed models and activities within the FILU framework;
• Increased funding to support the strategic review and design of the FILU in each jurisdiction to support continuity of service, training, and the next five-year strategic plan;
• Realignment by some jurisdictions to ensure that the appropriate provincial or territorial department/ministry is delivering and monitoring the FILUs; and
• Approval of new funding agreements for the continued delivery of FILU operations in each province and territory for the 2025-26 to 2029-30 timeframe.

The FILU initiative responds to part of Call for Justice 16.29 by ensuring that Inuit families of missing and murdered loved ones have access to wraparound, accessible, and culturally appropriate victim services. This Call emphasizes the need for Inuit-specific services that are responsive to the unique realities of Inuit communities, including geography, language, and cultural practices. FILUs support this by working with Inuit families to gather information held by government agencies, address unanswered questions about their loved ones, and connect them to Inuit-informed supports when available. FILUs represent an important step toward improving access and cultural safety for Inuit families navigating complex justice and support systems and Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by receiving coordinated, culturally sensitive assistance that helps them access information, navigate services, and engage in healing on their own terms.

• Accessible victim services: FILUs ensure Inuit families can access the information they are seeking from all sectors and across jurisdictions and available support.
• Culturally appropriate support: Inuit-specific approaches and resources are incorporated into FILU services.
• Strengthened community connections: FILUs connect families to Inuit-led healing and justice resources.

FILUs are funded through the Federal Victims Strategy's Victims Fund, with a 2023 commitment of $37.3 million over five years and $7.5 million annually on an ongoing basis. In 2024-25, almost $6 million was accessed by provinces and territories for the delivery of FILUs.

The ISTHI responds to part of Call for Justice 16.29 by ensuring the availability of culturally appropriate victim services through the provision of Inuit-led emergency and transitional housing. The initiative supports trauma-informed, wraparound services to help Inuit individuals rebuild their lives, and continued funding is necessary to expand accessibility and long-term care. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit by receiving holistic, culturally competent support that aids in recovery and resilience.

• Enhanced Indigenous-led supports: Strengthened Indigenous-led victim services and housing supports.
• Expanded trauma-informed care: Expansion of trauma-informed, wraparound services for survivors.
• Safe spaces for survivors: Increased access to safe spaces for Indigenous individuals escaping violence.

Since 2021, $336.78 million has been committed towards the construction of new shelters, with construction funding managed by CMHC and flowed to Indigenous partners.

As of December 31, 2024, in fiscal year 2024-2025, CMHC funded 32 new projects through ISTHI and provided $161,706,675 in funding.

• Following the input provided by an advisory committee comprised of First Nation, Métis and Inuit advocates and victim services providers, stakeholders, and partners, Justice Canada launched the SIVC initiative in 2024-25, with an open call for proposals (CFP).
• Following the open CFP, 42 projects were approved for funding over five years starting in 2025-26.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.29 by creating opportunities for Inuit organizations, agencies, and governments to design and deliver victim services and supports for Inuit harmed by crime and violence.

• Inuit-specific supports: Enhances victim services that reflect Inuit cultural identities and lived experiences.
• Increased access to justice: Ensures Inuit victims have increased access to victim services.
• Long-term funding stability: Ensures sustained investment in programs that uplift and protect Inuit victims and survivors.

Budget 2023 allocated $38.6 million over five years (2023–28), with $8 million ongoing. Through these investments, the federal government has committed to expand and strengthen Indigenous-led victim services, and to support partnerships to increase access to justice for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime within the criminal justice system. Ongoing federal funding ensures that Inuit organizations can continue to deliver culturally relevant, community-based victim support services and build partnerships with others working in the justice system to better support victims and survivors. In 2024-25, just over $3.5 million was approved to support Indigenous-led approaches to support Indigenous victims and survivors of crime.

In 2024–25, Statistics Canada advanced the expansion of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey to capture the Indigenous and racialized identity of both victims and accused individuals in police-reported crime data. Informed by broad engagement with police services, Indigenous and racialized communities, academic researchers, and advocacy groups, Statistics Canada introduced a revised version of the UCR Survey in February 2024.

Alongside technical updates, Statistics Canada collaborated with a special-purpose committee under the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police—comprised of over 40 police agencies—to develop an Operational Guidelines document for supporting police services in the collection and use of the identity data collection across jurisdictions. These guidelines aim to support ethical, standardized practices for police services in collecting demographic information, and are intended to be published on the StatCan website in July 2025.

Moreover, Statistics Canada finalized the following two other, accompanying reports in 2024-25: (1) a What We Heard Report on the results of the Phase 2 engagements by Statistics Canada (Release date: May 26th, 2025); and (2) An Analytical framework promoting the ethical and responsible use, analysis and dissemination of the data (Release date July 16th, 2025).

Statistics Canada also updated the Crime and Justice Statistics Hub in July 2023 to include a dedicated section on UCR expansion. This public resource now outlines the project's key deliverables, implementation timeline, and ongoing updates. These measures reflect a continued commitment to public transparency and responsiveness to the needs of families, communities, and researchers. A dedicated section on the Hub is currently being updated to reflect additional progress in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Complementary to this work, new analytical reports, using a distinctions-based approach and focusing on criminal justice outcomes, have been disseminated. For example, the article "Disparities in decision and sentencing outcomes between Indigenous accused and White accused in adult criminal court, 2016/2017 to 2020/2021", highlighted the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous people within the criminal court system. The distinctions-based analyses revealed some notable differences in outcomes for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.31 by advancing distinctions-based data collection across federal systems. The work ensures that data collected on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations is sufficiently detailed, relevant, and disaggregated to reflect diverse experiences, particularly in the context of justice and public safety. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from distinctions-based data because it acknowledges the unique cultural, geographic, and social realities of different Indigenous people. This allows for the design of more responsive policies and supports that reflect the specific needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families and communities affected by violence and systemic neglect.

• Collection of disaggregated data: Enables detailed and distinctions-based analysis of Indigenous identity in criminal justice contexts, helping reveal patterns of overrepresentation and systemic bias.
• Foundational work for legislative and programmatic equity: Supports a whole-of-government approach to improving data equity, with integration into national police data systems and key social and health datasets.
• Grounded in community and sector engagement: Ongoing consultation with police services, Indigenous organizations, and academic experts ensures that new data collection processes are ethical, responsive, and informed by those most affected.
• Advancing transparency and accountability: Public-facing updates, implementation guides, and the inclusion of identity variables in crime data promote openness and accountability in justice systems.
• Enabling systemic change through data: Empowers policymakers, communities, and researchers to better understand and respond to the root causes of inequity in policing and justice.
• Pathway to inclusive policy development: Informs the design of policies, programs, and services that reflect the lived experiences and realities of Indigenous people and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals in Canada.

This initiative received $1,688,431 in funding from 2021-22 to 2025-26 (and $320,857 ongoing) under the Disaggregated Data Action Plan to support the expansion of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey and related engagement, analysis, and implementation activities. Future investments will be guided by ongoing system-wide coordination efforts and collaboration across policing, data, and justice sectors.

• Following the input provided by an advisory committee comprised of First Nation, Métis and Inuit advocates and victim services providers, stakeholders, and partners, Justice Canada launched the SIVC initiative in 2024-25, with an open call for proposals (CFP).
• Following the open CFP, 42 projects were approved for funding over five years starting in 2025-26.

This initiative (as well as the Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) initiative under the Justice Canada Victims Fund) supports Call for Justice 16.39 by strengthening Indigenous-led and Indigenous-supported child advocacy centers and services that address the unique needs of Indigenous survivors. Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from increased access to specialized supports for children who are victims of crime that prioritize healing, dignity, and advocacy.

• Child advocacy centres: Supports Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed spaces providing holistic care for child victims under one roof to lessen the impacts of traumatic experiences and pave the path for healing. The CAC initiative supports the development of new Indigenous CACs and the expansion of Indigenous-led supports and services across existing CACs.
• Long-term funding stability: Ensures sustained investment in programs that uplift and protect Indigenous victims and survivors.

Budget 2023 allocated $38.6 million over five years (2023-28), with $8 million ongoing. Through these investments, the federal government has committed to expand and strengthen Indigenous-led victim services, and to support partnerships to increase access to justice for Indigenous victims and survivors of crime within the criminal justice system. In 2024-25, the SIVC initiative approved $1 million over five years (2025-2030) in funding to the Umingmak CAC in Nunavut. This funding was in addition to Umingmak's existing funding of $546,750, and to Carrier Sekani Tribal Council's existing funding of $650,661 for the establishment of a new CAC in North Central BC, under the CAC initiative with the Victims Fund.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.41 by funding and collaborating with Inuit women's and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to address barriers and promote their equal representation within governance, as well as to advance their social, economic, cultural and political rights. This initiative funds and supports projects that amplify and advance Inuit grassroots voices, priorities and perspectives, and works collaborative to address barriers to Inuit representation in governance.

• Enhanced Inuit representation: Identifies and addresses systemic barriers limiting Inuit women's and 2SLGBTQI+ participation in governance.
  • Example: In fiscal year 2024-25, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada was funded $198,500 for the Pauktuutit Leadership Development Project. This two-year $510,000 project that began in fiscal year 2024-25 is a capacity building initiative that aims to empower its 15-member Board of Directors, with the intent of strengthening advocacy, fostering inclusion of diverse voices, and enhancing representation and participation of Inuit women in decision-making processes. This two-year initiative will unfold in two phases over two years, with training focusing on advocacy skills and contemporary gender discourses. The second phase will expand this training through workshops that promote leadership exchange and deepen understanding of intersectional issues impacting Inuit women and gender-diverse individuals. By investing in the Board's capacity, Pauktuutit aims to enhance representation and participation of Inuit women in decision-making processes, fostering a more inclusive society where diverse voices are recognized and respected.

Budget 2021 allocated $36.3 million over five years starting in 2021-22, with $8.6 million ongoing, for longer-term stable project funding. In fiscal year 2024-25, a total of $7,366,000 was invested in 33 active projects.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.42 by provides long-term, sustainable funding allow Inuit organizations to strengthen governance, engage communities, conduct research, and develop policy positions based on Inuit self-determined priorities (not tied to federal governmental priorities).

• Long-term financial stability: Facilitates self-determined initiatives focused on Inuit priorities by providing long-term sustainable funding directly supporting Inuit-specific priorities.
  • Example: In 2024-25, Amautit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association's Continuing the Conversation was approved for $290,000 over two-years, which builds on their 2022-23 project Nunavut Human Rights Act and Language. This second phase of the project seeks to engage other agencies that are intimately involved in the lives and well-being of Inuit in Nunavut, and work to implement policy changes based on the recommendations and findings of their previous work.

Budget 2021 allocated $36.3 million over five years starting in 2021-22, with $8.6 million ongoing, for longer-term stable project funding. In fiscal year 2024-25, a total of $7,366,000 was invested in 33 active projects.

In November 2024, the CRCC released the final report of its systemic investigation into the RCMP's handling of public complaints in Nunavut. The final report presented 14 findings, and nine recommendations aimed at strengthening key aspects of the public complaint system. Among the recommendations were calls for mandatory training on public complaints for investigators and administrators working in the public complaint system, a culturally appropriate alternative complaint resolution mechanism, and targeted recruitment of Inuit public complaint investigators and administrators. The CRCC also emphasized the importance of a system to track and analyze complaint trends to improve accountability and transparency. As part of its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, the CRCC prioritized translating the report into Inuktitut to ensure it is accessible to Inuit communities. The report underscored that a robust and culturally responsive complaint system is essential for public trust and community safety. The CRCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with Inuit-led organizations, communities, and the RCMP to co-develop solutions that reflect the lived realities and legal rights of Inuit in Nunavut.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.43 by conducting a systemic investigation into the RCMP's public complaint process in Nunavut, directly contributing to improved police oversight. The CRCC's work enhances transparency and accountability, ensuring that Inuit concerns about police misconduct and the public complaint system are formally examined and addressed.

Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this initiative as it fosters trust in the justice system, ensures their voices are heard in policing matters, and leads to reforms that make the complaint process more responsive to community needs.

• Improved oversight: The investigation identifies gaps and strengthens accountability in the RCMP's handling of public complaints.
• Community-based recommendations: Findings were informed by trauma-informed research conducted in collaboration with an Indigenous-owned research firm.
• Increased public awareness: Community outreach initiatives ensure Nunavummiut understand how to file complaints and access information.

This initiative is funded internally by the CRCC.

In 2024–25, the questionnaire for the second cycle was developed through research and extensive consultation with key partners and data users. Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design Resource Centre conducted qualitative testing with respondents across diverse geographic locations. Feedback from testing was compiled into a detailed report, and all recommendations were carefully reviewed to inform the final questionnaire design. Data collection is scheduled to occur from October 2024 through June 2025.

The increased sample size and oversampling strategy will support distinction-based and intersectional analysis. As with the first cycle, Statistics Canada will publish various new data products, including analyses focused on intimate partner violence, physical and sexual assault, and other forms of victimization. Notable reports from the first cycle included "Victimization of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada" (2022) and "Women's experiences of victimization in Canada's remote communities." These studies provided valuable context on the social, geographic, and cultural dimensions of violence, and future data products will continue to build on this foundation.

Initial survey results will be released through a Juristat report in 2026, followed by additional disaggregated data products and analyses through 2027. Communication strategies will include infographics, presentations, and accessible plain-language reports to reach a wide audience.

A broad range of Indigenous partners were engaged in 2024–25, including national and regional organizations, researchers, service providers, and population-specific representatives. Engagement ensured that survey design and future analyses reflect the lived realities of Indigenous communities and align with culturally appropriate data practices.

The SSPPS responds to Call for Justice 16.44 by enabling distinction-based reporting for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations and by increasing disaggregated data collection for 2SLGBTQI+ people, gender minorities, and youth. Through deliberate oversampling, the survey supports enhanced understanding of the nature, frequency, and context of violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals across Canada.

Indigenous families, survivors and communities benefit from this initiative by gaining greater visibility into the lived realities of violence and by informing culturally grounded and trauma-informed policy and programming. By enabling improved data disaggregation, the initiative strengthens national capacity to monitor progress and address violence through inclusive, responsive strategies.

• Increases representation: Ensures the experiences of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ people are reflected in national survey data.
• Supports evidence-based policy: Enables disaggregated analysis to inform responsive, inclusive programming.
• Complements police data: Captures self-reported experiences of violence, especially among populations less likely to report incidents to law enforcement.
• Advances prevention efforts: Provides insights needed to design interventions and public education strategies.
• Informs monitoring and accountability: Supports development of indicators to track progress in addressing gender-based violence.

The Indigenous-Led Data Research Projects Program responds to Call for Justice 16.44 by ensuring that improvements of the existing collection processes of disaggregated data to monitor and report on the effectiveness of laws, policies, and services are designed to uphold the social, economic, political, and cultural rights of Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. It recognizes Inuit self-determination in data governance and advances efforts to track systemic inequalities and barriers. Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from this program by ensuring their realities are accurately represented in decision-making processes.

• Enhanced data collection methods and improved data and data accuracy: Funding supports the improvement of collection processes of disaggregated, Inuit-specific data to address historical data gaps. Funding supports the improvement of existing Inuit-led knowledge systems and methodologies to accurately reflect values, laws, worldviews and lived experiences.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $50,000 was allocated to Manitoba Inuit Association's Manitoba Inuit Association Data Sovereignty to empower Manitoba Inuit in addressing missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people by facilitating the development of Inuit-centered tools and methodologies that support innovative and impactful Inuit-led research and data. The investment is in a multi-year data management strategic plan that is sustainable and looks toward community, organizational and partner/stakeholder engagements to assist in understanding data gaps and develop Inuit-centered data collection tools and methodologies.
• Greater inclusion of underserved groups: Focus on identity-based indicators enhances representation of many Indigenous groups, particularly 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, urban Indigenous populations, and those experiencing intergenerational trauma, who have historically been left out of data collection efforts.
  • Example: In 2024-25, $105,032 was allocated to Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada's Inuit Count: An Inuit-Specific, Gender-Based Approach to Improving Data and Addressing Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls to develop a data strategy, through a gendered-lens that is based on promising practices, early intervention, prevention, and healing and wellness supports and programs. This project is also helping improve data methodologies that are specific to missing and murdered Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit, including initiatives that: develop qualitative distinctions or identity-based indicators; address existing methodological gaps for Inuit women, girls and gender diverse Inuit who are overwhelmingly underserviced or underrepresented in data; and define safety through Inuit ways of understanding Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Principles.
• Increased self-determination in research: Funding Inuit organizations to improve and guide existing Inuit-specific data methodologies and interpretation and strengthens Inuit sovereignty in data governance.
• Informed policy and advocacy: Reliable, distinctions-based Indigenous-led intersectional data strengthens evidence-based advocacy and ensures that Indigenous data voices drive future policies and advocacy efforts.

The program is funded through Budget 2021, allocating $6.5 million over six years (2021-27) to support Indigenous-led research initiatives.

The QPP continues to support the maintenance of dog teams by providing $3,500 in funding to eligible Qikiqtani Inuit who maintain five or more dogs and continues to work to reflects cultural continuity and community healing objectives aligned with the recommendations of the Truth Commission.

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.45 by recognizing the findings of the QTC and taking meaningful steps to implement its recommendations. Through formal acknowledgement, apology, and financial investment, the federal government has supported Inuit-led program development that reflects community priorities and cultural values.

Families, survivors, and communities affected by the legacy of systemic colonial practices in the Qikiqtani region benefit from this initiative through access to permanent, Inuit-designed programs. These investments support healing, community wellness, and the intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge. The continued collaboration with QIA ensures that program development remains responsive to community needs and consistent with Inuit self-determination.

• Supports Inuit self-determination: Enables Qikiqtani Inuit to lead the design and implementation of culturally grounded programs.
• Advances cultural continuity: Strengthens traditional practices such as dog sledding and supports the revitalization of Inuit history and identity.
• Promotes healing and wellness: Provides community-based supports to address the historical and intergenerational impacts of colonial policies.
• Enhances federal accountability: Demonstrates a continued federal commitment to reconciliation and respectful collaboration with Inuit partners.
• Responds to MMIWG2S+ priorities: Addresses systemic harms that contribute to the marginalization and vulnerability of Inuit women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

The QTC is supported through a series of investments totaling $65 million. The funding period included fiscal years 2019–20, 2021–22, and 2023–24, with the third and final payment issued in March 2024. The QTC is fully administered by the QIA. Funding supports the full administration of the initiative by the QIA and enables the long-term implementation of programs aligned with the Commission's recommendations and community priorities.

In March 2024, a Grant Funding agreement was signed between Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the QIA for a third and final payment supporting the QIA Saimaqatigiingniq Fund. CIRNAC continues to collaborate with QIA on advancing reconciliation through the Saimaqatigiingniq Working Group by updating its terms of reference to reflect the new strategic relationship between CIRNAC and QIA.

In 2024–25, the Nanilavut "Let's Find Them" Initiative continued to support Inuit families seeking information on loved ones lost during the tuberculosis epidemic.

Throughout the year, engagements were led by the project managers from each region, Makivvik Corporation (Nunavik), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (Inuvialuit Settlement Region), Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (Nunavut), and the Nunatsiavut Government (Nunatsiavut). These partners collectively serve over 61,000 Inuit across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland, and were funded in 2024–25 to deliver localized supports grounded in cultural safety and Inuit self-determination. These project managers remained active in responding to family inquiries through the initiative's secure and confidential database; helped families access historical records; facilitated travel to gravesites, and supported memorialization activities.

The Nanilavut Working Group continued to provide oversight and coordination across jurisdictions.

The Nanilavut Initiative responds to Call for Justice 16.46, which calls on the federal government to support the project on a sustained, long-term basis. The initiative is grounded in truth, recognition, and healing, and supports Inuit self-determination by providing culturally appropriate, Inuit-led services. It seeks to redress intergenerational harm and to support families in reclaiming knowledge, honouring loved ones, and advancing healing.

Inuit families, survivors and communities benefit from Nanilavut through access to trusted and compassionate research support, respectful commemorative activities, and dedicated resources to help locate, visit, and honour relatives lost during the TB epidemic. The initiative supports healing by addressing painful gaps in history and by ensuring families receive the information, dignity, and closure long denied to them.

• Supports truth and healing: Helps Inuit families access long-lost information about relatives who were sent south for TB treatment and never returned.
• Community-led and Inuit-governed: Delivered by Inuit organizations and guided by a multi-partner working group that reflects Inuit governance and priorities.
• Strengthens cultural continuity and reconnection: Enables families to visit gravesites, commemorate loved ones, and reclaim intergenerational connections through culturally appropriate memorials.
• Preserves historical knowledge: Gathers and centralizes scattered archival and oral records into a secure, growing database of more than 4,500 entries.

Since the initiatives inception in 2021, a total of $19,250,000 was allocated over five years. As of 2024, $15,309,182 has been allocated to date. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, $3,780,756 has been allocated to Inuit Partners through multi-year flexible funding agreements. These agreements are ongoing until March 2026.