Frequently Asked Questions

End of Program FAQs

  • No. The IWI was funded through a one-time investment by the Province of British Columbia in 2022. The application period for Round Two closed on April 24, 2023. This was the final granting round.

  • No. The IWI funding administered by MakeWay and Watersheds BC was a single investment and the initiative has now concluded.

  • Although IWI’s granting rounds have finished, ongoing support may continue for existing projects through peer learning and sharing of project impacts. For updates, please check the website or contact the program partners directly.

  • Yes. For questions related to IWI, please reach out to Bridgitte Taylor at bridgitte.taylor@makeway.org.

  • No. The Indigenous Watersheds Initiative is a separate program and is not part of the ongoing Watershed Security Fund. For current opportunities under the Watershed Security Fund, please visit www.watershedsecurityfund.ca

About the Indigenous Watersheds Initiative

  • The Indigenous Watersheds Initiative (IWI) was created to support and invest in Indigenous-led watershed priorities for healthy ecosystems and communities. Guided by UNDRIP principles, IWI funded and supported First Nation communities in British Columbia working to advance their visions of watershed health and security. IWI was established with a $15 million investment from the Province of British Columbia in 2022 and was delivered through a partnership of MakeWay and Watersheds BC. IWI was a three-year initiative that ended in March 2025.

  • From restoring rivers and streams and protecting salmon habitat, to fostering future generations of watershed caretakers, this work will help advance a model of watershed security that is rooted in long-term resilience, local values, and upholding Indigenous rights and title. This work supports First Nations watershed leadership, reconnecting with land and water, building intergenerational connections, and strengthening Indigenous-led organizations. Specifically, this funding will help:

    • Stewarding watershed health through traditional practices, monitoring, and/or guardian programs;

    • Securing Securing safe and clean drinking water for all;

    • Sustaining local and traditional food systems;

    • Connecting communities to their watersheds;

    • Protecting and mitigating against climate change; and,

    • Advancing Indigenous laws and knowledge.

  • IWI funding was dispersed through two funding rounds:

    • Round One took place in Spring 2022 and was open to existing or previous Indigenous-led or co-led projects funded by the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI). Round One has now closed. Twenty-one projects were funded; you can learn more about them here.

    • Round Two was co-developed with Indigenous Advisors who collectively determined the design and decision-making process. Round Two launched in March 2023 and prioritized First Nation organizations or communities that had not been previous recipients under HWI or IWI. Round two granting allocated $6 million to 28 First Nation led projects.

  • IWI Round One was open to projects funded through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative. Expressions of interest were submitted and reviewed by IWI staff, who made recommendations for funding.

    The application and decision-making process was re-designed for Round Two. Applications received by IWI were reviewed by IWI staff, who created a shortlist of applications. These applications were reviewed by IWI’s Indigenous Advisors, who collaborated with IWI staff on final recommendations for funding.

  • The IWI funding was not part of the $100 million investment in a Watershed Security Fund, which the Province of BC announced in March 2023 as part of Budget 2023. The $100-million investment in the Watershed Security Fund and Strategy is being co-developed with First Nations.

About the Projects

  • This funding opportunity focused on supporting Indigenous-led, community-informed visions and priorities for watershed health and security. These priorities looked different from watershed to watershed. IWI prioritized projects that advanced watershed health through the following areas:

    • Stewarding watershed health through traditional practices, monitoring, and/or guardian programs;

    • Securing safe and clean drinking water for all;

    • Sustaining local and traditional food systems;

    • Connecting communities to their watersheds;

    • Protecting and mitigating against climate change; and,

    • Advancing Indigenous laws and knowledge.

    • Round Two of funding was available to First Nation communities or organizations in British Columbia that had not been previously funded by the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) or IWI Round One. Funding was available for new projects and/or projects that were in progress. Funded activities needed to be completed by December 2024.

  • In accordance with the colonial framework of Candian Revenue Agency regulations, grants can only be administered to Canadian registered charities or qualified donees. A qualified donee is defined as an organization or public body (e.g., Band Council) that is performing a function of the government of Canada. A full list of qualified donees can be found here. A list of active registered charities can be found here.

    Organizations or entities who do not meet CRA registration requirements may partner with a registered charity or qualified donee.

About the Partners

  • MakeWay is a national charity and public foundation with a goal to enable nature and communities to thrive together. MakeWay does this by building partnerships, providing solutions, grants, and services for the charitable sector across the country. MakeWay has been supporting community and Indigenous-led watershed visions across BC for over 20-years. The unique shared platform model is also the operational home for Watersheds BC.

    MakeWay was leading the administration of the granting for the Indigenous Watersheds Initiative, and working in partnership with Watersheds BC to support project teams with peer learning, reporting and evaluation, project communications, and collaboration among project partners.

  • Watersheds BC (WBC) is a capacity-developing organization that catalyzes, supports, and strengthens local watershed governance and security. Since 2020 Watersheds BC has focused on helping advance watershed security by supporting the successful implementation of the Healthy Watersheds Initiative through a partnership with the Real Estate Foundation of BC. WBC is building upon the learnings of HWI and working with MakeWay to continue in a stewardship role to develop and implement the IWI.

  • IWI is grateful to have had the guidance of a group of Indigenous Advisors. These leaders brought a collective knowledge and experiences in the areas of meaningful engagement, community governance, grant making, and natural resource management practices.

    The Advisors provided input into the design, application, criteria, and processes for the second round of IWI funding, and collaborated with IWI staff on final funding decisions.