Many settler-led philanthropic organizations want to boost their financial support for Indigenous-led projects, but some lack relationships with Indigenous communities and don’t know where to start.
Less than 1 percent of all philanthropic donations in Canada support Indigenous charities. A new donation commitment of $500 million could provide a dramatic boost to the capacity of a cohort of Indigenous initiatives across the country.
Indigenous-led non-profits in Manitoba work tirelessly to address the inequities and direct barriers faced by Indigenous people, who make up 18 per cent of the province’s population. Access to predictable core funding would make that work easier to accomplish.
A second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has gone by, and Indigenous charities still receive $1 for every $138 received by non-Indigenous charities, while also facing systemic underfunding by governments.
Words like decolonization are not made for the global south. If the global cooperation and aid sector fails to use language that is meaningful, inclusive and accessible to everyone, conversations on advancing the sector’s future will remain one-sided.
With historically unprecedented inflation rates in Canada, northern communities are facing some of the most drastic increases in food prices. Initiatives seeking to boost food security in these regions need to make meaningful connections with local communities — to go beyond quick fixes and establish sustainable, long term solutions.
