Our Grants | Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Nuu-chah-nulth Language Grants
The grassroots Nuu-chah-nulth Language Grants (NLG) support committed language activists from five communities within the Biosphere. The NLG is committed to fostering local leadership and community self-direction in revitalization efforts.

Co-ordinated by Tsimka Martin with direction from the Nuu-chah-nulth Language Committee this grant funds up to $2,000 per year to ONE leader in EACH of the following Nuu-chah-nulth nations: hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation). Funding is for individuals who are members of a Nation with projects that are committed to language revitalization efforts.

Funding Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants MUST be a member of one or more of the following nations:

hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation);
ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht);
ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations);
Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation); and/or
tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation)

Funding Timeline

Grant applications will be open from October 25 to January, 15 2023 with funding disbursed as soon as possible.

Funding Priorities

The NLG will fund language revitalization projects, with the following priorities:

Learning language in one’s own territory (getting learners out on the lands and water for various activities);

Events or exercises designed to support silent speakers;
Getting and giving traditional names;
Finding and sharing family information;
Creative use of language (making new songs, plays or skits in the language with community).

If you have questions or want to talk about your application, please contact Tsimka Martin (Literacy@CoastalCoalition.ca) or Brooke Wood (Brooke@ClayoquotBiosphere.org) or call the CBT office any time at 250-725-2219 (staff can help you make your application over the phone). To apply via our online grant system, click "apply now" below. To apply by email, download this application form, complete it, and email it to Tsimka (Literacy@CoastalCoalition.ca).

The Nuu-chah-nulth language committee is made up of language leaders from each of the 5 Nuu-chah-nulth Nations who this grant serves. This is our pilot year and we are excited to learn from the process as we go! To learn more about the thinking behind these grants, check out the NLG Policy Manual.

If you are interested in applying for this grant, as a teacher or a learner of the language, please follow the directions for applying as a "student" in the "create an account" section. Leave blank the CRA question and the website/organization email question.

Apply Now

Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants
The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program supports people who want to make our communities better places to live. Our grants range from $50 to $500. A grant is money we give you to help you bring your project to life. You must apply for the grant, but you do not need to pay the money back.

Arts & Culture Grant
The CBT Arts & Culture Committee has an annual discretionary budget to fund small projects throughout the region. Projects will be funded up to a maximum of $5,000.

Community Development Grant
The CBT Community Development Committee has an annual discretionary budget to fund small projects throughout the region. Projects will be funded up to a maximum of $5,000.

Research & Environment
The CBT Research & Environment Committee has an annual discretionary budget to fund small projects throughout the region. Projects will be funded up to a maximum of $5,000.

Funding Timeline
Applications are closed for 2022. The application window is typically in the first quarter of the year with funding disbursed by June. Stay tuned for specific dates in early 2023. Sign up for the CBT newsletter to receive a notification when CBT grants open.

Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that:

Address key species and ecosystem threats within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. For example, the threat of sea star wasting disease, the impact of commercial herring fishery on local marine ecosystem health, knowledge gaps on the threats of finfish aquaculture, the threat of invasive species on local native species diversity.
Address habitat conservation, restoration and/or protection for target species or ecosystems of ecological and/or cultural importance. For example, research that addresses habitat for keystone species with multiple food chain linkages such as salmon, habitat species of economic importance and/or cultural importance, and/or food security importance, habitat for charismatic species that elevate conservation awareness, and habitat for species that we feel we have a high stewardship responsibility to protect.
Address key threats to Indigenous ways of knowing about sacred places and important knowledge for vibrant Nuu-chah-nulth people, culture, and connections to place;
Align with First Nations priorities and follow protocols. Research must be supported by the First Nation in whose territory it will be conducted.
Support the spirit and intent of the UNESCO Biosphere designation and contribute to specific conservation values and actions that have broad application for mitigating an ecological and/or cultural threat such that system resilience is supported. Conservation action refers to a variety of responses that can mitigate the threat. For example, land or water protection, land or water management/restoration, species monitoring and management, education and policy change, and new modes of governance that support ecological and cultural resilience.

If you have questions or want to talk about your application please contact our grants team at grants@clayoquotbiosphere.org or call or text the CBT office at 250-725-2219.

Apply Now

Youth & Education Grant
The CBT Youth & Education Committee has an annual discretionary budget to fund small projects throughout the region. Projects will be funded up to a maximum of $5,000.

Biosphere Research Award
The Biosphere Research Award is a grant of $20,000 to support research that advances the local understanding of conservation challenges in our marine and/or terrestrial ecosystems and helps us to prioritize conservation actions within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region.

Vital Grants
We are not accepting new applications for Vital Grants in 2022. Vital Grants were a test of high-impact, transformational grants with a focus on sustainability and partnerships. Staff will review this grant stream by following up with Vital grantees 2018-2021. We are allocating the 2022 Vital Grant budget to reach out to past grantees in reciprocity to see what work they still need to do and allocate it in that spirit.

Youth Action Grants

CBT Youth Action Grants are small, flexible grants to support youth-led projects.

Funding Timeline

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and funded periodically throughout the year when funding is available. Contact Jason for more information or to discuss a grant idea.

Funding Priorities

Youth age 10-25 can apply (give or take a few years!). Funding is meant to support projects that enable youth learning and/or make our communities better places to live.

To apply, contact jason@clayoquotbiosphere.org or call/text the CBT office at 250-725-2219 to discuss your idea and apply (it’s that easy!).

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CBT Grants