The Cultural/Educational Centres Program funds 110 centres of activity in all provinces and territories to express, preserve, develop and promote First Nation and Inuit cultural heritage and education.

The program, established in 1971, provides financial assistance to First Nations, tribal/district councils, Inuit communities and First Nation/Inuit non-profit corporations for activities that lead to:

• development of curricula for First Nation and Inuit schools which is more culturally relevant to the student population, and
  
  
• an enhanced cultural environment and understanding within communities that contributes to better educational outcomes for First Nation and Inuit students.

For First Nations

Some 94 centres are focused on First Nations. First Nations Confederacy of Culture Education Centres,  manages the funds and administration for 55 of them.

For Inuit

The Cultural/Educational Centres Program provides funding for 14 Inuit centres and to the Inuit Tapirriit Kanatami,  the national Inuit organization, for its magazine, published in Inuktituk, English and French three times a year.

How the program works

Proposals and workplans are to be completed by each group that expects to receive funds prior to disbursement of funds.

First Nations, Inuit and Innu who expect to receive funds under this program must submit a proposal and workplan to either the INAC HQ or regional office or the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres in accordance with program guidelines.

Funding is granted based on availability, budget and program approval, community support (by band council resolution or hamlet resolution) and the submission of regular activity reports, financial reports and audits, as required.