GNWT offers funding for new on-the-land family programs

The government is offering up to $10,000 for new programs to help families better access traditional knowledge and activities


Youth learn how to use a net to catch fish from a boat during a school culture camp in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Gilbert Cazon)

Posted By: Connor Pitre June 26, 2025

To help encourage Northern families to learn more from traditional sources, the GNWT is taking applications for new on-the-land programs and experiences.

Through these programs, families will be able to take part in educational opportunities that are unique to the NWT, and based in the history and culture of any relevant Indigenous community.

Some of the activities that the GNWT wants these programs to provide include general camping, fishing, hunting, storytelling, and the sharing of traditional knowledge.

Any Indigenous organization or government can apply for this funding support, as can community groups, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations. Applications can be made for as much as $10,000 in support for their proposed programs.

This initiative is designed to make it easier for families to access one the land programs, regardless of their family structure. LGBT, single-parent, and multigenerational families are all equally able to benefit from this funding.

The deadline for applications is on August 15th, and the funding must be fully spent by March 31st of 2026. The activities of the chosen program must take place between April 1st of 2025, and March 31st of 2026.

The application forms can be found on the GNWT website.