Eligibility and how to apply

Find eligibility requirements and application information for the Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Program.

Application process

• Check eligibility requirements
• Review important considerations
• Obtain a letter of support
• Apply
• Application assessment
• Funding

Check eligibility requirements

To be eligible for funding, the applicant group must be:

• First Nations, Inuit, Innu, Inuvialuit, or Métis
• a band or settlement (land, reserves, trusts)
• Indigenous governments referred to in:
  • a self-government
  • land claims agreement
  • modern treaties
• Indigenous community or groups, such as:
  • Chiefs’ Councils
  • Tribal Councils
  • Organizations
• societies, associations, or institutions that are Indigenous-led and/or serve an Indigenous population
• corporations where a major shareholder is Indigenous

Review important considerations

Before applying, you must also consider the following:

• community support and capacity:
  • Does your community already have Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary members? If so, then you must include the names of the:
    • existing members
    • individuals who may become members by the application deadline
• storage requirements:
  • Does your community have a safe place to store the boat and related equipment? If not, then you may request funds to build, upgrade, or purchase a storage shed or shelter in the application.
• maintenance:
  • Can your community provide routine maintenance on the boat and equipment? Ongoing maintenance costs are not part of the eligible funding.

Obtain letter of support

You must include a letter of support from your regional Auxiliary. The letter must:

• state that there is an identified need for increased marine response capacity
• confirm the Auxiliary will be able to support the community boat and its volunteers

Non-Indigenous organizations who serve an Indigenous population must include a letter from one of the following:

• a band council(s)
• hamlet office
• community council

Locate your regional Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary office.

Apply

To apply for the program:

• contact your regional Auxiliary and request:
  • a letter of support
  • an application form
• fill out the application form (the primary contact person fills out the application)
• submit the application form to your regional Auxiliary by the application due date, either electronically or on paper

Note: It is important to note that by receiving funding as part of this program, you are committing to being an active member in the Auxiliary for:

• the lesser of the initial life cycle of the boat or equipment or
• 10 years

For this reason, if your application is selected for funding, you will be asked to provide additional contact information for both a:

• financial authority
• signing authority  

Application assessment

Applications are accepted annually, and are usually due in the fall for the following fiscal year’s funding, which begins on April 1.

Funding

Funding is provided through a contribution agreement between the Canadian Coast Guard and the Indigenous community or applicant.