b'FUNDING INITIATIVESENABLING Ottawa and the provinces set up new funding initiatives to support Indigenous activity in the mining sectorPARTICIPATIONBy Andrew SnookA s demand for metals andnew funding programsor expandingimportance of this program cannot minerals heats up aroundexisting onesto assist Indigenousbe overstated.theglobe,Canadaiscommunities and businesses with poised to become one ofopportunities to become active finan- Thisnewgovernmentinitiative thebiggestbenefactors.cial partners in new projects. They havecould make meaningful strides in With lands rich in valuable criticalbeen creating public funding initia- increasing Indigenous ownership minerals and metals, governments attives to support Indigenous-led busi- and equity in the development of both the federal and provincial levelnesses and communities within the crit- natural resource and infrastructure are aware of the revenue potentialical minerals sector.projects that could have longstanding and are actively working to speed upeconomic benefit sharing and career development in the sector.Thelargestoftheseinitiativesisdevelopmentopportunitiesfor One thing, however, is clear to alltheIndigenousLoanGuaranteeIndigenous Peoples, explains Karen involved: Indigenous communitiesProgram (ILGP) administered by theRees, president of the Prospectors & need to be active participants in thisCanada Indigenous Loan GuaranteeDevelopers Association of Canada push and their participation needs toCorporation, a subsidiary of the Canada(PDAC). Theres an opportunity for go beyond just consultations for proj- Development Investment Corporation.the ILGP to close a gap between ects impacting their lands. There needOttawa recently doubled funding forgovernment, industry and Indigenous to be true, mutually beneficial partner- the program from $5 billion to $10communities in terms of the finan-ships that create opportunities for long- billion to expand opportunities forcial uplift that can come from indus-term wealth generation.Indigenous communities and busi- trial and infrastructure development. nesses. The goal is to have them partic- [It can also] accelerate projects by Aware of this need, governmentsipate more widely in economic part- improving outcomes for rightsholders across Canada have been creatingnerships with the private sector. Theand stakeholders.22A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025'