Aboriginal Languages Initiative Innovation Fund

Objectives

The overall goal of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) is to support preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages for future generations of Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians.

Expected results and outcomes of the ALI program include:

  • Community-based access to programs and activities that support Aboriginal communities in the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages and cultures;
  • Aboriginal communities have the capacity to enhance languages and cultures; and
  • Aboriginal languages and cultures are preserved and promoted as living cultures.

The objective of the ALI Innovation Fund is to encourage and support innovative community-based language projects utilizing existing technology in the promotion and preservation of First Nations languages.

The fund cannot support the development of new technologies.


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Definition of Innovation

For the purposes of this fund, innovation is a process which leads to the generation, development and implementation of creative ideas to produce new or improved products.

General Application Requirements

Organizations applying to the Department of Canadian Heritage are required to complete the Department's General Application Form.

Applications from incorporated organizations must include:

  • a copy of the incorporation document;
  • a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the organization;
  • a copy of the most recent consolidated audited financial statements of the organization;
  • the address, telephone numbers, and email address for the organization;
  • a list of the executive and board of directors; and
  • the name and title of the person(s) authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.

Where the applicant has previously provided this information, the proposal must:

  • state that there have been no changes made, or
  • include specific information on the changes, and indicate that the changes have been legally registered, where required.

Eligible Recipients

  • Eligible recipients include the following Aboriginal organizations:
  • not-for-profit organizations, societies and community groups;
  • service delivery and voluntary organizations; and
  • cultural organizations/centres.

Please note that the following are not eligible to apply for funding:

  • individuals;
  • non-Aboriginal organizations;
  • for-profit organizations;
  • band councils;
  • federal departments and agencies; and
  • provincial/territorial and municipal governments and their agencies.

Applicants previously funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage are eligible only if they are in compliance with previously signed contribution agreements during the entire period the application is under consideration, including all reporting requirements.


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Eligible Projects

Proposed projects should clearly demonstrate how the technology will enhance desired language outcomes. Examples of outcomes may include: increased numbers of learners reached; increased promotion of the language; standardization through technology to archive a language; adaptation of existing technologies to support language learning; development of content, including video/audio/text for existing websites; etc.

To be considered for funding, projects should also be able to be duplicated and shared between communities and languages without the need for additional resources. Priority will be given to proposals that clearly demonstrate the innovative nature of the proposed project.

A project has the following characteristics:

  • stated start and end dates;
  • one or more goals;
  • measurable objectives; and
  • the identification of an activity or activities designed to achieve the goal(s) and objectives.

Core operations, and any activity or expense that is not specific and exclusive to the objectives of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative, are not eligible for funding.

To qualify for funding, projects must:

  • have sufficient value to ensure interest;
  • create unique digital products/resources or augment existing collections;
  • utilize existing technologies;
  • use standard formats wherever possible;
  • comply with the goals, objectives and principles of the Aboriginal Languages Initiative,  particularly the objectives of preservation and promotion of First Nation languages;
  • show clear evidence of its relevance to the promotion and preservation of First Nations languages and demonstrate an appropriate strategy for its effective use for these purposes;
  • ensure that materials to be digitized are of the highest quality possible; and
  • not duplicate or replace existing federal or provincial/territorial First Nation languages education programs.

Examples of eligible projects include activities such as:

  • recording, documenting and preserving First Nations languages;
  • developing materials to increase First Nations language use and proficiency; and
  • developing mechanisms for sharing information, materials, and other resources among First Nations languages groups.

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Funding Levels

The ALI Innovation Fund can contribute up to a maximum of $50,000 per project.

Eligible Expenditures

Subject to ministerial approval, eligible expenditures must be directly related to the project activities and may include:

  • salaries1 and employee benefits related to the delivery of the project
  • training related to the successful delivery of the project
  • equipment rental/service/purchase2
  • special purpose equipment (SPE) that is purchased primarily for the project (SPE used 90% or more for the execution of the project is considered to fulfill this condition, the cost of SPE cannot exceed 10% of total eligible project costs)
  • project supplies and resource materials
  • photocopying/printing/translation directly related to project activities
  • communications directly related to project activities
  • professional services/consulting fees related directly to the project
  • administration (see below)

Administrative costs will not exceed 15% of the total approved funding. Administrative costs at the project level may include:

  • bookkeeping services
  • office supplies
  • insurance
  • telephone, fax
  • utilities
  • postage, courier
  • photocopying/printing
  • rent for office space
  • audit
  • legal
  • translation

N.B.:   Organizations receiving project funding of $50,000 are required to prepare audited financial statements/audited schedules in the same format as the approved budget stated in the Contribution Agreement for the project.


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Ineligible Expenditures

Ineligible expenditures are:

  • capital construction and renovation
  • stipends, allowances or honoraria for attendance in a course/activity
  • costs incurred before the application is received by the Department
  • salaries and honoraria for a principal officer or Board members
  • start-up and operational costs for organizations including;
    • institutions
    • training organizations
    • commercial enterprises
    • cultural/professional industries
  • employment training programs including apprenticeship or job training
  • festivals and gatherings, including career fairs and conferences
  • contingency/miscellaneous fees
  • deficit recovery

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Proposal Format

All eligible requests for funding will be reviewed according to a standard assessment criteria and the proposal format outlined below. In preparing your proposal it is required that you provide information to address each of the following points:

Objectives

The proposal must include the objectives of the project in a way that relates clearly to the objectives of the ALI and the Innovation Fund.  The objectives must be concrete, measurable and attainable.

Need

The proposal must include information on:

  • the target population, including the number of people living in the community;
  • why this project is needed; and
  • who was consulted, including individuals and organizations from the target group and the community, to identify this need.

Activities

The proposal must:

  • describe the activity/activities to be funded, including:
    • project objectives
    • description of what will take place
    • expected results or outcomes (see "Expected Results" below)
  • describe how the proposed activity/activities meet the language needs;
  • include a workplan showing when each activity would take place; and
  • identify staff position(s) to be funded under the proposal (e.g., full-time project coordinator) and their responsibility in relation to the activities to be carried out.

The following points should be adhered to during the creation of digital content:

  • Standard formats must be used; and
  • The capture format chosen must be appropriate for the content and the mode of content delivery.

Moving Images

Moving picture content should be encoded using either Apple Quicktime, Microsoft Windows Media Player, Real Video, MPEG2 or MPEG4.

Sound

Sound content should be encoded using either MPEG1 Audio Layer 3, WAV files, Apple Quicktime, Microsoft Windows Media Player or Real Audio at 44Khz @ 16Bits.

Text

Text based content should be created and managed in a structured format suitable for delivery as HTML or XHTML. In some cases, delivery in formats such as PDF, RTF or ASCII may be appropriate.


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Expected Results

The proposal must describe the expected results of the proposed activity/activities, i.e., who is expected to benefit and how, performance indicators used, and how these results relate to the project objectives and the objectives of the Innovation Fund.

The performance indicators should include:

  • Quantitative indicators related to the project, e.g., number of products produced, number of products distributed, etc.; and
  • Qualitative indicators that describe the impact of the project, e.g., as a result of the production and distribution of a product, the participants gained knowledge/awareness/capacity in XYZ, etc.

Budget

The proposal must include:

  • a detailed budget and a signed, authorized monthly cashflow that clearly links to the proposed activity/activities, and that provides a breakdown of administrative costs;
  • budget notes that show how amounts were calculated;
  • information on any other funds requested for the proposed activity/activities, including the source of funds, and how they are to be applied against the budget;
  • an estimate of the total revenue of the project for the fiscal year in question, including the funding sources; and
  • details on how any equipment costing $1,000 or more will be used or disposed of when the project is over.

N.B.:  Equipment purchase/lease/rental directly related to the project may be included in the budget under the following conditions:

  • each item is identified and costed;
  • an explanation of the need/use of the item is provided; and
  • the total cost of the equipment purchase/lease/rental does not exceed 10% of the total amount approved after salary costs are deducted.

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Partnerships

The proposal must identify any organizations and institutions that will be involved in meeting the objectives of the proposal, and clearly identify the role that they will play in the project.

Reporting

The proposal must commit to providing timely activity, evaluation, and financial reports and other related information, as requested by the Department.

Recognition

The applicant must describe how the Department's contribution will be recognized in a way that ensures that both the participants and, to the fullest extent possible, the community are aware of the support provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Former Public Servants

The applicant must disclose the involvement of former public servants who are subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.


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Notes

  • 1  Each position covered by salaries must be identified along with the rate of pay for each.
  • 2  The organization is required to maintain an inventory of all materials and equipment costing in excess of $2,000.00. The total cost of the equipment purchase/rental may not exceed 10% of the total amount approved, after salary costs are deducted.