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Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund (IWEF)

Presented by:

LNG Canada

Contributors:

For information on the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund, contact: grants@ccab.com

CCAB’s Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund is presented by LNG Canada with a contribution from Paper Excellence. The fund is open to Indigenous women-owned businesses that have encountered systemic barriers to lending relationships, and have been disadvantaged because of the pandemic. The fund is administered through CCAB’s Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business (TFAB) program to enhance Aboriginal entrepreneurship through providing access to development and networks.

Applications are now closed.

Fund Overview

Successful applicants will receive:

¹ Existing CAB companies who have already renewed for 2022 will receive a credit for their 2023 membership. The application process will open on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 1:00PM EST and will close on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 4:00PM EST. All completed applicants will be provided a number and will have that number entered into a lottery. A live draw will be made at a future date at which time we will select 20 recipients.

Funding Criteria

The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) woman. The for-profit business must be registered in Canada. Individuals who have previously received the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund in 2021 are not eligible to receive this round of funding.

Supporting Documents Required

To proceed with your application, please review the required documentation. In fields where documents are required, you will not be able to proceed without uploading the relevant documents. If you are currently an existing Certified Aboriginal Business (CAB) in good standing, in sections where documents need to be uploaded instead of the supporting documents please upload a copy of your CAB certificate.

Thinking of applying to the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund?

To help you apply for the fund, below is a check list of all the documents and information you will need to complete the application. Please do not start an application unless you have all the information noted below readily available:

  • Name of the Indigenous owner who has 51% or more ownership (proof of Indigenous ancestry required)
  • Legal name of business and date established
  • Legal structure of the business (proof of ownership documents will be required)
  • Number of employees (includes full and part-time employees)
  • Business description

Proof of Indigenous Ancestry

Proof of Acceptable documents include the following:

  • Indian status card
  • Métis National Council Governing Membership
  • Inuit Beneficiary card

Or, valid identification provided by the following:

  • Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) affiliate membership
  • Northwest Territories Land Claim Settlement Beneficiaries
  • Alberta Métis Settlement Members
  • Northwest Territory Métis Nation Membership
  • Membership in a historic Métis community recognized as independent and rights-bearing by a provincial or Canadian federal government

Proof of Ownership

Proof of ownership and control documents demonstrating a minimum 51% Aboriginal ownership; acceptable documents pertaining to your business structure include: Sole Proprietorship

  • Master Business License or provincial/territorial equivalent

Corporation

  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Shareholders Agreement
  • Shareholders Registry
  • Corporate Tax Return – Schedule 50 if available

Partnership

  • Partnership Agreement

Characteristics of Indigenous women-owned businesses.

Historical and current stats on Indigenous women-owned businesses.

 

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