The Métis Cultural

Metis Cultural Development Fund

 

Funding for activities that preserve, strengthen and transmit Métis culture and traditions is being offered through the Métis Cultural Development Fund (MCDF). The MCDF is offered in partnership be the Gabriel Dumont Institute and SaskCulture, Inc., and is funded by SaskCulture through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation. 


An emphasis is placed on children with a focus on building cultural leadership skills, transferring knowledge between generations, skills development, mentorship and having fun.  The MCDF will give priority to funding programs that seek to meet these goals, contribute to long-term cultural awareness and growth, and promote a high level of access and participation.


Scope and Funding


The MCDF provides grants for up to $10,000 for Saskatchewan-based activities that are local, regional or provincial in scope. 
Eligibility


To be eligible for this Fund, you must be Métis.  Any non-profit Métis community group is eligible. Affiliates, agencies and programs of the Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan are not eligible. Metis Locals and Regions are eligible for this program provided the request is for community-based cultural activity that meets the intent, objectives and criteria of the program.

To receive the maximum grant of $10,000.00, your project’s total expense must be $12,500.00 or higher and your group would have to fund the amount over and above the $10,000.00 received from MCDF.  Since projects only receive 75% of the grant money upon program approval, this means that your group also has to fund the remaining 25% of the grant, but will be reimbursed for that amount upon completion of the funding obligations.  So if you did apply for the maximum of $10,000.00, and had a total expense of $12,500.00, you would receive $7,500.00 (75%) from the MCDF, raise $5,000.00 (or more) yourself, complete the project, and then receive $2,500 (remaining 25%) more from the MCDF.

For a grant of $5,000.00, your project’s total expense must be $6,250.00 or higher.  You would receive $3,750.00 (75%) from MCDF, raise $2,500.00 (or more) yourself, complete the project, and then receive $1,250.00 (remaining 25%) more from the MCDF.

Eligible Activities:

  • Cultural programs that do not have access to mainstream support;
  • Activities that enhance, not duplicate, activities supported by other funding sources;
  • Activities that provide cultural enhancement, collaborative exchange and transfer of knowledge;
  • Purchase of equipment to support cultural development and participation
  • Research, documentation and dissemination of Métis culture

Ineligible Activities:

  • Prize money (e.g. for a dance competition, etc.);
  • Capital costs (e.g. for building or renovating facilities, renovations);
  • General support for festivals; or,
  • Activities that exclusively promotes religious or political viewpoints is not eligible.

Applications


There are two application deadlines for 2004.  Applications must be received or post-marked no later than May 15, 2008 and October 15, 2008.  Applications must be mailed directly to Gabriel Dumont Institute.  To receive an application form and guidelines for the Métis Cultural Development Fund, please contact:


Gabriel Dumont Institute
2 – 604 22nd Street West
Saskatoon, SK
S7M 5W1
Ph: (306) 934-4941   Fax: (306) 244-0252
Attention:  MCDF Secretary