HQMF Programs

Grants

  • The Reconnection Grant is designed to support Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivors and their families in Canada as they journey through healing activities. The intention of the Reconnection Grant program is to enable IBHP Survivors and their families to realize their recovery needs.

    This grant aims to support community-driven efforts that honour the lived experiences of IBHP Survivors, foster healing, and create meaningful opportunities for reconnection and recognition through Indigenous-led approaches. This Grant opportunity was launched in 2025. A second round will be posted in June 2027.

  • The Indigenous Languages Retention Grant is designed to support the Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivors and their families in Canada as they engage in healing activities, including developing or enhancing initiatives that protect, promote, and strengthen Indigenous languages.

    This grant aims to support community-driven efforts that honour the lived experiences of IBHP Survivors and their descendants, and foster wellness through Indigenous language revitalization and retention. The purpose of this grant is to foster meaningful opportunities for language reclamation and recognition through Indigenous-led approaches.  This one-time grant is upcoming; stay tuned for details.

  • The Unhoused Survivors Outreach & Stabilization Grant is designed to support Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivors and their families in Canada who are experiencing homelessness, housing instability, displacement, or unsafe living conditions. The grant supports community-driven projects focused on locating, reconnecting with, stabilizing, and supporting unhoused IBHP Survivors through Indigenous-led, trauma-informed, culturally grounded approaches. 

    This organizational grant aims to support Indigenous-led initiatives that recognize the ongoing impacts of displacement, institutionalization, intergenerational trauma, poverty, racism, and housing insecurity experienced by IBHP Survivors and their descendants. This one-time grant will be posted in late 2026 or early 2027. Stay tuned for details.

Scholarships

  • Hitgwin! Qaumata Miyopimâtisiwin Foundation (HQMF) is a progressive foundation rooted in our First Nations’ history, language and heritage. We understand that part of the healing journey is the ability to make a living, and we know that learning and education are the building blocks for doing so. The Kenneth Weistche Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the life and legacy of Kenneth Weistche, one of the lead plaintiffs on the Boarding Homes program class action, and an Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivor. Kenneth was a passionate advocate for IBHP Survivors, Indigenous healing, social justice, and recovery.

    This scholarship program will award $40,000 in scholarships. The program offers renewable scholarships of $5,000 to Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivors and their direct descendants who are engaged in education programs at colleges and universities. in activities that contribute to healing, growth, and legacy-building. Eight (8) scholarships will be awarded annually. This scholarship supports students pursuing studies in Addictions, Social Work, Health Sciences, and Indigenous Studies who demonstrate a commitment to community service, cultural knowledge, and personal or academic growth in the healing professions. There are two $5,000 scholarships available at each level of study.

    Application information will be posted here in late July 2026 with scholarships awarded for either September 2026 or January 2027.

  • Hitgwin! Qaumata Miyopimâtisiwin Foundation (HQMF) is a progressive foundation rooted in our First Nations’ history, language and heritage. We understand that part of the healing journey is the ability to engage in healing and physical activity and that these activities are building blocks. Currently, these activities cost money. HQMF is pleased to announce our Reginald Percival Bursary Program. Reginald Percival is one of the lead plaintiffs who fought long and hard to launch and win this class action lawsuit. He is an Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivor and a passionate advocate for IBHP Survivors, Indigenous healing, social justice, and recovery.

    This bursary program will award $100,000 per year, starting in October 2026. The Reginald Percival Bursary Program offers one-time bursaries of $1,000 to support Indian Boarding Homes Program (IBHP) Survivors and their descendants in activities that contribute to Individual and family healing, growth, and physical wellness. 100 bursaries will be awarded each year for the next five years.

    Bursary application information will be posted here in late August 2026.

Regional Gatherings

HQMF Regional Gatherings are large-scale, community-centred events designed to foster reconnection, belonging, healing, empowerment, and wellness for Indian Boarding Homes Program Survivors. Hosted in regional centres, these multi-day gatherings bring together Survivors in a welcoming, culturally grounded environment that supports connection, learning, and personal growth.

The gatherings will include land-based experiences, therapeutic workshops, plenary sessions, wellness sessions (massage, reiki), healthy meals, Elders, ceremonies, entertainment, and on-site mental health supports. Each event will be designed to be inclusive of regional community engagement and delivered by experienced staff and volunteers.

The gatherings will feature respected Indigenous and wellness-focused keynote speakers and workshop facilitators who inspire participants through stories, song, teachings, and practical approaches to healing and wellbeing. Through these gatherings, HQMF is strengthening connections across communities and creating spaces where Boarding Home Program survivors can learn, heal, celebrate, and thrive.

The first HQMF Regional Gathering will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in the first week of May, 2027. Registration and preliminary agenda information will be posted in late October, 2026.

The second Regional Gathering will be held in Moncton in May, 2028. Information will be posted here in September 2027.

The third Regional Gathering will be held in Nunavut (location to be determined) in June 2009, and the fourth and fifth Regional Gatherings will be held in Edmonton and Thunder Bay respectively (locations and dates to be determined).

Commemoration Grant

Honouring truth, remembrance, and resilience is an important part of healing and community wellbeing. HQMF will support commemoration initiatives that create opportunities for Indigenous people, families, and communities to remember, reflect, educate, and come together in meaningful ways.

Through community investments and grants, HQMF supports commemoration events, programs, and activities that may be delivered as stand-alone initiatives or incorporated into existing gatherings such as National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, cultural festivals, wellness events, and other community-led activities.

The Commemoration Grant application will be posted here.