Bringing People Together: How the Sîhtoskâtowin Program Creates Spaces for Shared Learning, Holistic Healing, and Restored Kinship
All throughout kisiskâciwan (a Cree word meaning “swift flowing river” – also known as Saskatchewan), Indigenous communities are leading transformative, and often life-changing, initiatives: from strengthening food security and sovereignty in remote regions; to building spaces that support deeper, more holistic healing; to starting innovative projects that cultivate cultural sharing, learning, and renewal. Last summer, […]
Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) is “Meeting its Moment” Tackling Extreme Heat and Connecting Neighbours
Are you ready for climate change impacts in your city or town? That is the question Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) wants to help people tackle. Founded in 2014, the project is responding to a need to optimize resources, raise awareness, prepare for, and respond to the effects of climate change in urban centres. […]
The Case for Public Investments in Indigenous Hunters and Guardians
Discover the social, economic, and cultural values of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian programs through four Northern case studies. Date: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. Time: 3:00 p.m. ET, 1:00 p.m. MT, noon PT. Northern communities have long understood the importance of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian programs. However, the full range of benefits these programs provide […]
The Economic and Social Benefits of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian Programs
Northern Indigenous communities have always sustained themselves through hunting, harvesting, and gathering food from the land. Today, full-time Hunter and Guardian programs are creating meaningful economic opportunities that support and renew these land-based lifeways. Communities deeply understand the value of these programs, yet their benefits are often overlooked in funding and policy decisions. Investments in […]
New Research: “Through the Looking-Glass: Investment Transparency of Canadian Foundations”
Over the last few years, MakeWay has been working to increase transparency around our investment practices, including disclosing who manages our funds and our investment portfolio. Alongside this internal work, we’ve partnered with researchers at Carleton University to better understand the opportunities and challenges related to investment transparency across Canadian foundations more broadly. We’re pleased […]
The Power of Showing Up: The Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund’s Commitment to Community-Led Change
What began as a fan-fueled connection at the merch tables of Tegan and Sara concerts has grown into one of the most intentional and community-rooted philanthropic efforts in queer justice today. The Tegan and Sara Foundation, founded by the acclaimed Canadian musicians, is not just a charitable vehicle – it’s a living, learning ecosystem. At […]
A New Community-Advised Funding Collaborative for Culture and Wellness in the Yukon
A new collaborative fund offering flexible, low-barrier grants will be available to initiatives advancing healing, education, and cultural continuity in the Yukon starting January 2026. The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) has announced the launch of the Culture Wellness Collaborative Fund, which will be led by Yukon First Nations and supported by the CYFN […]
The Harder Question of Giving: What Are Communities Really Asking of Us?
Reflections from a talk at Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change Gathering by Lee Burton Earlier this fall, I had the honour of joining the Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change community for a conversation about what is emerging in Canadian philanthropy. The room was a beautiful reflection of Hamilton itself, diverse across culture, gender, and generation. I felt […]
Community-based Data Management for Northern Indigenous Land-Based Programs
Across Northern Canada, Indigenous land-based programs are gathering a wealth of information—photos, maps, audio recordings, field observations, and other types of data—to guide stewardship decisions. This information often carries cultural knowledge and responsibilities, and it must be collected, stored, and used in ways that respect Indigenous data rights and align with community values and needs. […]
Stewarding a Transformative Gift from MacKenzie Scott
At MakeWay, we often talk about what’s possible when resources and relationships move together in support of community-led change. Recently, that possibility grew in a profound way. We are humbled and deeply grateful to share that MakeWay has received a transformative donation of CAD $86 million from Yield Giving, the philanthropic initiative created by MacKenzie Scott. […]