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 in collaboration with MakeWay.
The collaborative fund has been more than two years in the making. Inspired by the success of other northern, community-led funding collaboratives—especially the On the Land Collaborative in the Northwest Territories—which pool philanthropic resources and make it easier for communities to access support, we partnered with IRP Consulting to bring together Yukon First Nations governments, organizations, and land-based programs. Together, we explored whether a similar funding model could be valuable in the territory. Interest in a funding collaborative for the Yukon was unanimous, and the focus quickly shifted to working out the details: how it would be governed, how decisions would be made, who could contribute funding, and how it would be administered.
Out of the engagement process came a proposal for a funding collaborative focused on supporting culture and community wellness, with the CYFN—a non-profit serving many Yukon First Nations —acting as the secretariat to provide coordination and administration.
CYFN Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini highlighted the significance of the new fund, saying, “Yukon First Nations have always known that healing and wellness begin on the land and within our cultures. This fund is about reclaiming that strength and ensuring our people lead the way in creating solutions grounded in who we are and where we come from.”
Yukon First Nations governments, non-profit organizations, and individuals advancing culture and community wellness will be able to apply for funding in early 2026. A community advisory committee will review and approve applications based on community needs and priorities.
MakeWay was honoured to play a small part in weaving connections, sharing lessons, and helping collaborative funding models grow in ways that reflect unique regional needs. We celebrate CYFN in reaching this exciting milestone and look forward to the meaningful, community-driven work it will make possible in the years ahead.
To learn more about the Culture Wellness Collaborative Fund, visit: https://www.cyfn.ca/services-2/culturewellness/