Non-Monetary Support Programs

Non-monetary support programs are “initiatives that provide assistance or benefits without direct financial aid” The.” These programs generally focus on improving the skills, opportunities, and well-being of communities and individuals through “non-cash incentives”[1]. The Canadian government’s implementation of several non-monetary support programs aims to address the intergenerational trauma faced by victims and their families, promoting reconciliation and healing for Indigenous communities.

Health

The Residential School System and the Sixties Scoop have had a profound impact on the mental health of Indigenous communities across Canada. The forced removal of Indigenous children from their families resulted in a loss of cultural identity and emotional trauma. Psychological challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression often ripple through generations, creating a “domino effect” that perpetuates emotional trauma.

In September 2002, the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program was formally established. This program provides eligible Inuit and First Nation individuals with full access to health-related services that are not covered by other insurance plans[2]. The program covers seven key areas: prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, medical supplies and equipment, dental care, vision care, mental health counselling, and medical transportation[3]. Overall, the NIHB provided access to benefits coverage for 898,839 eligible clients, with 94.4% being First Nation clients and 5.6% Inuit clients. These percentages accurately reflect the population distribution of these groups[4].

However, one of the biggest challenges faced by the NIHB program was the access barriers it inadvertently created. Individuals living in rural and remote regions of northern Canada felt these barriers most acutely. The program is ineffective for many Indigenous communities situated in isolated areas with limited healthcare services, leading to increased wait times and high transportation costs for individuals who need to travel to urban centres for medical care[5].

Education 

Following the abolishment of the residential school system in 1996[6], the Canadian government recognised that monetary compensation alone could not fully address the deep-seated cultural and identity losses. As a result, multiple non-monetary education initiatives were established. One of the most renowned was the Indigenous Languages Act, introduced in February 2019, which aimed to preserve and revitalise Indigenous languages that had been suppressed by colonial and ethnocentric policies[7].

Another notable initiative, funded by the national and provincial governments, was the ambitious FirstVoices project. FirstVoices is a “suite of web-based tools designed to promote and support Indigenous people in their efforts to learn and maintain their languages”. The program includes language archives, learning tools, and community engagement across 65 public and 17 private language sites in British Columbia alone[8].

Although the FirstVoices program has been widely praised for its effort to revitalise Indigenous languages, its effectiveness remains controversial. Technological barriers have restricted many remote communities from having equal access to the technology required to fully utilise the FirstVoices platform. Additionally, concerns have been raised about whether the program is sustainable. Without ongoing financial and institutional backing, there is a significant risk that the program could lose its ability to provide long-term support and resources[9].

Healing Foundations 

The Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, founded by a survivor-led board of directors, first launched in November 2020[10]. With governmental funding of $50 million, survivors and their families were empowered to contribute community input to address the effects of generational trauma[11]. The foundation’s mission and mandate focuses on seven key areas: “cultural reclamation, mental health, reunification and support, advocacy & collaboration, education, commemoration, connection & community building”. Since its inception in 2020, the foundation has granted funds to over 53 organisations across Canada[12].  The most popular program has been the Cultural Reclamation and Reunification Program (CRRP)[13]. It was), designed to help survivors reconnect with their heritage and communities, which had been devastated by ethnocentric beliefs and discriminatory practices.

Although the foundation has funded numerous programs aimed at helping survivors reconnect with their heritage and culture, some survivors felt that the programs did not reach all those affected, particularly those in remote and isolated communities. Concerns were raised about the focus on urban areas, with some feeling that the foundation lacked inclusivity and accessibility. Additionally, the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation’s programs, often described as “retreats,” were short-term due to the high costs of running longer initiatives. This has led to perceptions that these efforts were superficial and insufficient to fully address the intergenerational trauma experienced by survivors. Critics argue that these short-term programs fall short in providing the depth of engagement needed for meaningful, long-lasting healing[14].

While non-monetary support programs, from health to education and healing foundations, have been crucial in addressing the trauma experienced by Indigenous communities, challenges remain. Access barriers, sustainability concerns, and the need for deeper, long-lasting healing continue to hinder progress. As this series continues, we will further explore the highly sensitive topic of child welfare and the steps taken by the Canadian government to return oversight of Indigenous child welfare to their communities.

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[1] Empuls Glossary, “What Is a Non-Monetary Incentive & How Can It Be Implemented,” www.empuls.io, n.d.,

[2] Government of Canada; Indigenous Services Canada, “Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit,” sac-isc.gc.ca, October 31, 2019, 

[3] Government of Canada; Indigenous Services Canada, “Non-Insured Health Benefits Program: First Nations and Inuit Health Branch: Annual Report 2020 to 2021,” sac-isc.gc.ca, February 24, 2022,

[4] Government of Canada; Indigenous Services Canada, “Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit,” sac-isc.gc.ca, October 31, 2019,

[5] Canada;, “Non-Insured Health Benefits Program: First Nations and Inuit Health Branch: Annual Report 2018 to 2019,” Isc-sac.gc.ca, 2018,

[6] Jeyan Jeganathan and Carla Lucchetta, “‘Felt throughout Generations’: A Timeline of Residential Schools in Canada,” TVO.org, June 21, 2021, 

[7] Keren Rice, “Indigenous Language Revitalization in Canada,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, April 17, 2020,

[8] First Peoples' Cultural Council, “FirstVoices,” First Peoples Cultural Council, February 27, 2020,

[9] First Peoples' Cultural Foundation, “FirstVoices,” First Peoples Cultural Foundation, 2024,

[10] Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, “60’S Scoop Healing Foundation,” www.sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca, n.d.

[11] Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, “About | 60’S Scoop Healing Foundation,” Sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca, 2021,

[12] Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, “The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada Is Pleased to Announce Grant Funding Approvals for Our 2024 Grant Program.,” Sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca, 2024, 

[13] Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, “Priorities and Actions Mission,” accessed October 15, 2024,

[14] Angel Moore and Angel Moore, “Healing Foundation for ’60s Scoop Not Helping Says Survivor,” APTN News, April 19, 2022,