About the HIV Community Wellness Initiative
The HIV Community Wellness Initiative supports First Nations communities in addressing HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. For this 2026/2027 funding cycle this program provides one-year grant funding of up to CAD$20,000 for community-led activities, including health promotion, education, capacity-building, and resource development.
FNHA recognizes the historical and systemic barriers to HIV services and is committed to fostering culturally safe, stigma-free, and trauma-informed spaces. BC First Nations communities and organizations are invited to apply for funding under the HIV Community Wellness Initiative. Successful applicants will receive financial support, technical assistance, and resources to implement culturally safe, community-focused health initiatives.
Learn more about the 35 communities funded in 2025
Who can apply?
We accept funding applications from land-based First Nations in BC or Indigenous-led not-for-profits serving First Nations communities (urban, rural, or remote). Land-based First Nations must be in the lands now known as BC, and Indigenous-led organizations must be serving First Nations located in BC.
What does the funding support?
- Community-Led Health Promotion – Supports initiatives that increase awareness, educate, and reduce stigma around HIV/STIs through school programs, workshops, and media campaigns.
- Improving Access to HIV Services – Funds projects that identify and address barriers preventing community members from accessing HIV testing, treatment, and ongoing support.
- Wholistic Support – Provides funding for culturally safe counselling, community support groups, and programs that address the emotional, social, and practical needs of those affected by HIV.
How to apply?
- Applications for the 2026/2027 funding cycle are now closed.
- Learn more about the HIV Community Wellness Initiative here.
- View scoring criteria here.
Application support
FNHA offers support for completing funding proposal applications. To schedule a consultation, email HIVProjects@fnha.ca.
FAQs
BC First Nations and Indigenous-led non-profit organizations who provide HIV supports and services to First Nations and Indigenous individuals in BC.
Applicants must be BC First Nations or Indigenous-led non-profit organizations with charitable status. Funding Application will include confirmation of Charitable Number and/or Notice of Good Standing.
Funds can be used for community programs to support HIV wellness initiatives through education, awareness and prevention activities. We support communities to self-determine best use of funds within their communities. There are some things that the funding cannot be used for; learn more about expenses that are not included.
The HIV Community Wellness Initiative funds need to be used by March 31, 2027.
March 27, 2026, applications will open and March 12, 2026, is the application deadline. To ensure equitable access, FNHA accepts both oral and written proposals.
Resources
HIV Testing
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Provincial Point of Care HIV Testing Program
- CATIE: Website for people looking for HIV, hepatitis C, sexual health or substance use health services in Canada
- Community-Based Research Centre, Medicine Bundle Program
- Community-Based Research Centre, Self-Testing for HIV with Travis: How-to video for INSTI Rapid HIV self-test
- I’m Ready: BC Care Pathways
- HIV self tests vs HIV point of care tests
Awareness and Education
- BC Centre for Disease Control, SmartSex Resource
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Indigenous Health Resources
- First Nations Health Authority, Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections
- First Nations Health Authority, HIV Community Wellness Initiative
- First Nations Health Authority, 2S/LGBTQQIA+ Wellness
- I AM Initiative: List of HIV supports in BC
- Options for Sexual Health: Over 50 locations in BC, for access to sexual health care and resources
- Pacific AIDS Network
- Syphilis information for communities
- Urban Native Youth Association: Youth outreach, cultural support, housing supports in Metro Vancouver
- YouthCO: Indigenous youth-led program supporting HIV and Hep C education
Fraser Salish
- I AM Initiative in collaboration with fellow HIV/AIDS groups: HIV Care Pathway for Fraser Salish region
- Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre: Positive Health Program
Interior
- I AM Initiative in collaboration with fellow HIV/AIDS groups: HIV Care Pathway for Interior region
- Interior Health, My Health is Sexy: Awareness campaign and resources for the Interior region
Northern
- I AM Initiative in collaboration with fellow HIV/AIDS groups: HIV Care Pathway for Northern region
- Northern Health: Testing information
- Positive Living North: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
- Soonats’ooneh Community Health Centre: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
Vancouver Coastal
- I AM Initiative in collaboration with fellow HIV/AIDS groups: HIV Care Pathway for Vancouver Coastal region
- Dr. Peter Centre: We transform lives and communities by bringing humanity and healthcare to those sidelined by society
- Kilala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
- Provincial Health Services Authority: The Oak Tree Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre provides specialized clinical care to women, children and their families living with HIV, reproductive infectious disease and congenital infectious disease
- Ribbon Community: Formerly AIDS Vancouver, Ribbon Community’s purpose is to support and empower communities in overcoming the impacts of HIV and HIV stigma
- Ribbon Community, Viva: Viva is a community of women living with HIV in BC, who communicate with other HIV-positive women directly, primarily online
Vancouver Island
- I AM Initiative in collaboration with fellow HIV/AIDS groups: HIV Care Pathway for Vancouver Island region
- AIDS Vancouver Island: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
- Peer2Peer Indigenous Society: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
- Namwayut Cultural Society: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative. Phone: (250)-914-2236
- Tsakwa’lutan Healing Centre: HIV Project partially supported by FNHA HIV Community Wellness Initiative
CATIE – Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information
CATIE strengthens Canada’s response to HIV, hepatitis C and the toxic drug crisis by bridging research and practice. We connect healthcare and community-based service providers with the latest science, and promote good practices for prevention, testing, treatment and substance use health programs. As Canada’s official knowledge broker for HIV, hepatitis C, sexual health and harm reduction, you can count on us for up-to-date and accurate information. The CATIE Ordering Centre has posters, brochures and other print materials, and we deliver to organizations across Canada free of charge
Communities Alliances and Networks (CAAN)
CAAN is committed to addressing the issues of HIV within an Indigenous context. CAAN provides a national forum for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples to holistically address HIV/AIDS, HCV, STBBI, TB, mental health, aging and related co-morbidities.
The goal is to raise awareness, so people take action to get tested for HIV. I AM is informed–developed in collaboration with community groups, mentors, leaders, advocates and healthcare professionals–many who live with HIV and are thriving. These are the remarkable people who want to help others find their own path, managing their health and wellness, providing practical ways to help get them there.
What is INSTI®? INSTI® HIV Test is designed as a simple to use HIV test that allows you to get results instantly and accurately. Sample, pour and read your results immediately. It’s that easy.
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works across issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice throughout the United States and Canada.
We launched in July 2021, during the Berlin International AIDS Society Conference, to promote person first HIV & Sexual Health language. Language matters. People living with or at risk of HIV experience stigma & discrimination and the wrong language perpetuates this.
Public Health Agency of Canada
Health information including food, nutrition, diseases, vaccination, drugs, health products, product safety, health and safety, healthy living, Indigenous health, health system, science.
REACH Nexus is an ambitious national research group working on how to address HIV, Hepatitis C and other STBBIs (sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections) in Canada. Our focus is on reaching the undiagnosed, implementing and scaling up new testing options, strengthening connections to care, improving access to options for prevention (PrEP and PEP) and ending HIV stigma. REACH Nexus is part of MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The Women Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Hub
The Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Hub is a collaborative, virtual network of people living with HIV as well as researchers, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other health advocates working to optimize the health of women and gender diverse people living with HIV in Canada. The WCHC Hub aims to create a formalized network that will connect women nationally to improve and expand our ability to respond to the unique needs of women and gender diverse people with HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).
- California Prevention Training Centre: Delivering HIV Positive Test Results – Transgender Woman
- Community-Based Research Centre: Self-Testing for HIV with Travis