The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) will receive permanent federal funding, it was announced by Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge on Thursday (March 14).

The government has allocated $65 million to the ISO over five years, starting in 2024-25, with the organization to receive $13 million on an ongoing basis afterward, according to a news release.

The funding will allow the ISO to continue its work on narrative sovereignty, as well as develop long-term relationships with partners and sponsors. The permanent funding is part of the government’s response to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, read the release.

“Securing ongoing funding marks a major milestone for the ISO and the Indigenous storytellers we support, and provides us all with a stable foundation from which to grow,” said ISO CEO Kerry Swanson (pictured) in a statement.

“This is only the beginning for the ISO as we embark on the full expression of our mandate to build an Indigenous screen sector in Canada, and for Indigenous-made stories on screen to inspire audiences around the world,” she continued.

Added Minister St-Onge: “Making sure Indigenous communities have the means and the capacity to tell their stories is an essential part of our commitment to reconciliation.”

The ISO has been open about its requests to the government for permanent funding in order to sustain its operations long-term. The organization’s current allocation of $40.1 million expires on March 31.

“The existence of a dedicated, government-funded, and self-determined Indigenous funding body is vital for our screen sector,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). “This permanent funding further cements the ISO’s rightful place as a sister agency of the CMF, Telefilm Canada, and the National Film Board.”

Photo by Cindy Boyce; pictured (L-R): Kerry Swanson, Alanis Obomsawin and Honorable Pascale St-Onge