The Louis Riel Institute administers several scholarships and bursaries. These scholarships or bursaries are available to Métis students at post secondary institutions.
Louis Riel Bursaries
These awards are available to Métis students attending participating universities in Manitoba. The funds for this award come from the Manitoba Métis Federation and are matched by the university.
Students are required to complete an application that may be one or two parts – depending on their university. The Louis Riel Institute confirms that as a Métis student, the applicant is eligible for the award and the university chooses the recipients. Students are eligible to apply for this award every year they are at the university.
Students who are interested in applying for this award can contact their university directly or the LRI to request an application and further details.
All students applying for these awards are required to provide proof of their Métis heritage. Acceptable proof at this time consists of:
- A Citizenship in a Métis nation (i.e. MMF) or
- A certified genealogy from the Saint Boniface Historical Society (SBHS) or Métis Culture and Heritage Resource Centre (MCHRC) or
- You may use the proof of someone else in your family as long as you are able to provide copies of documents proving that you are related to that person. The following are acceptable methods of showing proof of relationship:
- Long form birth certificate
- Baptismal record which lists parents
- Other proof of identification as approved by the Louis Riel Institute
The following is a list of participating universities and their application due dates:
Red River College – due date is October 31st and January 30th annually – contact “Student Services Centre”
University of Manitoba – due date is October 1st and June 1st for summer applications annually – contact “Financial Aid & Awards Office – University Centre”
You must complete the “University of Manitoba General Bursary Application” which is done on-line through your Aurora account. Once you have signed into Aurora, you can use the link below to take you directly to the “Student Awards and Financial Aid” area. From that landing page, click “Apply for Student Aid”, next click the “Continue” button, and then select the “University of Manitoba General Bursary Application” from the pull-down menu appearing on that webpage.
https://aurora.umanitoba.ca/banprod/twbkwbis.P_GenMenu?name=bmenu.P_BsacMnu
Please note, if you have already opened/viewed this application, it will have been moved under the “View My Applications” area, which the first link appearing under the “Student Awards and Financial Aid” tab.
University of Winnipeg – due date is September 17th annually – contact “Student Services – Centennial Hall”
The University of Winnipeg (U of W) has streamlined their application process. All U of W students interested in being considered for the Louis Riel Bursary must complete the “General Application for Awards and Bursaries” available at https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/graduate-studies/funding/bursaries.php
Brandon University – due date is September 30th annually – contact “Scholarship and Awards Clerk, McKenzie Building”
Université de Saint Boniface – due date is September 30th and January 31st annually – contact “Registrariat”
University College of the North – due date is November 21st annually – contact “Financial Aid and Awards”
Mary Guilbault Métis Bursary – due October 1st annually
The Mary Guilbault Métis Bursary is an award available to Manitoba Métis students who excel in their academics and community. The funds for the award are fundraised by the Board of Directors and staff of the LRI and matched by the Manitoba Metis Federation. Any Métis student enrolled in their second year or more at a post secondary institution in Manitoba may apply.
Students apply directly to the LRI and the recipient is chosen by the Board of Directors and staff of the LRI.
Students who are interested in applying for the Mary Guilbault Métis Bursary can access the application here. Applications are due October 1st of each year (or the following Monday if October 1st falls on the weekend).
The award amount for the school year is $2,000.
All applicants are required to provide proof of Métis heritage (see above for requirements).
Manitoba Metis Federation – Vickar Community Chevrolet Métis Student Award (MMF-Vickar Award)– due December 15 annually
The MMF-Vickar Award is available to Métis students attending Red River College who are taking an automative course. The funds for the award come from the combined generousity of Mr. Vickar of Vickar Community Chevrolet, the Manitoba Metis Federation and matching dollars from Red River College.
Students apply directly to Red River College and the College chooses the recipients.
Students who are interested in applying for the MMF-Vickar Award shoulc contact Student Services at Red River College and request an applicaiton form.
Audreen Hourie Indigenous Governance Graduate Fellowship – due September 14 annually.
The Audreen Hourie Indigenous Governance Graduate Fellowship is available to Métis students enrolled in the Masters of Indigenous Governance or Masters of Development Practice in Indigenous Development at the University of Winnipeg. The funds for this award come from the Manitoba Métis Federation and are matched by the University of Winnipeg.
Students apply directly to the University of Winnipeg through their general awards application and the university chooses the recipient.