Louis Riel Scholarships / Bursaries
Through a co-operative arrangement between the Manitoba Métis Federation and the five universities in Manitoba, the Louis Riel Bursaries and Scholarships were established in 1999.
Through an endowment from the Manitoba Métis Federation and the participating university, each school uses the interest gained on the endowment to create scholarships or bursaries for Métis students. Because the awards come from endowment interest rather than endowment capital, the Louis Riel Bursaries and Scholarships will be permanently available for qualifying Métis students.
Who is eligible?
Any Métis student planning to attend one of the participating universities can apply for the award. All applicants must provide proof of their Métis heritage.
How do you apply?
Students pick up award applications at their university awards office. Each application has two parts: one for the university and one for the Louis Riel Institute. The university decides who receives each award with the first part of the application and the LRI uses the second part to verify the student’s Métis heritage.
How do you prove your Métis heritage?
In order to objectively verify the ancestral connection to the Historic Métis Nation, new applicants for membership in the Manitoba Métis Federation must submit a copy of their own Métis genealogy, or a family member’s Métis genealogy,
and the required supporting evidentiary documents along with their completed application forms and processing fee.
You must be 18 years of age or older to apply for the Individual Membership. For those 17 years or younger applying for a Children’s Membership, you must have also your parent or guardian sign your application;
Obtain genealogy including supporting evidentiary documents:
a. You must provide an official genealogy that identifies a Métis Nation Ancestor. This evidence of Historic Métis Nation Ancestry along with supporting evidentiary documents must be completed by an acceptable recognized genealogical Institution. If the genealogy does not have the applicant’s name on it, the applicant must provide proof of attached lineage with a copy of a long-form birth certificate or an official baptism certificate listing the parents’ names.
b. Government-issued photo identification is required by the institution completing your genealogy as well as a Long Form Birth certificate or Baptismal Certificate with your parent’s names.
c. An official genealogy can be obtained from one of the following genealogical institutions:
Métis Culture & Heritage Resource Centre
5th Floor – 63 Albert Street
Telephone: 956-7767
www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca
St. Boniface Historical Society
340 Provencher Boulevard
Telephone: 233-4888
www.shsb.mb.ca
A short form genealogy costs $35 and usually takes between 4-6 weeks.
If you have a genealogy produced by a genealogical institution not mentioned above please contact your Regional Membership Clerk for a determination as to whether it will be acceptable.
Budgets
All applications will ask for a budget. Some budgets may be quick and short but others might be long, detailed and very thorough. Budgets can take a long time to fill out, so it’s best to have a definitive , pre-planned budget already filled out that you can use as a reference point for any and all applications. Doing this will save lots of your time and will reduce your stress when you’re scrambling to get an application done on time.
Download our Budget Worksheet template to assist you with this section of the application process.
Tips and Hints
- Be honest with your income and expenses… the worst that can happen is you get turned down, the best that can happen is you get it!
- Scholarship and bursary juries know that you get money from somewhere, if you present a ZERO budget they will not believe it.
- It is okay to be reasonable with your entertainment expenses. Juries know that you buy McDonald’s, take your kids to the cheap theatres, go to socials. Think like a thrifty starving student – where would your entertainment come from? How would you pay for it?
- Most students don’t spend $200/month on clothes, but might – over the course of a year- spend $1200. Think of underwear, new winter boots, kids clothes, more socks…. consider all of those expenses over a year and then divide it by 12.
- Students who are funded still get scholarships and bursaries … so tell them about your funding!
- If you share expenses with a partner or roommate, decide on one consistent way of showing your expenses and income. If you share the rent costs, don’t say that you pay all of it, but include all of the partner/roommate’s income as well.
- Explain! Explain why you have some expenses out of the ordinary… explain why you need $100/month for this, that or the other thing. Explain! If you give an explanation, then the jury will understand your expenses. They have expenses too, they will understand it!
- Use N/A when something does not apply to you (i.e. parent’s income or investment income) and ZERO (0) when it applies to you but you do not receive anything.
- If you have a line of credit or credit card, specify how much is already there for debt, how much is available still to use and how much your monthly payments are. (i.e. Mastercard $5,000 limit, $3,200 owing, $1,800 available, $75 minimum monthly payment)
All students have financial need! Don’t be shy about being honest!
Louis Riel Institute Adult Learning Centre
The Louis Riel Institute Adult Learning Centre strives to offer an academic atmosphere where learners experience a sense of belonging in a supportive, self-directed and teacher mediated environment.
Join the growing number of learners who have achieved their educational goals through our centre. Adults are often reluctant to return to school after a lengthy absence. We believe that learning is a lifelong process. The learning centre staff will work with you to develop an educational plan that fits your life.
Enhancing your skills can help you qualify for job advancement, apprenticeship programs and post-secondary education.
The Louis Riel Institute Adult Learning Centre is a Manitoba certified Adult Learning and Literacy Centre partnered with the Collegiate at the University of Winnipeg and funded by the Province of Manitoba’s Adult Learning and Literacy branch.
Hours of Operation
Monday to Thursday: 9:00am to 4:00pm and
Friday: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Call us today: 204-984-9480
Family Fun Event Schedule
Updates coming soon…
LRI Bursary Deadlines
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.
Michif Language Lessons now available online
|
“Speaking Michif” is a set of language modules and printable resources developed by the Louis Riel Institute to assist in teaching families the Michif language. The lessons are at a beginner level, on the theme of everyday family life. The lessons can be easily practiced at home since they involve everyday activities and conversations. The modules can also be used in a language classroom. The modules feature Norman Fleury as the speaker and teacher. The Michif used is Michif-Cree. The Louis Riel Institute plans to develop similar teaching material in Michif-French in the future. DVD’s of the language modules are also available through the Louis Riel Institute. Please contact us to place an order. |
Louis Riel Institute Background
In December of 1985, the Manitoba Métis Federation Inc. appointed a “working group” to study the feasibility of establishing an institute which would serve as a vehicle to deal with the educational concerns and aspirations of the Métis people of Manitoba. The institute would be known as the Louis Riel Institute.
The Province of Manitoba participated in a joint working group. Provincial members were appointed by the Minister of Education and the task was begun. The feasibility of the Louis Riel Institute was researched by the joint working group during 1986, supported by a contribution of $2,500.00 from the Minister of Education. Agreement as to the feasibility of establishing the institute was reached in January of 1987. The purpose of the institute, the goals, and the objectives were defined and agreed to by the joint working group with recommendations for further developmental work including: research, development of infrastructure, a library/ resource centre, publishing and eventual program development.
Subsequent to the agreement and recommendations of the joint working group, the Manitoba Métis Federation Inc. proposed in 1987 to enter into a bi-lateral agreement with the Province of Manitoba to continue the development of the Louis Riel Institute. This initial proposal would have set the parameters and financial resources necessary to bring the institute from a concept to reality.
The Memorandum of Agreement was submitted to the Province of Manitoba in January of 1987, with no substantive response and no agreement concluded.
The Manitoba Métis Federation continued working during 1987 although resources were depleted. The Louis Riel Institute was incorporated in February of 1988 and would operate under provincial legislation. In May of 1988, a new submission was prepared to ensure that staffing and development of infrastructure would take place and that the institute would become operational.
The Louis Riel Institute Inc. was granted tax-exempt status as a registered charitable organization by Revenue Canada as of April 1, 1988. The tax-exempt status is based on the objectives and activities set out in the submission to the Minister of Education for 1988-89, relating to the ability of the LRI to conduct research, provide advocacy and develop programs.
The Institute was created by an Act of the Manitoba Legislature, which received royal assent on November 3, 1995. As a charitable non-profit organization, the institute promotes the educational and cultural advancement of Métis people. The Louis Riel Institute is also responsible for promoting awareness of the values, culture, heritage and history of the Métis people in Manitoba.
Mission:
As the Educational Authority of the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Louis Riel Institute promotes, builds capacity and supports the heritage and history of Métis in Manitoba through efficient, effective, culturally sensitive programs and activities.
Mandate:
The Louis Riel Institute is the Métis educational and cultural institute that will promote the advancement of education and training for the Métis people in Manitoba; and foster an understanding and appreciation of the culture, heritage and history of Manitoba and of the Métis people in Manitoba for the benefit of all Manitobans.
Vision:
As the Educational Authority of the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Louis Riel Institute serves to empower the Métis Nation of Manitoba made up of skilled and proud Métis citizens, families and communities.
Proof of Aboriginal Ancestry
Aboriginal is a constitutional term which usually means Métis, First Nations and Inuit.
Métis Students
A Métis student can prove their Métis ancestry in two ways:
- Membership in a Métis nation (i.e. Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation of Ontario). Provide us with a photocopy of the membership card, the membership card number or a letter from that nation stating your application has been accepted but the card is still in the processing stage.
- A certified genealogy which shows that a student is descended from the Métis and would make that student eligible for membership with a Métis organization. You would provide a photocopy of the cover page of the genealogy that clearly states which organization created the document and the person whose genealogy it is. We also require a photocopy of one piece of historical documentation (generally found at the back of the genealogy – i.e. scrip, census, etc.) and lastly we require a photocopy of the family tree page that shows the relationship of the person whose genealogy it is to the person listed on the historical document.
Métis organizations require a genealogy to apply for membership. A valid membership card will prove your membership and you can use this as proof of your Métis heritage. For membership with the MMF, contact the regional office in the area that you reside.
Genealogies
Genealogies trace your ancestry back generation by generation through each set of parents. A genealogy is proof of Métis ancestry because it can show that your ancestors received scrip as Métis people or that they were baptized as Métis people in the late 1800s.
You need to provide the genealogist with as much information as you know about you, your parents, your grandparents, and your great-grandparents. Include dates of birth, death, marriage, divorce, maiden names and even change of names if you have it.
Once you have your information, you can go to either of the locations listed below:
St. Boniface Historical Society
Societé historique de Saint Boniface
340 Provencher Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB
(204)233-4888
Métis Culture and Heritage Resource Centre
506-63 Albert St.
Winnipeg, MB
(204) 956-7767
Metis Culture & Heritage Resource Centre
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 identification as approved by the Louis Riel Institute
First Nations Student
With Membership
If you are First Nations and have a membership card, you can use that when applying for scholarships and bursaries.
Without Membership
If anyone in your family has a membership card, you can copy their card and another piece of identification you show your relationship to them (i.e. health card, long form birth certificate).
You could also have a respected member from the First Nations community vouch for you. They should write a letter stating that they know that you are First Nations, and explain why you don’t have any proof of heritage. Also attach a photo of yourself to the letter.
Inuit Students
Inuit students also have the opportunity to have their post secondary education funded. You will need to contact the region you live in. If you live outside your region you may have to apply at:
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
275 Portage Avenue, Room 1100
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 3A3
(204)983-6548
Youth in or from Foster Care
Were you in a group home? A foster home? Did you have a social worker? Children and youth still under the guardianship of an angency are “in care”. Once out of care, these youth are “alumni”. There a a variety of scholarships specifically for youth in or from foster care.
National Youth in Care Network
The National Youth in Care Network connects youth-in-care and alumni across Canada and advocates against systemic, national issues. In addition to training, resources, opportunities for youth to speak out and leadership opportunities, the NYICN administers the application process for the Ken Dryden Scholarship.
National Youth in Care Network
332-207 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON
K2P 2N2
1-(613)230-8945
Ken Dryden Scholarship
- Funded by Hon. Ken Dryden, this scholarship covers 80% of your tuition (to a maximum of $3,000) for up to four years.
- Applications are due in the Spring of each year.
- New applicants must be thirty or younger at the start of the application process.
- After the application process is over, Ken Dryden handles the next three years himself.
Voices
Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network is an organization for youth, by youth in or out of care. In addition to tickets to events, a weekly radio show, leadership retreats and an annual Christmas party, Voices also administers two scholarships.
PD Curry Memorial Scholarship
- Funded by an anonymous donor up to $4,000 per year for youth in or from foster care who live in Winnipeg.
- Applications are available in the Spring of each year.
- New applicants must be thirty years old or younger (but scholarship recipients may continue to re-apply until they’ve completed their program).
Voices Scholarship
- Funded by the efforts of Voices members, this award is $500-$1,000 for youth in or from foster care across Manitoba.
- Applications are available in the Spring of each year.
- New applicants must be 30 years old or younger (but scholarship recipients may continue to reapply until they’ve completed their program).
Voices
Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network
929 Main St.
Winnipeg, MB
R2W 3P2
Child and Family Services Manitoba
There are four CFS authorities in Manitoba:
- General
- Métis
- Northern First Nations
- Southern First Nations
These authorities are responsible for the administration of all CFS services in the province. Together, these four authorities offer the Keith Cooper Scholarship.
Keith Cooper Scholarship?
- Funded by the four CFS Authorities, administered by the Winnipeg Foundation
- Award amount varies yearly.
- Applications due in the Spring, applicants must be twenty-nine years of age or younger.
General Child & Family Services Authority
301-180 King St.
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 3G8
(204) 984-9360
Métis Child & Family Services Authority
204-150 Henry Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 0J7
(204) 949-0220
Northern First Nations Child & Family Services
502-338 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 0T2
(204) 942-1842
Southern First Nations Child & Family Services
100-696 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3G 0M6
(204) 783-9190
Marymound
Marymound offers residential and out patient services for youth in the care of CFS.
Marymound
442 Scotia St.
Winnipeg, MB
R2V 1X4
(204) 338-7971
Marymound Bursary Program
- Due each year on May 1st and October 1st.
- Must have received services from Marymound for at least six months.
- Must be under thirty years old.