George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
There are a number of assistance options available to Indigenous students, including grants, bursaries, scholarships and awards, some of which are listed below. In addition to tuition support, we also offer emergency bursaries and financial support for home visits for our indigenous students.
The Tom Janes Bursaries for Indigenous Learners funds:
- Tom Janes Emergency Funds for Indigenous Learners: This award provides emergency funding for Indigenous students, including unforeseen costs such as illness, loss of income, and increases in tuition.
- Tom Janes Home Visit Bursary: This award supports Indigenous students’ visits to their home communities. Many Indigenous students hail from remote communities and do not have the financial resources to return home during breaks in the semester or in the summer.
- Tom Janes Indigenous Student Entrance Scholarship: This award is an entrance scholarship available to full-time students who identify as Indigenous
For more information and assistance with any funding, scholarship or awards applications please contact Jessica Rumboldt (jessica.rumboldt@georgebrown.ca) or Indigenous.Services@georgebrown.ca
Funding
First Nations
You may be eligible to receive financial assistance for the cost of your tuition fees, books and living allowances. If interested, you should contact your post-secondary education office within your First Nation to receive the necessary forms and policies (most are online).
Métis
The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) offers a range of support and services for the educational success of all Métis across Ontario. Recognizing the absence of dedicated post-secondary financial assistance for Métis students, MNO initiated a bursary program in 1998. The investments were made at 32 colleges and universities.
Contact the Métis Nation of Ontario for more information on scholarships and bursaries.
Inuit
Inuit students who have been residing outside of the Northwest Territories or Nunavut for 12 consecutive months could be eligible for funding through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program. Inuit students residing in these territories are eligible for funding support from their respective territorial governments.
Eligible Inuit students seeking more information on how to apply for available funding for post-secondary education should contact Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. Here you will find a link to the Inuit Post-Secondary funding application.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
While many Indigenous students may be eligible for post-secondary education funding through their respective band, additional educational funding may be required. Here are a few websites to help you get started:
- College and Divisional Student Awards: Bursaries, scholarships and awards are available to full-time students at George Brown Polytechnic who self-identify as Indigenous. Funding is also available for emergencies and home visits thanks to a generous donation from the Janes Family.
- George Brown Polytechnic’s financial aid office offers numerous scholarships and awards
- Indspire – helps thousands of Indigenous students complete their education
- AMMSA – Indigenous Scholarship Guide
- CN Scholarships – Through their Scholarships Program, CN offers grants to support the post-secondary education of best-in-class students enrolled in programs relevant to CN's core business wards.
- Hydro One student awards and scholarships – As part of their enduring commitment to increasing the representation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) employees throughout their operations, Hydro One is actively engaged in encouraging and investing in students interested in careers within the electricity sector.
- Miziwe Biik Indigenous Employment and Training – you may be eligible for monthly transportation costs (TTC), bursaries, books and supplies. Visit the website for more information.
- ONECA Four Directions Scholarship
- ONECA Post-Secondary Student Award
- The Raven Rising Pastry Arts Scholarship for Indigenous students has committed to providing one Indigenous student each year $1,500 to help with educational costs.
Other bursaries and awards include:
- Indigenous Student Bursary
- Union Local 556 Bursary
- Alfred Eli Bursary
- Métis Student Award
- Aditya Jha Indigenous Studies Awards
Contact our staff for more information on the application process for these awards and bursaries.
Read more information on how to apply for awards.
DOWNLOAD the Indigenous Student Awards APPLICATION FORm