Business Council of Manitoba – Indigenous Education Awards

For Indigenous professionals looking to pursue further education, the Manitoba provincial government has a fantastic program in place. The Business Council of Manitoba – Indigenous Education Awards seeks to sponsor the education of deserving Indigenous working professionals and students so they can chase their educational dreams along with their career ambitions.

Launched in the year 2001 in partnership with the government of Canada and Manitoba, this program has doled out more than 2400 awards so far, equaling a funding amount of $6,000,000. It supports plenty of colleges and courses, ranging from education, dentistry, engineering, social work, medicine, and more. The good thing about this program is that you can use it to cover any extra expenses after getting funding via other programs. To get into the nitty-gritty of the program, continue reading.

Eligibility Criteria

To know if you qualify for this program, refer to the pointers listed below:

• First and foremost, you should have Indigenous ancestry 
• You must be a Canadian citizen and permanent resident of Manitoba, having lived in the province for at least the last year
• In the coming academic year, you must only enroll yourself in any one of the post-secondary institutions recognized and authorized by Manitoba; you can choose any course you wish to enroll for 
• You must be a full-time student, maintaining at least 60% of your course load 
• You must be in need of financial aid in order to cover your educational expenses

Here’s a list of the post-secondary institutions supported by this program –

• Assiniboine Community College 
• Booth University 
• Brandon University 
• Canadian Mennonite University 
• Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology 
• Providence University College
• Red River College
• University of Manitoba
• University College of the North
• Université de Saint-Boniface
• University of Winnipeg

How to Apply 

The application process is fairly straightforward. If you fulfill the eligibility criteria, you can fill out the application form and hand it over to the financial services office of the college or university you have applied to. Ensure that you submit the following documents along with your application:

• A photocopy of your Metis or Treaty Card 
• Your resume 
• A copy of your latest transcript or academic history 
• Two copies of a short essay written by you – a handwritten copy and a typed one 

Selection Process

Your application will be vetted to determine whether you will get funding from this program. This screening will assess a number of factors including your personal and academic achievements, your involvement in the community and your financial need. If your application is selected, you will be notified. 

How much can you get 

This program is available across multiple institutions and fields of study to assist with costs such as tuition, books, and other supplies you may need through the academic year. Each student is eligible to receive $3,000 for university and $2,000 for college education. You can reapply every year, but you can receive the award only three times.

Other Student Aid Options 

If you are planning to continue further education in Manitoba, there are plenty of funding options for you to choose from. If the Indigenous Education Awards do not cover your expenses, you can always apply for other funding programs to make up for the cost of your education. These include Manitoba Student Loan, The Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative, Federal Student Loan, Federal Student Grant, Federal Student Scholarship, and Federal Student Bursaries.