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Indigenous Services

St. Lawrence College is situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. May we always be grateful to live and learn on these lands.

indigenous services

 Indigenous Services at St. Lawrence College offers support for First Nations (status and non-status), Inuit and Métis students. The Centre is also open to non-Indigenous students who are interested in learning more about the culture and participating in events. 

 Whether you are new to the city, or new to St. Lawrence College, the transition to post-secondary education can sometimes be overwhelming. You are not alone! Our centers provide a welcoming, sociable atmosphere where students can join with like-minded relations, share cultural identity and make community connections. 

Many Indigenous students find the adjustment to College a difficult process. This transition is made easier through the friendship, assistance and services provided by Indigenous Services.  

Our Goals

  • To introduce students to the requirements of College life 
  • To maximize the opportunities for students to realize their full academic and personal potential 
  • To provide a friendly environment in which students can further cultural activities in order to express and develop their Indigenous identity 
  • To facilitate student participation in the overall life of the College community 

Frequently Asked Questions

No – but you must be on our Indigenous student list. So, if you did not check the box for Indigenous students when you applied to College through OCAS, please contact your Indigenous Advisor (Jessie or Shirley).

No – crafts and activities are free to Indigenous students.

We can give you suggestions on how to start or continue your search, but we do not do the search for you.

Please send sponsorship letters to sponsorship@sl.on.ca

indigenous bursaries, scholarships, and funding opportunities

Each year Indigenous students can apply for a student bursary.

To be eligible for a bursary you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a student with Indigenous ancestry. Indigenous ancestry includes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Proof of status is NOT required.
  • You must demonstrate a financial need. A financial information page is part of the application.
  • You must be an Ontario resident. To be considered an Ontario resident, you must have lived in Ontario for 12 consecutive months before becoming a full-time post-secondary student.
  • You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident/Protected Person.

Indspire helps thousands of Indigenous students complete their education through financial support. We can help you, too! Indspire offers bursaries, scholarships, and awards for Indigenous students in post-secondary education programs, including full and part-time studies in college, university, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and technology programs.

There is one application for all of Indspire’s bursaries, scholarships, and awards (with a few exceptions noted on their website). You only need to complete the application once to be considered for all applicable bursaries, scholarships, and awards for the September 2021 to August 2022 academic year.

Application Deadlines: August 1, November 1, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Learn more and apply at indspire.ca/myfuture

The Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool is a searchable list of more than 680 bursaries, scholarships and incentives across Canada, offered by governments, universities and colleges, private and public companies, individual Canadians, organizations, and others.

Facilitated Admission for Indigenous Students

This pathway for Indigenous students will consider applications to highly competitive programs, placing less weight on background academic performance. Applicants in this pathway must meet the minimum entrance requirements for their program choice(s) to be considered for a highly competitive program. Admission requirements vary across post-secondary programs at St. Lawrence College.

Application Process


Applicants in this pathway must:

Proof of Indigenous ancestry required documentation (one of the following):

  • Status card
  • Band Membership card
  • Red card (Haudenosaunee Identification Card)
  • Certificate of Aboriginal Status
  • Membership card from the provincial affiliate of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
  • Citizenship card issued by a Métis National Council governing member (for example, Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan)
  • Land claim beneficiary card