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Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarship Program
The Gabriel Dumont Scholarship Foundation was established to administer the Institute's scholarship funds. The Napoleon LaFontaine Economic Development Scholarship Program was established to encourage Saskatchewan's Métis is to pursue full-time education and training in academic studies that lead toward their social, cultural and economic development.
Napoleon LaFontaine was instrumental in organizing the Association of Metis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan. Over the years, he devoted himself to developing social and educational policy for Aboriginal People. These scholarships are so named in recognition of his many contributions.
Currently Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarships are awarded as Entrance Scholarships, Undergraduate Scholarships, Graduate Scholarships, Graduation Scholarships, Loan Remission Scholarships, and Special Scholarships. A Scholarship Trustees and Selection Committee make award decisions.
a) Scholarship Trustees and Selection Committee
The Trustee and Selection Committee is comprised of five members; three members are selected from within the Institute while two members are external appointees from the Métis community. The Trustees and Selection Committee members are:
Internal: Dale McAuley – Chairperson Earl Cook – Vice-Chair Wendy Swenson – Vice-Chair Calvin Racette – Secretary
External: Max Morin Shirley Ross
b) Who is Eligible?
Applicants for any scholarships under the Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarship program must:
• be Métis or Non-Status Indian • have resided in Saskatchewan for at least five years • be enrolled, or about to enrol in a diploma, certificate, or degree program that is at least eight months of full-time studies • be enrolled in a public educational institution, or an Aboriginal educational institution across Canada providing a recognized diploma, certificate, or degree program • be committed to working in an Aboriginal work environment upon successful completion of their studies • demonstrate a commitment to the needs of Aboriginal peoples.
c) Academic Criteria
An applicant must achieve a "B" average in the most recent eight-month period of full-time studies, over a period of twelve consecutive months, to qualify for an award.
Full-time academic studies is deemed to be at least 60% of the course load designated as constituting a full academic program by the educational institution in which the student is enrolled.
d) Types of Scholarships
Entrance Scholarships are available to post-secondary students who are enrolled in a diploma, certificate or degree program, and who have met the eligibility criteria. Students who have not completed high school may apply for the scholarship if they have fulfilled the entrance requirements of the institution, which they will be attending. They will be required to submit two references, which may be considered in lieu of an academic standing from high school.
The value of the Entrance Scholarship is not to exceed $300 for each eight-month period of full-time studies.
The Entrance Scholarship shall be paid in two instalments. The first payment is to be made within seven (7) days of the decision by the Selection Committee and the second in the fifth month of study.
ii) Undergraduate Scholarships
Applicants for the Undergraduate Scholarships must have completed a minimum of one academic year of full-time study and have achieved at least a 'B' average during the most recent academic year in which they were enrolled as a full-time student.
The value of the Undergraduate Scholarship award shall not be greater than $500 for each eight-month period of study.
The Undergraduate Scholarship shall be paid in two instalments. The first payment is to be made within seven (7) days of the decision by the Selection Committee and the second in the fifth month of study.
An individual applicant may receive up to three consecutive or non-consecutive Undergraduate Scholarship awards.
Applicants for the Graduate Scholarships may be enrolled in any graduate program at the Masters or Doctorate level or be accepted into a Masters or Doctorate degree program at a recognized Canadian university. Applicants for the Graduate Scholarship must be engaged in a major research project or thesis that relates to the development of the Métis.
Each applicant will be required to:
• provide a description of their research project or thesis and explain its relevance to Aboriginal people; • submit two academic references, one of which must be the research project or thesis supervisor. References must relate directly to the research project or thesis.
Applicants in a Masters degree program will be eligible for two consecutive or non-consecutive awards; applicants in a Doctorate degree program will be eligible for three consecutive or non- consecutive awards.
The value of the Graduate Scholarship shall not exceed $2,000 for each award period. The graduate Scholarship shall be paid in two equal instalments; the first within seven (7) days of the decision of the Selection Committee and the second in the seventh month of the scholarship period. Each Graduate Scholarship award shall be granted on the basis of twelve consecutive months of full-time studies.
To receive the Graduation Scholarships, students must have completed a diploma, certificate or degree program at the Gabriel Dumont Institute that required a minimum of eight months of full-time study with a minimum 'B' average in the most recent year of academic study.
Recipients of the Graduation Scholarships will be nominated by Gabriel Dumont Institute staff on the basis of academic achievement, contribution to the student body of the Institute, and commitment to Aboriginal peoples.
The value of the Graduation Scholarship shall not exceed $200 for each year of full-time studies to a maximum of $1,000 for any one recipient.
v) Loan Remission Scholarships
Applicants for the Loan Remission Scholarships must apply for the award within six months of graduation. Applicants must have an outstanding loan balance through the Canada Student Loan Program and/or the Saskatchewan Student Loan Program after any loan remission awards are made available to them.
The value of the Loan Remission Scholarship shall not exceed 50% of the outstanding loan balance to a maximum of $3,000. No remission award payment shall be made prior to the date on which the interest on the outstanding loan becomes payable.
Loan Remission awards shall be made in one payment, directly to the financial institution responsible for administering the recipient's loan.
Special Scholarships may be considered when funds designated for the other scholarships are not fully utilized or when unanticipated revenues are available.
Recipients of Special Scholarships may not be required to submit an application.
e) Scholarship Application
Application Deadlines:
• The Secretary of the Selection Committee must receive applications for the Entrance, Undergraduate, and Graduate Scholarships no later than October 1 st of each year. • Students enrolled in a program that does not comply with the normal September to April academic year must apply within forty-five (45) days of commencement of classes for the academic period for which the application is applicable. • The Secretary of the Selection Committee must receive applications for the Loan remission Scholarship within six months of the successful completion of full-time studies.
Application forms are available at public secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in Saskatchewan, the Gabriel Dumont Institute, and other Aboriginal educational institutions in Saskatchewan of any office of the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan.
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