Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy: National Guidelines 2025 to 2026

Strategy introduction

These guidelines include specific criteria that support the Contributions to support the Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy Terms and Conditions.

These guidelines set out the delivery requirements for funding recipients that enter into a funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for the delivery of the Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy.

These guidelines are effective as of April 1, 2025 and replace the Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy: National Guidelines 2024 to 2025.

These guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions and the funding agreement signed by the initial funding recipient.

Local operating guidelines

Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy initial recipients may issue local guidelines, provided they are consistent with the Terms and Conditions of the strategy and the requirements set out in these guidelines.

Requirements for local guidelines are listed below. All initial recipients commit, as part of the funding agreement, to providing prospective applicants with ready access to the local guidelines.

Local guidelines refers to guidelines developed by each initial recipient and that are specific to their particular circumstance and jurisdiction.

Initial recipients who choose not to issue local guidelines must nonetheless deliver a clear application process for the students applying, which includes:

• determining their eligibility
• prioritizing the allocation of strategy resources

Initial recipients must make available up-to-date local guidelines and information about the processes for students applying for financial support and publish these online throughout the year.

Local guidelines and processes must, at minimum, include, but are not limited to:

• the application process and requirements including all documentation required from applicant
• the process, including the assessment criteria, to determine eligibility and to prioritize the allocation of resources
• the funding process
• the rules and criteria for deferring applications in situations where there are more eligible applicants than funds available
• a formal appeals mechanism for students where the administrative decisions and appeal rulings are made at the local level, as students cannot appeal to ISC
• the requirements for remaining eligible for financial support
• the maximum amount payable per student
• how to access the Terms and Conditions of the Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy and these guidelines on ISC's website

Eligible expenditures

The three main components eligible for funding are:

• student financial support: funding to students to support their pursuit of post-secondary education
• programs and services: funding based on local needs with the aim of promoting:
  • students' pursuit of post-secondary education
  • the attainment of a credential
  • activities that support Métis student services on a post-secondary campus
• governance capacity: funding for the human, information and physical infrastructure necessary to meet local and regional needs. This includes data collection, analysis and partnership development

Eligible expenditures include:

• actual administration costs proportional to resources used and not to exceed 15% of total expenditures that are required to directly administer the strategy. These may include but are not limited to:
  • salaries and benefits of personnel
  • materials and resources for the management of funds
  • the development of database capacity and the collection, maintenance, safeguarding and reporting of data and information in accordance with program and financial reporting mechanisms
  • rent and utilities
  • communications costs, including printing and web presence
  • travel and accommodation
• Student financial support. These may include but are not limited to:
  • transcript and application fees
  • tuition and other students fees
  • initial professional certification and examination fees
  • books and supplies
  • supplemental tutorial, guidance and counseling services
  • living expenses, including for dependents, if applicable
  • transportation supports, when needed
  • expenses associated with travel home, including for dependents, as applicable
  • child care, as needed
• Programs and services may include, but are not limited to:
  • academic readiness and support
  • wraparound services to students and their families (such as mentorship/student-peer mentorship, career counselling, clinical and mental health services; Elder guidance, and Knowledge-keeper and cultural support)
  • outreach and navigation services
  • cultural education and life-skills development, including fostering awareness and cultural belonging as a citizen of the historic Métis Nation
  • information technology, and remote locations access, to allow students the opportunity to complete distance education or online courses from their home communities
  • recipients can offer the activities themselves, or use a subcontractor
• Governance capacity. Eligible expenses for governance capacity include the human, information and physical infrastructure necessary to meet local and regional needs, including, but not limited to:
  • management of processes and systems to support program delivery
  • data collection and management
  • needs assessment and analysis
  • engagement and partnerships
  • knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices
  • bilateral or tripartite discussions
  • development of culturally relevant content (curricula, as required)
  • post-secondary education trends and research analysis

Reporting requirements and monitoring and oversight activities

Personal information

ISC's collection and use of personal information and other records for the purposes of targeted program reviews, for example, desk and on-site reviews is limited to what is necessary to ensure the strategy delivery requirements are met.

ISC is responsible for all information and records in its possession. The confidentiality of the information is managed by ISC in accordance with the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21 and other related policies on privacy.

Recipients are responsible for the protection of personal information as per applicable provincial privacy statutes and regulations and the recipient's policies up to the point that the personal information is transferred to ISC.

Accountability

ISC is committed to providing assistance to recipients in order to help them effectively carry out obligations under these guidelines and their funding agreements.

Regional offices and other ISC contacts are available to answer questions and provide guidance related to ISC programs and strategies and funding.

Initial recipients must:

• deliver the strategy in accordance with the provisions of their funding agreement and the delivery requirements outlined in these guidelines
• ensure that the necessary management controls are in place to manage funding and monitor activities
• exercise due diligence when approving expenditures
• ensure that such expenditures are in accordance with the eligible expenditures set out in these guidelines
• report annually on activities and expenditures via DCI and audited financial report that explicitly outlines post-secondary education expenditures

ISC is accountable to provide funding to Métis Nations in a timely manner through contributions payments under the Métis Nations Post-Secondary Education Strategy.

ISC is responsible for engaging with and, where applicable, incorporating feedback from Métis Nations when updating guidelines and Terms and Conditions of the strategy.

Contact information

To find out more about the program, visit:

• Métis Nation Post-secondary Education Strategy

You can also write to:

Education Branch
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington - Suite 1455, Mailstop 25E-19
Gatineau QC, K1A 0H4
Email: pse-eps@sac-isc.gc.ca