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Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant

Purpose

The Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant can assist you with the cost of travelling between your remote First Nations community to the postsecondary school you are attending.

If your spouse and/or dependent children will be living with you while you are in postsecondary studies, their travel costs can also be considered through this grant.

How much can I get

Your travel costs between your remote First Nations community and your postsecondary school will be considered as follows:

If you are single or if your spouse and/or dependent children are not relocating to live with you during your study period:

  • Air travel: $1,300 per trip for a maximum of four one-way trips (up to $5,200 total) per academic year.
  • Hotel accommodations for cost-effective flights with itineraries including overnight layovers: Up to $200 per trip for a maximum of one night’s stay on top of air travel maximum.
  • Other travel methods (e.g., train, bus, boat, taxi, ride-hailing service), excluding private vehicles: $75 each trip for a maximum of four one-way trips (up to $300 total) per academic year.
  • Travel by private vehicle: $0.41 per kilometer travelled.

If your spouse and/or dependent children are also relocating to live with you during your study period:

  • Air travel: $1,300 per trip for a maximum of two one-way trips per person (up to $2,600 total per person) per academic year.
  • Hotel accommodations for cost-effective flights with itineraries including overnight layovers: Up to $200 per trip for a maximum one night’s stay on top of air travel maximum.
  • Other travel methods (e.g., train, bus, boat, taxi, ride-hailing service), excluding private vehicles: $75 each trip for a maximum of two one-way trips per person (up to $150 total per person) per academic year.
  • Transportation by private vehicle: $0.41 per kilometer travelled.

Who is eligible

To be eligible for this grant, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • You have self-identified as being an Indigenous person on your OSAP profile.
  • You live in a remote First Nations community in Canada when you are not in full-time postsecondary studies.
  • You are enrolled in either a public or private postsecondary school located in Ontario or a public postsecondary school located within Canada that is approved for OSAP purposes.
  • You have applied for OSAP for Full-Time Students, have met all of the eligibility requirements and have a calculated provincial financial need of at least $1.

      What qualifies as a remote First Nations community?

      For the purposes of this grant, communities defined as being Zone 3 or Zone 4 by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) may be considered as a remote First Nations community.

      • Zone 3 communities are located over 350 km from the nearest service centre.
      • Zone 4 communities don’t have year-round road access to a service centre.

      For further information about First Nations geographic zones, go to the CIRNAC website.

      Other remote and/or fly-in First Nations communities not designated as either Zone 3 or Zone 4 may also qualify. Contact your financial aid office to confirm whether your community’s location meets the eligibility criteria for this grant.

How to apply

The application outlines what supporting documents are required. It also outlines who to contact if you need help in completing your application.

If you’re going to school in 2023-24:

Use the 2023-24 Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant application.

If you’re going to school in 2022-23:

Use the 2022-23 Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant application.

Deadlines

Application deadline

Your application must be received by your financial aid office or the ministry no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.

Proof of travel documents

Your proof of travel must be received by your financial aid office or the ministry no later than 60 days after the end of your study period.

If documentation is not provided and/or the actual travel costs for a trip are less than the approved grant amount, you will have to return all or a portion of the funds issued. Contact your financial aid office for details.

Checking your application status

Contact your financial aid office with any questions that you have on the status of your application.

What qualifies as a remote First Nations Community?

For the purposes of this grant, communities defined as being Zone 4 or Zone 3 by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) may be considered as a remote First Nations community. CIRNAC defines Service Centre as “the nearest community to which a First Nation can refer to gain access to government services, banks and suppliers”.

      • Zone 4 communities don’t have year-round road access to a service centre.
      • Zone 3 communities are located over 350 km from the nearest service centre.

The full lise of eligible zone 4 and zone 3 communities in Ontario are listed below. Note that communities may be referred to by other names, some of which have been added below:

      Zone 4 Communities (Name, Postal Code, City)

    • Albany (P0L) (may also be referred to as Fort Albany), City of Timmins

    • Attawapiskat (P0L) (may also be referred to as Kattawapiskak), City of Timmins

    • Bearskin Lake (P0V), City of Thompson

    • Cat Lake (P0V), City of Thompson

    • Deer Lake (P0V), City of Thompson

    • Eabametoong First Nation (P0T) (may also be referred to as Fort Hope), City of Thompson

    • Fort Severn (P0V) (may also be referred to as Wasaho Cree Nation), City of Thompson

    • Kashechewan First Nation (P0L)

    • Kasabonika Lake (P0V) (may also be referred to as Kasabonika First Nation), City of Thompson

    • Kee-Way-Win (P0V), City of Thompson 

    • Kingfisher (P0V) (may also be referred to as Kingfisher Lake First Nation), City of Thompson  

    • Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (P0V) (may also be referred to as Big Trout Lake First Nation, City of Thompson   

    • Lac Seul (P0V) (may also be referred to as Obishikokaang), City of Thunder Bay

    • Marten Falls (P0T) (may also be referred to as Ogoki Post)

    • McDowell Lake (P0V) (may also be referred to as Mishi Sakahikaniing or Red Lake), City of Thompson

    • Moose Cree First Nation (P0L) (may also be referred to as Factory Island or Moose Factory), City of Timmins 

    • Muskrat Dam First Nation (P0V) (may also be referred to as Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation)

    • Neskantaga First Nation (P0T) (may also be referred to as Lansdowne House Indian Band), City of Thompson     

    • Nibinamik First Nation (P0T) (may also be referred to as Summer Beaver Settlement), City of Thompson      

    • North Caribou Lake (P0V) (may also be referred to as Weagamow First Nation or Round Lake First Nation), City of Thompson      

    • North Spirit Lake (P0V), City of Thompson        

    • Northwest Angle No. 33 (P9N) (may also be referred to as Angle Inlet)

    • Pikangikum (P0V), City of Thompson        

    • Poplar Hill (P0V), City of Thompson         

    • Sachigo Lake (P0V), City of Thompson         

    • Sandy Lake (P0V), City of Thompson          

    • Shoal Lake No. 40

    • Slate Falls Nation (P0V), City of Thunder Bay  

    • Temagami First Nations P0H (may also be referred to as Bear Island)

    • Wapekeka (P0V) (may also be referred to as Angling Lake First Nation), City of Thompson           

    • Wawakapewin (P8T), City of Thompson           

    • Webequie (P0T) (may also be referred to as Webiqui), City of Thompson           

    • Weenusk (P0L) (may also be referred to as Winisk or Peawanuk), City of Timmins

    • Wunnumin (P0V) (may also be referred to as Wunnumin Lake First Nation), City of Thompson

      Zone 3 Communities (Name, Postal Code, City)

    • Taykwa Tagamou Nation (P0L) (may also be referred to as New Post First Nation), City of Timmins