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Côté Gold First Nation Education Bursary

For members of Mattagami First Nation or Flying Post First Nation at any post-secondary level. First preference goes to mining programs.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified September 1, 2026

Nov 1, 2026

Next deadline

What you will need

Indspire Building Brighter Futures consolidated online application via indspire.ca
Proof of First Nation membership (Status Card or letter from Mattagami / Flying Post First Nation administration)
Acceptance / enrolment letter from a recognized post-secondary institution
Academic transcripts
Personal statement aligning your post-secondary plan with the bursary's eligibility (especially mining-related field preference)
Two letters of recommendation (academic + community/Elder recommended)

About this award

The Côté Gold First Nation Education Bursary is one of two awards funded by IAMGOLD's Côté Gold gold mining project in northern Ontario, in partnership with the Mattagami First Nation and Flying Post First Nation. Côté Gold is located in Treaty 9 territory, on the traditional lands of these two First Nations, and the bursary directly supports their members' post-secondary education. The award is open to members of either Mattagami First Nation or Flying Post First Nation pursuing studies at any post-secondary level — undergraduate, graduate, college, or trades. Selection prioritises members pursuing mining-related programs (including mining support functions like geology, metallurgy, environmental engineering, indigenous community relations, mineral processing, etc.), with a second preference for any field of study. Application is through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships portal — one consolidated application is evaluated for all 360+ Indspire funding pools. The companion award funded by the same Côté Gold partnership is the Côté Gold Métis Education Bursary, for MNO Citizens from Region 3; see that entry on FundMyCourse for details.

Who qualifies

You qualify for the Côté Gold First Nation Education Bursary if you (1) are a member of Mattagami First Nation OR Flying Post First Nation; (2) are accepted to or enrolled in a post-secondary program (any level — undergraduate, graduate, college, trades). First preference goes to members in mining or mining-support fields; second preference to any field of study.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Open to certificate, graduate, trades or undergraduate students
Resident of Ontario
Studying mining

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Order your transcript1–2 weeks
Your school's registrar can take a week or two.
Ask for reference letters2 weeks
Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.
Write your essay
Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

More details

Apply through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures portal — your single consolidated application is evaluated for all Indspire funding pools, so you don't need to apply separately to this bursary on top of any other Indspire program.

Three deadlines per year (August 1, November 1, February 1) gives flexibility for fall, winter, or spring intake.

If your studies are mining-related, document this clearly in your application — first preference.

Get a letter of support from your First Nation's education coordinator or band office; this strengthens the application beyond the membership requirement.

If you're an MNO Citizen rather than a Mattagami/Flying Post member, look at the Côté Gold Métis Education Bursary instead.

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