One application for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students reaches all of Indspire's sponsor funding pools.
Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026
Building Brighter Futures (BBF) is Indspire's flagship financial-aid program for Indigenous post-secondary students in Canada. Since 1996, Indspire has distributed over $280 million in financial support through more than 84,000 bursaries, scholarships, and awards to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students. Funding is contributed by corporate, foundation, and individual sponsors — including AbbVie, RBC, Air Canada, BMO, CIBC, AltaGas, and many others — but you submit ONE application through Indspire's central portal. Eligibility for each sponsor's specific funding pool is determined automatically based on your program of study, region, and demographic criteria. Award amounts vary based on assessed financial need, applicant pool size, fields of study, and available funds in each cycle.
First Nations, Inuit or Métis student who is a Canadian citizen and can prove registration: a Status Card, a membership or citizenship card from a First Nation that keeps its own membership list, enrolment in one of the four Inuit land claims, or a card from one of the seven Métis registries Indspire accepts. Self-identification alone is not enough. Pursuing post-secondary studies at a Canadian college, university, trades program, apprenticeship, or technology program. Full or part-time enrolment both accepted. The September 2026 to August 2027 academic year is the current cycle covered by these deadlines.
This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.
Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.
Applications close on November 1, 2026. Submit a day or two early: application sites get busy at the end.
Check the award's official page for the citizenship rules.
FundMyCourse.ca · checked Aug 31, 2026
Varies. Check the official page
fundmycourse.ca/scholarships/indspire-building-brighter-futures-bursaries-scholarships