The University of Winnipeg is proud to recognize the achievements of the 114 Métis students who were awarded Louis Riel Bursaries during the 2024-25 academic year.
The bursaries, which are dispersed by the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and its education arm, the Louis Riel Institute, are valued between $1,300 and $2,000. Funding for these bursaries is provided by Employment and Social Development Canada. Since 1999, the MMF, in partnership with The University of Winnipeg, has provided millions of dollars in bursaries to Métis students attending UWinnipeg.
Julia Stanko
Julia is a second-year student in the integrated education program at UWinnipeg. She chose to major in English and minor in mathematics, all while completing her BA in Education. “I’d love to be a math teacher, but I didn’t think I could do a math major,” said Julia. “I know it may seem odd, but I like that doing math and English allows me to use both sides of my brain.”
Julia felt a pull to the teaching profession when she started helping her friends in high school with math. She also knew she liked working with kids when she worked as an assistant instructor at her dance studio in Selkirk, Manitoba.
“After high school I knew I wanted to do something like teaching. My favourite teacher was my high school arts teacher. Not only did he care about his students doing well, but in general he cared about everyone in the class as people. It was really special because not all teachers are like that. I want to be that type of teacher.”
As a naturally shy person, Julia says her education at UWinnipeg has been beneficial for her personal growth. “I thought university would feel so much different from high school. I think because we have smaller class sizes, the teachers know your name. It provides a better learning experience, and you can tell they care about you. I’ve made so many friends too; everyone is just so nice.”
It seemed too good to be true.
Julia Stanko
This is the first year Julia applied for the Louis Riel Bursary. “It’s special to be part of the Metis community. This bursary takes a huge weight off my shoulders. I don’t have to worry about working my butt off at a job to pay for school. I am an over-studier, so I’m grateful I can focus on my courses.”
Carly Lawton
Growing up, Carly Lawton didn’t know what it meant to be Métis or how to embrace her heritage. She was about 16 years old when she received her Métis card and began her journey with identifying as Métis. “When I got my card, I struggled with the fact that you should just get a Métis card for the finances. It should be deeper than that,” said Carly. “I knew if I was going to identify as Métis, I really wanted to know what that meant. I felt a sense of responsibility to understand my identity as a Métis person.”
In Grade 12, Carly met an instrumental teacher who was of Métis heritage. “I think my teacher was a catalyst for me in figuring out what being Métis was. She was an example of a proud Métis person, and she taught me a lot about how she came to that place.”
Having been introduced to the teacher and an intro level course on First Nations, Métis and Inuit in high school, a spark ignited, guiding Carly to study history and Indigenous Studies at UWinnipeg. “It left me with wanting to know more, especially being a Métis person, whose parents and grandparents were part of the generation that didn’t really talk about identity and culture.”
Indigenous Studies really allowed me to come into my own identity.
Carly Lawton
“I have a passion for Indigenous Studies. It really allowed me to come into my own identity and learn a lot of the things I didn’t have the privilege learning in more of my youth.”
Carly has completed her Bachelor of History with a minor in Indigenous Studies and is now finishing up her Bachelor of Education. She plans to teach high school students and looks forward to being a positive influence in the classroom. “I think you can have a lot of great critical conversations with students in the social studies classes when they are in their teenage years.”
Carly is a multi-year recipient of the Louis Riel Bursary. “To receive funding from my Nation, I feel responsibility to be an outwardly proud and educated Métis person.” She is also grateful for the financial relief the bursary provides, allowing her to focus her energy on her studies and career.
Caelin Brunette
Caelin Brunette is an honours student in the Rhetoric, Writing and Communications program at UWinnipeg. After originally enrolling in the joint communications program with RRC Polytech, Caelin made a pivot to focus her studies solely at UWinnipeg.
“I have always had an interest in media, and the way media communicates with the public,” said Caelin. “When I started studying at UWinnipeg, I decided I liked rhetoric a lot more. I wanted to focus on persuasive language and words and the art that goes into that.”
I feel very confident in speaking to strangers and knowing that I am coming across and representing myself in the way that I am intending to.
Caelin Brunette
Caelin feels her studies have built her confidence and prepared her to launch a career in public relations or communications. “I think it gives me more context to the reasons people say things and the way communities represent themselves. I feel more comfortable talking to people. And I feel very confident in speaking to strangers and knowing that I am coming across and representing myself in the way that I am intending to.”
Caelin started post-secondary right out of high school. Six years later, she says it’s been a long haul but is excited to start the next chapter. She will graduate in the spring of 2026.
“I’ve been going a lot slower. I moved out, so I pay rent and pay for tuition out of pocket. I’ve had to go at a slower pace, in order to have enough shifts to pay for bills. This bursary is really helpful in terms of lowering my stress. I get to focus on school, and I feel really fortunate for that.”
Caelin is excited to wrap up her studies and transition into the work force. “I am really excited to get my career started. I’ve been building up the expectation for a long time, to jump in and figure out what my life is going to look like. It’s really scary and exciting.”
Damian Nordstrom
Damian Nordstrom is a first-year student, studying philosophy at UWinnipeg. “I worked a lot of different jobs,” said Damian. “Disappointing jobs.”
Damian went back to school with the plan to transition out of the jobs that do not fulfill him. “It’s still pretty early in my education, but I have an interest in the sciences as well and perhaps teaching philosophy.”
While Damian spent the past seven years working, he continued to explore his personal interests in philosophy through reading and writing. “I’ve done a fair amount of creative writing. I thought I would go to school and try to get better at writing along the way. I am writing a lot of philosophical work, and I am fascinated with pairing it with creative writing. I want to explore how ideas can go from philosophy to literature.” Damian plans to declare a second major in English.
Damian said receiving the Louis Riel Bursary meant a lot. “I was very surprised. It has definitely changed how I see myself, in terms of being taken care of, in a sense. Logistically, if I didn’t have the bursary, I’d have to work closer to full time. Now, I can study more and keep my work, school, and personal life cleanly organized.”
Damian said going to university has added more complexity to his life, but in a good way. “It’s been exciting to meet people who are actually interested in what I’m interested in.” When he can, he attends regular meetings with the Philosophy Students’ Association.
Damian said if he had attended university right out of high school, he probably would have dropped out. “I spent a few years mulling over what I was actually interested in. I am very invested in the field. And I also know what not going to school can look like. It puts things into perspective to do the work and not slack off.”
Alyssa-Lynn Procter
Alyssa-Lynn is a second-year university student in the Physical and Health Education Program. After finishing her degree in kinesiology, she hopes to transition to the after-degree education program and become an early-years teacher.
When Alyssa-Lynn is not studying, she works at a day care with kids ranging from 10 months to 12 years. “I work really well with that age group. It’s really hands-on. How kids learn and develop is really interesting to me. I like the different personalities and watching the kids growing into themselves and not putting limits on them.”
With the experience of working in a day care, along with her previous involvement in coaching volleyball, Alyssa-Lynn hopes to be a teacher who provides a safe space where every child feels like they can have a positive conversation with their teacher and other classmates.
“This award is very special to me because I have won it over the past two years. The selection committee sees something in me, and I feel they believe in me. The Louis Riel Bursary is even more special because it is my Métis culture believing in me on my academic journey.”
Mason Cameron
While Mason Cameron’s career at UWinnipeg began during the pandemic, he has come to enjoy and appreciate the urban campus. He commutes one and a half hours daily to attend classes. “Now that I am on campus full time, I like being in the downtown area. It’s an area I don’t normally venture to, too often,” said Mason.
The Louis Riel Bursary has come a long way to support Mason in being able to focus on his studies. This is the first year he has applied and received the bursary. “It means a lot for me to receive the bursary. My expenses have definitely gone up with fuel and so the award has allowed me to continue to pursue my studies.”
Mason is a fourth-year student studying mathematics and physics to eventually become a teacher in the senior year (Grade 9-12) stream. He felt the teaching bug early on, when he was a student in the public school system. “As early as Grade 1, I just had a knack for helping my fellow classmates.”
While in high school, with the encouragement of a teacher, Mason worked with young athletes through the Special Olympics organization. He gained experience working with students with intellectual disabilities and mentoring them in their journey with sport. “Just seeing what the experience with Special Olympics and what is meant to my teammates and school mates was really eye opening. I saw the possibilities of what educators could provide for students and the impact they have on student learning experiences.”
With two more years of study to go, Mason is looking forward to putting his skills and education to use, including his knowledge of French language. A French immersion graduate, he hopes his experience with the language will give him an advantage to gaining permanent employment in the public school system.
Teachers really shape generations and shape people.
Mason Cameron
When asked why he wanted to be a teacher, Mason said, “this may sound like a cliché, but I think it really goes back to the fact that teachers really shape generations and shape people. Teachers provide opportunities for people to contribute to society in a positive way. They teach transferable skills and contribute to personal development. Teaching goes beyond the classroom.”
Approximately 11.8 per cent of UWinnipeg students self-identify as Indigenous, and half of those students are Métis — among the highest participation rates across Canada. The Louis Riel Bursary is available to Métis students attending participating Manitoba universities. Students are eligible to apply for this award every year they are at UWinnipeg.
