Education & Training

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)’s Statement of Prime Purpose states that as one of its key objectives the MNO is to encourage academic and skills development and enable citizens of the Métis Nation to attain their educational aspirations. In pursuit of this goal, the MNO began offering training initiatives in 1996 with funding from the Métis Human Resource Development Agreement. Since that time the MNO has built an comprehensive infrastructure to deliver employment and training opportunities to qualified Métis candidates.

That success, widely recognized at both the provincial and federal levels, attracted additional program funding. As a result, the MNO became more and more engaged in education oriented initiatives and its responsibilities in the program delivery area continued to grow. As a result, the Education & Training Branch now provides a full range of employment training programs and supports for the educational success of all Métis across Ontario beginning in early childhood, continuing through Kindergarten to Grade 12 and to post-secondary education and into adulthood.

With one in every four Métis in Ontario under the age of 14, the MNO is poised to play an even more significant role in the development and delivery of education and training programs in the years to come. The MNO and its many partners, including the province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, recognize the potential for this growing population of young Métis to play a key role in creating a healthier and more prosperous Ontario. This potential can only be realized if young Métis people have access to the best skills training and education available which is what the MNO strives to provide.

The MNO has always made education a high priority. The MNO offers a range of supports and services for the educational success of all Métis across Ontario beginning in early childhood, continuing through elementary school, middle school, and high school through to post-secondary education and into adulthood. This is achieved in part through the MNO’s advocacy efforts where we we advocate for an inclusive education system by ensuring Métis voices are included in all education discussions and in the development of education policies and programs in Ontario. Through productive engagement with the Ontario Ministries of Education and Training, Colleges and Universities and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor, targeted investments have been made in educational outreach, resource development, and education action plan development and implementation.

The MNO continues to foster partnerships between communities and school boards, colleges and universities, and other key stakeholders to create a culture of lifelong learning in communities to support Métis student education. Recognizing the absence of dedicated post-secondary financial assistance for Métis post-secondary students, the MNO initiated its Scholarship and Bursary Program in 1998. Investments were made at 32 colleges and universities. The MNO continues to explore opportunities to expand and grow its programs with government and industry partners. Learn more about our education, training, and labour market programs today!

Check out the MNO video program showcase to learn more about our programs and how they work!