McMaster University is referencing their responsibilities under the Jay Treaty of 1794 by extending domestic (Ontario) tuition fees to Indigenous students whose ancestral homelands are within the United States or another Canadian province.

Who is eligible?

Students who meet the following definition of Indigenous and whose Indigenous homeland is in the United Status, or another Canadian province are invited to complete this application for a fee adjustment.

There are many definitions of Indigenous: For the purposes of ancestry verification on Turtle Island we define Indigenous as: “First Nation, Metis and Inuit”. We extend this to the United States (i.e., verification of identities including American Indians/Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians).  

Please voluntarily self-identify as:  

• First Nations (Status/Non-Status)  
• Métis  
• Inuit 
• American Indians/Native Americans 
• Alaska Natives 
• Native Hawaiians

How to apply

The Indigenous Student Services office will submit a Service Request in Mosaic to collect your supporting document and complete the identity verification process. In order to complete the Service Request, please fill out the Indigenous Student Financial Aid Intake Form here.

Please contact the Indigenous Financial Aid Specialist for further assistance on how to apply for a fee adjustment at indigfas@mcmaster.ca.

What identification is required?

Please attach one of the following documents to your Service Request in Mosaic. The document will be used to assess eligibility for the tuition fee adjustment.    

US (United States)

• Documentation of citizenship or enrollment with a US Tribe; Certificate Degree of Indian Blood; Tribal Enrollment or ID card  

First Nations 

• Certificate of Indian Status card (or temporary confirmation of registration document)  
• Official First Nations issued identification document  
• Documentation that shows a parent or great-grandparent’s name has been entered in the Indian Registrar according to the Indian Act, or on the band list of individual band (grandparent)  
• Written statement from applicant outlining their First Nations identity in the absence of government/band-issued document. The statement should describe their current membership, citizenship, or family relation to a current First Nation community. This should include the specific name of the community, how they are related and/or enrolled as community members.  

Métis

• Citizenship card issued from a Métis registry recognized by the Métis National Council (Métis Nation of Ontario, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Métis Nation of Alberta, and the Métis Nation British Columbia)  
• Membership card from one the Metis Settlements of Alberta  
• Citizenship card issued from the Manitoba Métis Federation  
• Proof that a grandparent’s name has been entered in a recognized Métis registry  
• Written statement from applicant outlining their Métis identity in the absence of government/registry-issued document. The statement should describe their current membership, citizenship, or family relation to a current Metis community. This should include the specific name of the community, how they are related and/or enrolled as community members.  

Inuit

• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. card (NTI card/land claim beneficiary card)  
• Documentation from one of four Inuit regions in Canada (Inuvialuit, Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut), or Inuit communities in Alaska  
• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in a recognized Inuit roll  
• Written statement from applicant outlining their Inuit identity in the absence of government/beneficiary document. The statement should describe their current membership, citizenship, or family relation to a current Inuit community. This should include the specific name of the community, how they are related and/or enrolled as community members.  

Deadlines

Please submit your completed Service Request by the deadline below to be considered for a fee adjustment starting that term.  Service Requests submitted after the deadline date will be considered for the following term or session. 

Out of Province students are identified by:

• Education Source: Students who are Canadian citizens and Permanent Resident and have completed high school outside of Ontario.
• Medicine (MD & PA) students are identified by application address information from another Canadian province/territory and citizenship status of Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

You are considered an Ontario resident if you:

• Have always resided in Ontario or have lived in Ontario for 12 consecutive months, not including time as a full-time post-secondary student.
• Are married and Ontario is the most recent province in which your spouse resided for 12 consecutive months, not including time as a full-time post-secondary student.
• Are a single dependent and Ontario is the most recent province in which your parent(s) or stepparent(s), or official sponsor(s) resided for at least 12 consecutive months, not including time as a full-time post-secondary student. Where parents/stepparents are separated or divorced, this requirement refers to the residency of the parent with whom you normally reside, or who financially supports you.
• Receive OSAP.

Need to appeal your Out of Province status?

Please connect with an SSP on our live chat to fill out the appeal form and submit a Service Request with your documentation.