Indigenous Admission Stream

Applicants applying through the Indigenous Admission Stream must meet the admission and application requirements outlined on the Application Information & Admission Requirements page.

Applicants who apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream and provide the required documentation may receive a slightly higher context score. As a key to increasing the Indigenous physician workforce, NOSM University designates a minimum of six (6) seats each year to Indigenous students who have significant living experience and/or a cultural connection to Northern Ontario. This is an indication of our commitment to recruiting Indigenous students; however, this is a minimum, not the total number of Indigenous students that we will admit.

Persons who identify as Indigenous may choose one of the following options:

1. Self-identify as Indigenous and apply to the General Admission Stream only or
2. Apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream.

If you apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream and provide all the required documentation, your application will be reviewed by NOSM University’s Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee.

If you apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream and provide all the required documentation, you may receive a slightly higher context score.

If you do not meet the requirements or do not submit all required documentation to support your application to the Indigenous Admission Stream, you will be considered through the General Admission Stream.

Applicants who want to self-identify but do not apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream are not required to submit any documentation and will not be considered for admission through the Indigenous Admission Stream.

Indigenous Admission Stream Requirements

Persons of Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) who apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream must submit the following documentation:

Personal Letter

Write a personal letter that tells the Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee about your background, your involvement with and contribution to your Indigenous community. The letter should include:

Why you would like to be considered as an applicant in the Indigenous Admission Stream
Details about your cultural and personal background. Provide specific information about your background and how you are involved with your Indigenous community. Indigenous communities could be First Nation, Métis, or Inuit, Treaty community or organizational affiliation, such as a Student Centre, Friendship Centre, or a Volunteer Organization that support Indigenous people and communities.
Examples of how you are culturally connected to your Indigenous community (activities, ceremonies, celebrations, traditions, language, etc.)

The letter must not be longer than one thousand (1,000) words.

Recommendation Letter

Provide a recommendation letter that attests to your connection to the Indigenous community. This letter can be provided by a diverse Indigenous community/organization. For instance, the letter could come from a First Nation Band Council, Métis Community Council, recognized Indigenous leader, community Elder, Indigenous academic scholar, school counsellor, or Indigenous organization.

The author of this letter should possess knowledge of your connection and contribution to the Indigenous community. Choose someone who knows you well and can speak to your community connection. If the Band/Community leadership does not know you well, a Spiritual Leader/Elder/Senator might be more appropriate. The letter should not be from a family member.

The author of the letter must include their:

full name
title
address
telephone number and
email address.

In their letter, they must answer the following questions:

What is your relationship to the applicant?
In what capacity do you know the applicant?
How many years have you known the applicant?
Describe the activity or activities that support the applicant’s connection and involvement with the Indigenous community. The following details would support your letter: Nature of the activity, the frequency or the duration of said activity/activities.

NOTE: We will accept only one (1) letter of recommendation. All subsequent letters will not be taken into consideration.

Declaration of Ancestry Documentation

Provide documentation regarding First Nation (status and non-status), Inuit, Métis, Band Council, Tribal Council, Treaty, community, nation or organizational affiliation.

Photocopies should be clear, showing all information, and include the front and back of documents.

Acceptable documentation may include:

A copy of a Status or Treaty card
A copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities
A copy of a membership card in a Métis registry recognized by the Métis National Council (the Métis Nation of Ontario, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation British Columbia)
Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, on the band list of an individual band or the Inuit roll
Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code
Other acceptable documentation

Applicants wishing to apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream must submit these three (3) required documents to OMSAS via Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) by the application deadline.

Cass Family Indigenous Scholarship

The Cass Family Scholarship will be awarded to the two (2) highest ranked self-identified Indigenous applicant(s) who apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream. Ranking is determined by the NOSM University Admission Committee and is recommended by the Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee for those applicants seen as having a strong cultural connection.