Topic: Today’s News

Seed funding from the Mastercard Foundation will help ensure that at least $45 million is invested in First Nations, Inuit and Métis teacher training

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is humbled to announce the Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative, with an aim to grow the number of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers in the education system by 10,000, and to enable systemic changes in support of more meaningful and sustainable Indigenous teacher employment opportunities. Towards this goal, the RHF will be investing in excess of $45 million into community-driven and innovative strategies towards increasing the representation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis teachers in classrooms.

“The RHF is undertaking this work because the need for more Indigenous teachers is widespread in rural and urban communities from coast to coast to coast. While being transformational for students and Indigenous communities, First Nations, Inuit and Métis teachers are also essential to Canada’s reconciliation journey. We are working to ally and support pathways for new Indigenous teachers and towards a more representative workforce in K-12 educational systems,” says Bill Mintram, Director of Indigenous and Northern Relations at the RHF.

This initiative will be supported by several partners, including the Mastercard Foundation, which has made a significant lead philanthropic investment towards this initiative’s future impact.

“Our work at the Mastercard Foundation aims to support Indigenous youth on their journeys through education and on to meaningful livelihoods in accordance with their aspirations. This initiative with the Rideau Hall Foundation helps to advance both important objectives,” said Jennifer Brennan, Head, Canada Programs for the Mastercard Foundation. “We are committed to listening and acting in the direction of Indigenous youth and their communities. Enabling a new generation of Indigenous educators will contribute to building Indigenous education systems and create a hopeful future for Indigenous learners.”

This relationship-based initiative will be built with direction from a National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education, to be co-chaired by nationally recognized leaders in Indigenous education and RHF Board Directors Roberta Jamieson, OC, and Dr. Mark Dockstator. The RHF looks forward to engaging in partnership with key delivery organizations and faculties of education across Canada towards building accessible, sustainable, and meaningful pathways for more First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples into the teaching profession in the years ahead.

Please visit our website for more information.

About the Rideau Hall Foundation

The Rideau Hall Foundation is an independent national charitable organization established to mobilize ideas, people, and resources across the country to tap into our national spirit and help ignite our shared potential.  Working towards a better Canada, the RHF celebrates what is best about Canada while working with partners to meaningfully improve lives and foster the conditions for more Canadians to succeed and thrive.

Learn more about the RHF at www.rhf-frh.ca and follow us on Twitter @RideauHallFdn.

About Mastercard Foundation 

The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is deeply disturbed by a proposed bill excluding the voice of urban Indigenous Peoples across the country. Bill C-29 looks to establish a council that would report on the state of reconciliation in Canada, but fails to include the voice of CAP and its constituents. 

“Reconciliation must include all Indigenous Peoples across Canada regardless of where they live,” says CAP National Chief Elmer St. Pierre. “The majority of Indigenous people now live off-reserve and in urban areas. Their voices play a critical role in understanding the numerous challenges Indigenous people face on a daily basis. Denying CAP and its constituents a place on this essential council would be a tremendous loss in the efforts towards reconciliation.” 

Bill C-29 looks to address the 94 calls to action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015. In its current form, the legislation would create a council comprised of several directors but only three positions for National Indigenous Organizations. In doing so, the proposed bill would discriminate against hundreds of thousands of Indigenous peoples living in urban areas. 

“The federal government must include all Indigenous peoples when creating legislation and engaging on vital issues,” says St. Pierre. “The exclusion of any Indigenous voices is a step in the wrong direction.” 

CAP demands the federal government rework bill C-29 to include the majority of Indigenous peoples now living off-reserve and in urban areas. The exclusion of any Indigenous voices is a step in the wrong direction. 

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, FortisOntario is pleased to be rolling out the $10,000 Future Generations Scholarship program available to the Wataynikaneyap Power Project’s 24 owner First Nations.* This scholarship represents respecting First Nation way of life and what we leave behind for future generations to come, or chinagatamaageyeg (Anishinabe, “to leave something behind for others”). Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Future Generations Scholarship:

•               Enrolled in a post-secondary or trade program for the 2022/2023 school year, with a minimum of two years remaining in their studies

•               Interested in pursuing a career in the Ontario energy sector

•               Respect the values of the Wataynikaneyap Power Project, the Project’s Guiding Principles, and willing to champion the Wataynikaneyap Power Project in public forums

•               A member of one of the Wataynikaneyap Power Project’s 24 First Nation owner communities*

*The following First Nations are owners in the Wataynikaneyap Power Project: Bearskin Lake, Cat Lake, Deer Lake, Kasabonika Lake, Keewaywin, Kingfisher Lake, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Lac des Mille Lacs, Lac Seul, McDowell Lake, Mishkeegogamang, Muskrat Dam, North Caribou Lake, North Spirit Lake, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Pikangikum, Poplar Hill, Sachigo Lake, Sandy Lake, Slate Falls, Wabigoon Lake, Wapekeka, Wawakapewin, and Wunnumin Lake.

The Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project is an unprecedented First Nations-led project to build approximately 1,800 kilometres of transmission lines in Northwestern Ontario to connect remote First Nations communities to the Ontario power grid. The project will reinforce the existing transmission grid to Pickle Lake and will expand grid service north of Pickle Lake and Red Lake to ultimately connect 17 First Nations. These communities are currently provided electricity through diesel generation.

Scott Hawkes, President and CEO of FortisOntario, remarks, “FortisOntario is offering this Future Generations scholarship to support First Nations’ post-secondary education goals. As a partner in the Wataynikaneyap Project, we encourage First Nations youth to pursue educational opportunities, and on this day of celebration, we embrace the diverse culture of Indigenous peoples.”

“We are delighted that FortisOntario has provided this opportunity to support a student from the owner communities. Future generations are the reason we are building this transmission line. This is their project. They will receive maximum benefits in the Project, and this will provide for generations to come,” Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power, also remarks. “Our youth are strong and resilient, and I look forward to seeing their applications!” 

Please see www.wataypower.ca/project/scholarships for more information! I am sending this in case it is of interest to your audience. If you no longer wish to receive news on the Wataynikaneyap Power Project, please reply “unsubscribe”. 

About FortisOntario Inc.

FortisOntario is an electric utility, which owns and operates Canadian Niagara Power Inc., Cornwall Street Railway Light & Power Company Ltd., and Algoma Power Inc., serving a combined approximate 66,000 customers. FortisOntario also owns regulated transmission assets with approximately 3,460 kilometres of distribution and transmission lines, and meets a peak demand of approximately 257 MW. FortisOntario also act as project manager for the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project. For further information visit www.fortisontario.com. FortisOntario is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.

Media Contact

Kristine Carmichael, Director of Corporate and Customer Services

FortisOntario Inc.

905-994-3637

Kristine.Carmichael@fortisontario.com

About Wataynikaneyap Power

Wataynikaneyap Power is a licensed transmission company majority-owned by a partnership of 24 First Nations in partnership with Fortis Inc. and other private investors, regulated by the Ontario Energy Board. FortisOntario Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., acts as the project manager through its wholly owned subsidiary, Wataynikaneyap Power PM Inc. The 24 First Nations also established Opiikapawiin Services to lead the community engagement and participation for Wataynikaneyap Power LP. To connect remote First Nations communities to the electrical grid, Wataynikaneyap Power will develop, manage construction, and operate approximately 1,800 kilometres of transmission lines in northwestern Ontario. For further information, please visit: www.wataypower.ca or www.oslp.ca.

The Nunatsiavut branch of the Qanuippitaa? National Inuit Health Survey is launching on June 23 at 11:00 a.m. The event will take place at the Illusuak Cultural Centre in Nain and will be livestreamed on the Nunatsiavut  Government Facebook and Instagram pages. 

This will be official launch of the Nunatsiavut branch of the Qanuippitaa? Inuit Health Survey; this follows the  national launch for the program, which took place in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, in 2019. 

Defendants continue carrying hundreds of charges for peacefully resisting
Enbridge’s reckless damage to Minnesota’s environment

Today dozens of Indigenous leaders, backed by celebrities including Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and the Indigo Girls, as well as over 100 organization and business leaders from Minnesota and beyond, released a letter [being published on https://www.dropline3charges.com] asking the Walz-Flanagan Administration, county prosecutors, and Minnesota leadership to:
Do everything in your power to support dropping the charges against water protectors. For any charges not dropped, we specifically call on the Walz-Flanagan Administration, under Minn. Stat. § 8.01, to appoint Attorney General Ellison as special prosecutor for the most egregious cases, including those in which the State is extending inconsistent plea offers to water protectors. 
Over 750 people were arrested – some of them multiple times – and hit with thousands of criminal charges during the peaceful resistance to the Line 3 tar sands pipeline in 2021. Some were also hit with rubber bullets, pepper balls, and hands-on “pain compliance” – human rights abuses that were addressed by two UN agencies, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.
300 Cases Remain Open Including Highly Questionable Felony Charges
About 300 of the cases against Indigenous water protectors and other Line 3 defendants remain open, including dozens of highly questionable felonies. Excessive felony charges have included “attempted assisted suicide” for defendants who entered empty pipes during protests (and left very much alive), and “theft” of both the pipeline and “time.” Although a number of these were dropped or dismissed in various jurisdictions, similar charges remain in other counties. One fifth-generation Aitkin County resident, Shanai Matteson, faces a jury trial in mid-July for allegedly “conspiring, aiding and abetting criminal trespass on critical public infrastructure pipeline” at an event she did not attend. 
The charges stem from an unprecedented arrangement in which the Canadian multinational Enbridge corporation paid Minnesota state and local law enforcement more than $8.6 million to arrest, subdue and surveille community members resisting the Line 3 tar sands pipeline, which was hurriedly built in 2021 even as legal challenges by tribal governments and community groups were pending. The single largest recipient of these reimbursements was Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 people have signed a petition to the Walz-Flanagan Administration with the same request. Drop the Charges and Flood the Courts rallies have been held at multiple courthouses, including in Duluth, Hubbard, Aitkin, Itasca, Carlton and Wadena counties. While exiting jail and being greeted by supporters in Pennington County, some people were re-arrested without explanation.
Allies of the defendants argue those accused of interfering with construction were supporting treaty rights, protecting the global climate, and attempting to prevent Enbridge’s reckless construction practices that resulted in multiple aquifer breeches and “frac-outs” – spills of drilling fluid in delicate, pristine ecosystems, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Enbridge continues to face legal challenges for this misconduct.
Dozens of Cases Dropped in Hubbard County; Some Moved to Tribal Court
It appears the pressure to drop charges is having some effect. Defendants and their supporters say that in the last month alone, dozens of cases have either been dropped, or resolved on “stays of adjudication.” All but 64 of 441 Hubbard County cases are closed. Aitkin County has the highest remaining open case count (78). 
Still, eight months after oil started flowing through Line 3, more than 300 people are still dealing with charges. Two dozen face felonies they say were trumped up after peaceful protests; Indigenous women and supporters who claim they are entitled to exercise – and obligated to enforce – treaty rights.
Defendants claim it was often law enforcement who abused rights and behaved violently toward them – and toward the land that agencies like the DNR are charged with protecting. While the arrests of Indigenous Water Protectors infringed on treaty and first amendment rights, some of those cases are being heard in tribal court, even as legal teams argue all Indigenous cases should be transferred there. 

Quotes from Ojibwe Indigenous Leaders
Tara Houska, Giniw Collective Founder, tribal attorney, Couchiching First Nation Citizen“Though the news cycle has largely forgotten the brave folks who stood up for Anishinaabe treaty territory against Line 3 tar sands, we have not. I hope the Governor and Attorney General haven’t either, because we remember their inaction as we were surveilled, harassed, and in some cases tortured by police and Minnesota’s DNR who have billed over $8.6M in Enbridge funds at this point. There’s something they can still do, at this time — for those of us still in Minnesota’s courts, for those of us facing disparate treatment by county attorneys and sometimes outrageous charges like felony assisted suicide and felony theft: appoint AG Ellison to these cases, show us that equity matters. We stood up for your water, for your children. Stand up for us.”
Winona LaDuke, Honor the Earth Executive Director, Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg of the White Earth Reservation Enrollee“As defendants young and old, of all races and many places start heading to trial, this letter asks Minnesota to drop the charges, or at least appoint the attorney general to the most egregious. There were over 1000 Enbridge-funded arrests of people standing with us, trying to stop the tar sands giant from doing exactly what they did: cause profound and permanent damage to our beloved waters. Who is the criminal here, and who is enabling that criminal to get away, while prosecuting the real heroes?” 
Taysha Martineau, Camp Migizi Founder, Water Protector and MMIW Activist, Gitchigumi Scouts Co-Founder, Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Anishinaabe “Our communities are built upon the backs of people who fought for change. We owe it to those who have sacrificed to honor those willing to create change by means of direct action.”

 National Indigenous Peoples Day which takes place on June 21 and the wider National Indigenous History Month in June is a significant time for Indigenous people in Canada.

 This special day was established in 1996 by the Canadian government as a symbolic national holiday to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. In 2009, the House of Commons also passed a motion to designate June as National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Before this special holiday and month were recognized, Indigenous people were more or less seen as insignificant communities that occupied the fringes of society and did not require any special status or recognition. It was far worse in my parents and grandparents time when they were basically looked upon as a forgotten people and savages that did not really exist in any meaningful way.

There is a great amount of Indigenous history in this country that has to be acknowledged. If it weren’t for Indigenous leaders fighting to protect their homelands, so much of the northern wilderness would have been changed and destroyed by mining, forestry and hydro developments without any regard for the protection of the environment, ecology or even the people that lived on these lands. If First Nation leaders had not spoken up, the terrible history that my parents and others had to live through would all have been forgotten. There would have been no sense of justice or acknowledgement for the suffering my people had to endure for the simple fact that we happened to be a different culture than the one that colonized this country.

This year’s events are saddened for myself personally and the people of my home community of Attawapiskat. In rapid succession within a month, we lost three prominent Elders including my aunt Martha Paulmartin and Elders Anna and Dominic Nakogee. These are individuals that grew up in a very traditional lifestyle on the land and who were raised by parents and Elders who only knew an old and ancient way of life on the James Bay coast. These Elders fluently spoke the James Bay Cree dialect and they knew so much of the history, traditions and customs of our people. I am comforted and reassured in the fact that they all raised a prominent group of sons and daughters that all carry their language and the histories of their families.

The great legacy that these Elders leave behind is in their humble nature and their never ending sense of kindness, warmth and strength. Even after having endured periods in their youth of difficulty, discrimination and poverty, they still shared a sense of joy and happiness with others. Whenever I met these Elders, they were always happy to share a bit of history of our families, to speak our language and to make anyone and everyone laugh with the fun stories they shared. Through laughter and fun, they made every bit of knowledge a memorable experience.
 

Their passing reminds me how we should all remember their example of love and inclusion in the face of adversity. Even as the world changed in so many ways, Elders Martha, Anna and Dominic were always there to remind those around them to stay close to the land, to remember one another and to live life as harmoniously as possible. Their example remind me to always remember my past, to remember where I come from but also to stay strong and resilient to fight for future generations.

 We all share the historic benefits and burdens of this country and the recognition of Indigenous peoples history is just a step in the right direction of that shared past. I feel that this national holiday is a way for us to move out of the darkness of the past and walk together into a brighter future as a more inclusive nation of what we call Canada. Whether we know it or not, we all rely on one another to build this country while at the same time hearing the voices of our ancestors whispering in the wind to protect the land, the water and the very air we breathe.

That spirit of cooperation and the memory of my Elders and my ancestors is what this holiday and this history means to me.

www.underthenorthernsky.com

Watch now for free on NFB.ca

Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again shares the powerful story of Mary Two-Axe Earley, the Mohawk woman who fought for more than two decades to challenge sex discrimination against First Nations women embedded in Canada’s Indian Act and became a key figure in Canada’s women’s rights movement.

Mary Two-Axe Earley : Je suis redevenue indienne SKONKWEHÓN:WE Á:RE

Mary Two-Axe Earley : Je suis redevenue indienne témoigne de la percutante histoire d’une figure incontournable de la défense des droits des femmes au Canada : Mary Two-Axe Earley. Pendant plus de 20 ans, Mary a lutté contre la discrimination sexuelle à l’égard des femmes des Premières Nations, en particulier dans la Loi sur les Indiens du gouvernement canadien.

The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) at the University of Regina (U of R) and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has partnered with the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) to offer a new Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Nation-Building. 

Announced on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the certificate program will be offered across Canada through a combination of online classes and an in-person residency.

Taught by faculty members from FNUniv and JSGS, students will learn about traditional and contemporary Indigenous governance and worldviews. They will also explore the impact of colonialism on political, social, and economic institutions and developments in Indigenous communities, and the role of Indigenous self-governance and self-determination in transforming economic, social, health, and environmental outcomes.

The certificate includes three-graduate level classes and a three-day in-person community residency where students will share knowledge and best practices, build networks and learn from the Old Ones, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.

Individuals can visit www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca for more information about this new certificate, and to learn about other related programs such as the kiskēyihtamowina Board Governance Program, offered in partnership with FNUniv.

Quotes:

“JSGS and FNUniv have worked together for many years to support emerging leaders and community capacity through our programs and research partnerships. With this new graduate certificate, we are expanding opportunities for Indigenous leaders and other public servants to learn about Indigenous governance practices, values, and systems to support the rebuilding of nations.”
—Dr. Loleen Berdahl (PhD), Executive Director, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

“The Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Nation-Building aligns with the vision of the FNUniv, “to have transformative impact”. Transformative reformation is needed, not only in Indigenous communities but also across many segments of Canadian society. This change will be led by current and emerging change agents equipped with knowledge and understanding of Indigenous governance systems based on Indigenous worldviews and goals. FNUniv and our post-secondary education partners will facilitate the requisite knowledge development.” 
—Dr. Bob Kayseas (PhD), Vice-President Academic, First Nations University of Canada

“Settler colonialism strategically worked to erase Indigenous nationhood but the strength and perseverance of our ancestors is manifesting through the Indigenous resurgence of nation-building that combines the traditional value of kinship and interdependence with Indigenous contemporary realities and futurity. Education is said to be our new buffalo and it is beautiful to see the FNUniv and JSGS come together to create an opportunity for Indigenous nation-building into the future.”
—Lori Campbell, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Engagement at the University of Regina

“There has been a tremendous amount of development and innovation in governance practices by First Nations and Métis peoples in Saskatchewan. It is wonderful to see instances where partnerships and programs, like this, are making these educational opportunities accessible to current and future leaders.” 
—Dr. Angela Jaime (PhD), Interim Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, University of Saskatchewan

“Rebuilding Indigenous Nations requires effective governance systems that are built upon our natural laws, languages, cultures, and customs. Building bridges between these systems and western frameworks of Canada is achievable and starts with full recognition of Indigenous rights to self-determination. Reconciliation demands reciprocity where we work together to achieve better social, economic, and environmental outcomes through strong governance. The FNUniv and JSGS have a history of collaborating on unique programs that not only empower indigenous knowledge systems but help to shift paradigms within western thought.” 
—Edmund Bellegarde (MBA, Pro.Dir), President & CEO, FHQ eCommerce Ltd. and Certificate Program Co-Instructor

 As part of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) ongoing work with Indigenous communities, ICBA announced today the launch of an Indigenous logo design competition, seeking to enhance ICBA’s brand and reflecting the pillars of ICBA while incorporating elements of Indigenous culture.

“ICBA is committed to understanding the history, culture and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President. “We are excited to launch this logo competition and to continue meaningful, progressive and respectful engagement with BC’s Indigenous communities.”

The competition is open to all Indigenous artists in BC and offers a cash prize of $35,000 to the winning designer. Artists are being asked to create a logo that reflects ICBA’s mission and vision as well as the values that guide ICBA – leadership, opportunity, and fairness.

“ICBA’s Indigenous engagement is grounded on the idea of ‘building possibilities,’” said Gardner. “We believe that reconciliation is achieved through real action, by providing opportunities for meaningful, successful, and long-term partnerships.”

At its annual gala dinner in April, ICBA invited seven Indigenous leaders to the stage to present a specially painted drum to NFL quarterback and keynote speaker Russell Wilson. The gift commemorated Wilson’s ten seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

“We are learning more every day about Indigenous traditions and perspectives,” said Gardner. “On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, our team is developing plans around the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #92, such as offering cultural awareness training for all our employees and members, and plans for workshops in the fall to highlight best business practices towards economic reconciliation and to hear from Indigenous leaders.”

The deadline for submissions to the logo competition is October 6, 2022, at 4:00PM Pacific time.  A selection panel (to be named shortly) will make recommendations for the winning submission to the ICBA Board of Directors.  ICBA plans to formally announce the winning logo before the end of the year. For full contest rules and submission forms please visit: icba.ca/logocompetition.

TORONTO, ON, June 21, 2022 – In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Yorkville University and Toronto Film School are proud to announce a newly launched bursary for Indigenous students. 

The Indigenous Student Tuition Bursary, which will cover 25 per cent of qualifying students’ tuition, will be available to all new and current Indigenous students who are enrolled in any of Yorkville University or Toronto Film School’s on-campus and online programs.

“This bursary is just the latest initiative we’ve launched at Yorkville University and Toronto Film School in demonstration of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Yorkville University President Julia Christensen Hughes. “As Canadian higher education has been called upon to take thoughtful and decisive action towards truth and reconciliation, I am pleased to announce our commitment to enhancing accessibility to our innovative undergraduate and graduate programs.”

“Now, more than ever, Canada needs Indigenous storytellers to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the screen – from both behind the camera and in front of it,” added Andrew Barnsley, Toronto Film School’s Emmy – and Golden Globe – winning president. “With the Indigenous Student Tuition Bursary, we hope to open the door to even more aspiring Indigenous filmmakers, so that they can gain the skills they need to share their stories and amplify the voices of their communities.” 

The Indigenous Student Tuition Bursary is available to all Canadian citizens or permanent residents with Indigenous ancestry. Students applying to or who are already enrolled in Yorkville University’s undergraduate degree programs and Toronto Film School’s diploma programs will be able to access the bursary in July 2022. For those pursuing Yorkville University’s doctoral and master level programs, the bursary will take effect in September 2022. 

Prospective students wishing to apply for the bursary are urged to contact one of Yorkville University or Toronto Film School’s Admissions Advisors for more information, while current students can contact Jessica Gruchy at jgruchy@yorkvilleu.ca

As Yorkville University and Toronto Film School’s Manager of Indigenous Partnerships and Engagement, Gruchy explained that the Indigenous Student Tuition Bursary was created in the wake of a series of consultation sessions she and Thamina Jaferi, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, conducted with Indigenous students over the past year. 

“One of the concerns consistently identified by students was the socioeconomic barriers in accessing funding for post-secondary education,” said Gruchy, a Mi’kmaq member of the Qalipu First Nation in Newfoundland. “That’s why I am so excited to share that Yorkville University and Toronto Film School are taking steps to help address these barriers. This is a positive initiative which will assist current and prospective Indigenous students to pursue their higher education goals.”

The bursary also complements some of the ongoing initiatives aimed at amplifying the voices of Indigenous students currently being championed by Gruchy and Jaferi – including the schools’ recently announced Indigenous Student Advisory Council (ISAC). 

Members of the Toronto Film School and Yorkville University’s newly launched ISAC will assist the schools in leading organizational Indigenization strategic initiatives, helping to develop networks amongst Indigenous students, and creating safe spaces for them to voice their perspectives on the student experience.

“The development of the Yorkville University and Toronto Film School Indigenous Students Advisory Council is another key step in building meaningful relationships with Indigenous students, learning about the Truth and Reconciliation process, and providing a forum for the feedback and insights of Indigenous students for the organization’s consideration,” Jaferi said. 

About Yorkville University

Yorkville University is the largest private university in Canada, with in-person programs at campuses in Toronto, Vancouver and a third location in Fredericton, which delivers online educational programs accessed by Canadians in every corner of the country as well as international students, from over 50 countries. Yorkville provides a diverse offering of professional, career-oriented programs, including certificate and diploma programs, undergraduate degrees, masters and a Doctorate of Counselling and Psychotherapy degree.