NRT awards $740,000 in scholarships & bursaries
Nunavut Arctic College to offer free on-line university course
First Nations law group launches new scholarships for First Nation students
Penticton Indian Band finds right equation to bring the students back
NRT awards $740,000 in scholarships & bursaries
The New Relationship Trust (NRT) Scholarship and Bursary initiative, now in its fifth year, has helped more than 650 First Nation students in British Columbia (BC) pursue their post-secondary education goals.
NRT is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening First Nations in BC through capacity building. Supporting education for First Nation individuals is a top priority for NRT. “The recipients are amongst BC’s brightest and most ambitions First Nations People,” explains NRT CEO Cliff Fregin. “They come from communities all over the province, and they reflect a wide variety of cultures, lifestyles, ages and interests. Whether they are studying to become carpenters or doctors, artists or entrepreneurs, ultimately these young individuals are the ones who will make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them.”
NRT created the scholarship initiative in 2007 to provide financial support to First Nation students pursuing Undergraduate, Masters, and Doctoral degrees. In 2008, a bursary award was added, providing support for students pursuing trades diplomas and certificates.
NRT scholarship awards for the 2011/12 school year have just been concluded. In total, $740,000 will support 144 students this year. Grants awarded were as follows:
- 44 Undergraduate degree Scholarships of $5,000
- 21 Masters degree Scholarships of $10,000
- 9 Doctorate degree Scholarships of $20,000
- $19,000 matching contribution to the Chief Joe Mathias Aboriginal Scholarship Fund
An additional $140,000 in Bursaries has been awarded for 2011/12. The Bursaries, worth $2,000 each were given to 70 students. On August 9, 2011 NRT held the 1st Annual Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds for Bursaries. The event was very successful and raised $16,452 to support First Nation students which went towards 8 additional Bursary awards! NRT will continue to host the Golf Tournament each year to raise addition funds to assist more students.
Education is consistently identified as a top priority for First Nation communities and people. Post secondary education, in particular can help First Nation people create improved lives for themselves and their
families, whilst helping First Nations meet their growing Human Resources needs with skilled and qualified individuals from within their own communities.
Melanie Labatch, a member of the Sai’kuz Nation received an Undergrad scholarship for $5000 and expressed that “This program has supported me and my children, both financially and emotionally, through another school year. I appreciate the support and encourage New Relationship Trust to continue supporting Aboriginal students with this great program!”
Nunavut Arctic College to offer free on-line university course
Nunavut Arctic College is offering the University of the Arctic course BCS100: Introduction to Circumpolar Studies. The course introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. For a course outline, see http://tinyurl.com/3dt7nf5. BCS100 is the core course of UArctic’s Circumpolar Studies program - http://tinyurl.com/69lym5v.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go to university, the best way to find out is to try it and experience it for yourself. Nunavut Arctic College is offering this on-line course to Nunavummiut for free. The credits you earn are real. Register today and take the first step towards earning your degree, here at home, in Nunavut.
When: January 30 to April 20, 2012
Where: On-line from any community in Nunavut!
Cost: Free!
How: Students access an on-line classroom. You download readings, interact with the instructor and other students, and submit assignments. Study sessions will be organized in Iqaluit, and can be organized in other communities (and in Inuktitut) on request. NAC offers tutoring support as well.
Time: 8 hours per week should be set aside.
Admission: The only requirement is sufficient English skills to comprehend readings and to participate fully in the course - including writing essays.
Registration form available on-line at http://tinyurl.com/67fpoqo.
Credits: 3 university credits awarded upon successful completion.
If you’ve considered trying a university-level course, or want to learn more about the Arctic, this course is a great way to start!
First Nations law group launches new scholarships for First Nation students
A First Nations wholly-owned Law Group has founded a new scholarship fund for post secondary students. Eagle Law Group, formerly known as Francoeur Law Office, is offering scholarship opportunities for First Nation student.
“We believe education is vital to empowering our communities. This is why we decided to offer scholarships for First Nation students. We have confidence that these contributions will in part help lay the foundation for further growth and development in our communities,” stated Lee Francoeur (Taku River Tlingit), Principal at Eagle Law Group. Eagle Law Group offices are located in the traditional territory of Treaty No.7 at the Tsuu T’ina Nation.
“We acknowledge as professionals we have a responsibility to give back to the public through community service,” said Grace Auger, Associate at Eagle Law Group. Eagle Law Group will be accepting applications for students enrolled in a post-secondary college or university in their chosen field. Deadlines for applications are December 31, 2011. For further information, please visit www.eaglelaw.ca.
Penticton Indian Band finds right equation to bring the students back
Despite the recent reports of higher than ever absenteeism among First Nation students, the new Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School has calculated the right algorithm for student engagement. The new school opened just in time for the 2011/2012 school year and is already reporting record attendance.
The school is the result of intensive collaboration between the Band’s project team, the Federal and Provincial Governments. Chief Jonathan Kruger acknowledges the strong team effort that took place in order to bring the school project to reality. “We are very appreciative and impressed by the efforts of the Federal and Provincial Governments and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. All levels of Government were committed to bringing this vision to reality and we believe the project has delivered a landmark building that everyone can be proud of.”
In addition to Government support, a large team on the ground including architects, engineers and local contractors such as Western Industrial, their sub-trades and local suppliers all made huge contributions resulting in approximately $6 million being put back into the local economy, while also completing the project under budget.
The goal of the school was to create a contemporary space that captivated students using today’s technologies and to also create curiosity and pride for culture. The school incorporates many technologies for both learning and sustainability, including smart boards in the classrooms, video conferencing, WiFi, a low energy geothermal system for heating and cooling and more than ample natural lighting to run the School without artificial means during the day.
“We knew that to inspire our children to want to learn about our culture, we needed to create a modern visual narrative of our heritage. This building accomplishes that beautifully,” said Chief Kruger.
Peter Hildebrand, partner in charge of design with Iredale Group Architecture, wanted to ensure the school was contemporary and reflective of the Penticton Indian Band’s culture. “The design brief required that the building grow from the landscape and so the colour palette and soft curvaceous forms mimic the textures of the nearby rolling hillsides. The design culminates in a dramatic atrium, dedicated to teaching the Okanagan People’s language history and art, with interactive sound and video media, the interior space is an artistic interpretation of the traditional pit house, conducive to passing down First Nations traditions.”
Trying to construct the ambitious project using the architect’s design and the Penticton Indian Band’s vision created the opportunity to try new methods and explore different ideas, says Project Manager, Prashant Pandit, of Stantec, “We were excited to be involved on this project which had so many great opportunities to expand the horizon for each of the sub-consultants. We knew that if we could build it, the new school would perfectly illuminate the local First Nation’s culture.”
All of these features culminated in National and International recognition. In 2010, the School made the Top 20 Short-List for best designed schools in the world at the World Architecture News competition. Last week the project was given a Best of Canada award by Canadian Interiors magazine and will be featured in their November 2011 issue. The school is also handling requests from local and international businessmen and tourists to view the new school.
Pandit reports, “News of the school has travelled quickly. We recently had a group of Korean business men tour the new school, who were interested in the glue-laminated timber installation.” Constructed by local business Structuram. For more information visit www.iredale.ca.