Post-secondary grants give boost to indigenous students
Growing up in the tiny First Nations community of Mayo in northern Yukon, Denise Simmons learned to fish, hunt and live off the land.
School, she says, never seemed important to her peers, and she found herself a high school dropout and a single mother by the age of 18.
Thanks to the undying support of her parents and grandparents, she battled through, completing her high school upgrading and then a Tourism Management Certificate from Yukon College.
She found rewarding work with the Yukon government, then in Calgary’s oilpatch after moving here with her husband in 2005.
But like tens of thousands of Albertans, Simmons fell victim to the economic downturn, getting laid off two years ago.
With money tight and no prospects for work, she considered heading back to Yukon, when a unique scholarship program changed her direction.
As part of its Future Ready education initiative, the province doled out $4.3 million in post-secondary grants for 940 indigenous students across Alberta last year. The program will expand this year, providing $7 million in financial awards for more than 1,500 indigenous students.
“Every Albertan should have the same opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of financial circumstances,” said Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education. “These awards are helping reduce barriers for indigenous students, creating opportunities to build the skills they need for rewarding, successful careers.”
Officials with Advanced Education made the announcement Tuesday at Bow Valley College’s Aboriginal Centre, which included a blessing from elder Florence Kelly of the Ojibwa First Nation in Ontario, who graduated from BVC with high school upgrading in 1986, and then went on to earn a teaching degree at the University of Calgary.
Simmons benefited from the new financial rewards program last year, receiving $4,000 to help earn a two-year business administration diploma in human resources.
“It’s been such a blessing, not having to worry about finances while I study,” said Simmons, who now has two grown children and a younger, 11-year-old son.
“It’s still really stressful, trying to raise children while you’re going to school. But this has helped tremendously.”
Simmons expects to graduate by August. “I’ve really upgraded my skills, and I’ve learned so much about how to deal with people.”
Financial awards have been made available to First Nations, Metis and Inuit students in programs that lead to careers in highdemand fields.
Eligible undergrad students may receive up to $4,000 per year, while eligible graduate students may receive up to $15,000.