Indigenous Careers Award

Purpose:

To encourage Indigenous Albertans (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) to pursue and complete post-secondary studies in certificate, diploma, applied degree and bachelor’s degree programs leading to high-demand career outcomes in Alberta. 

Value:

$2,000 per semester, and maximum of $4,000 per academic year

Eligibility:

Eligibility: To receive this award, you must be enrolled in:

    • The Fall 2017 and/or Winter 2018 semester (a semester is defined as a study period of up to 17 weeks in length).
    • A certificate, diploma, applied or bachelor’s degree program.
    • At least 60% of a full course load (40% of a full course load if you are a student with a documented permanent disability).
    • Have satisfactory academic standing, as determined by the school.

You must also meet all of these eligibility criteria:

    • Be a Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis or Inuit and be able to provide a copy of proof of Indigenous ancestry
    • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or have protected person status under: 
    • Be a resident of Alberta. For more on Alberta’s residency requirements, see:

You must also be attending a public post-secondary school or First Nations college in Alberta offering the following high-demand career program bands:

Business

  • Accounting, Finance
  • Business administration and management
  • Communications technologists and technicians
  • Marketing

Education

  • Early childhood education and childcare
  • Elementary and secondary teaching
  • Teaching-related fields

Health Sciences

  • Health Sciences Programs including Kinesiology

 

Physical, Natural & Applied Sciences

  • Agriculture
  • Architecture and urban planning
  • Biological sciences
  • Computer and information sciences
  • Engineering and engineering-related fields
  • Natural resources and conservation
  • Physical sciences

Social Sciences

Limited to the following program bands:

  • Addictions Studies/Counselling/Service Worker
  • Child and Youth Care
  • Community Support Worker
  • Social Work

Technologist Programs

  • Mechanic and repair technologists and technicians
  • Precision production
  • Science technologists and technicians

Note: Program/bands may vary according to program requirements at your school. Schools may also establish additional eligibility criteria.

Co-op students, students in brokered programs, and students who are participating in an official exchange may be eligible.

Students must be enrolled in a certificate, diploma, applied or bachelor's degree program at a participating publicly funded post-secondary school in Alberta.

The following First Nations colleges are also participating in this award:

Public Institutions

  • Athabasca University
  • Bow Valley College
  • Grande Prairie Regional College
  • Keyano College
  • Lakeland College
  • Lethbridge College
  • MacEwan University
  • Medicine Hat College
  • Mount Royal University
  • NorQuest College

First Nations Colleges

  • Maskwacis Cultural College
  • Nechi Institute: Centre for Indigenous Learning
  • Old Sun Community College
  • Red Crow Community College
  • University nuhelot’ine thaiyots’i nistameyimakanak Blue Quills
  • Yellowhead Tribal College

Selection:

Recipients will be selected based on:

  • Minimum eligibility criteria for the Indigenous Careers Award.
  • Any additional eligibility criteria set by the school.

How to Apply:

Students must contact the Student Awards or Scholarships Offices at their schools, or visit their school websites for more information about how to apply and for their school’s application form.

Deadlines:

Students must contact their schools for deadline dates.

Disbursement:

Students must check with their schools for disbursement details.