Over 390 Indigenous students in British Columbia, including those studying in 麻豆社国产and the surrounding region, have received financial awards totalling more than $1.3 million from the BC Scholarship Society this year, according to a press release on Jan. 22.
The awards, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, are designed to support post-secondary education at all levels, from trades training to doctoral programs.
Local impact highlighted
Previously, Kyla MacDonald, a Social Sciences student at Capilano University, was awarded $3,000, in 2024.
“This award will help me start my first year with all of the tools I need to succeed and help me feel more financially secure,” MacDonald said in the news release.
The Indigenous Student Awards program, funded through an endowment established by the Province of British Columbia, aims to reduce barriers to education for Indigenous students.
The awards are renewable annually.
Broader educational goals
Firas Abbasi, Chair of the , noted the program’s broader impact.
“Education empowers individuals and strengthens communities,” Abbasi said in the release. “These scholarships aim to address systemic barriers to education for Indigenous learners.”
Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Anne Kang highlighted the importance of the initiative. “Programs like this create opportunities and help foster a more inclusive future for all students in British Columbia,” Kang said in the release.
The Indigenous Student Awards program is open to First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit or Métis students enrolled in public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia.
Local students, including members of the S岣祑x瘫wú7mesh Úxwumixw (麻豆社国产Nation), are encouraged to apply before the April 2, 2025, deadline.
For more information, visit .
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The 麻豆社国产's Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the.
