Applications for the 2024 FNIGC National Student Bursary are now CLOSED!
Established in 2011, each year the FNIGC National Student Bursary awards four exceptional First Nations post-secondary students with a $2,500 bursary and complimentary registration to The Fundamentals of OCAP®.
This year bursary recipients will also have an opportunity to take part in a mentorship within FNIGC’s First Nations Data Centre.
The deadline for applications to the 2024 FNIGC National Student Bursary is Friday, November 29, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Eligibility
The FNIGC National Student Bursary is open to First Nations students in Canada who are enrolled full-time in a college or university program which focuses on the fields of health, social sciences, or applied sciences (or studying issues related to First Nations data sovereignty). Applicants must provide the following information as part of their application:
- Evidence of First Nations status (a copy of a status card or membership affirmation),
- Evidence of student status (a letter of acceptance, a transcript of marks, etc.),
- Letter of reference (from an employer, professor, community member, etc.).
Essay
Applicants must also complete a short essay (minimum 500 words) that answers the following question:
FNIGC envisions that every First Nation will achieve data sovereignty in alignment with their distinct world view. With First Nations, we (FNIGC) assert data sovereignty and support the development of information governance and management at the community level through regional and national partnerships. We adhere to free, prior and informed consent, respect nation-to-nation relationships, and recognize the distinct customs of nations.
Tell us how your work or study may advance First Nations data sovereignty and self-determination. In your essay you might want to consider:
- What self-determination means to First Nations,
- Why First Nations data sovereignty is important,
- How might your studies support The First Nations Principles of OCAP® and data sovereignty,
- Reference to Bill-C15 An Act Respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or
- Reference to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
Please include a title page, date of submission, and a bibliography (in MLA or APA format for sources).
All eligible applications will be reviewed by a committee established by the FNIGC Board of Directors and assessed according to a rating matrix (which can be accessed here). The bursary recipients will be announced in April 2025 and posted on the FNIGC website and social media platforms. By applying, the winner consents to the use of their name and address (City/First Nation only) and photograph in any related FNIGC publicity.
FNIGC National Student Bursary FAQ