Established in 2011, and administered by FNIGC’s Education and Training unit, the FNIGC National Student Bursary is awarded each annually to exceptional First Nations students enrolled in college or university and studying in fields related to the advancement of First Nations data sovereignty. Recipients are chosen following a review of applications by a committee established by the FNIGC Board of Directors.

“For more than a decade, FNIGC has placed a priority on our ability to impact the lives of First Nations people in both direct and indirect ways. The FNIGC Student Bursary has been one of the core ways that we have effected direct change, by assisting the next generation in achieving a college or university education,” said Jonathan Plante, FNIGC’s CEO. “On behalf of everyone at FNIGC, congratulations to this year’s four bursary recipients and best of luck in your ongoing studies.”

THE 2022 BURSARY WINNERS

Coralie Niquay

Coralie Niquay is a Quebecker and Atikamekw from the community of Manawan. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience in 2021, and completed her master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Montreal in January 2023. Recently, she began her professional career with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC) as a Public Health Projects Advisor. She wishes to contribute to the well-being and self-determination in health of First Nations peoples.

Kianna Bear Hetherington

Kianna is a proud Wolastoqey woman from the beautiful community of Sitansisk located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Being of the Wolastoqiyik (“People of the beautiful and bountiful river”), she grew up with a special relationship with the land and all living things in it. A deep spiritual connection to nature and a burning desire to help Indigenous communities thrive encouraged her to complete her final year of a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Natural Resources with a major in Water Resource Management at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). She currently volunteers her time as the Indigenous Representative for her faculty at UNB, focusing on advancing efforts that improve the experiences and opportunities offered to Indigenous students through a culturally safe lens. Kianna’s activism reinforces the beliefs and values that she intends to bring forward in her chosen career path, to be a voice for communities facing injustices caused by environmental racism and to encourage Indigenous youth to use their voices.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiannabh 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiannabh/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069246045331

Tiffany McDougall

Tiffany McDougall is Algonquin from Kitigan-Zibi, Quebec. Tiffany studied at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Throughout her career, Tiffany has held various positions in both science and public policy. Tiffany has joined People, Places, Policies and Prospects as a Research Assistant to examine the co-development of First Nations Housing Policy, utilizing the Mi’kmaq two-eyed seeing approach. Tiffany is also completing her master’s in business administration at Cape Breton University. Tiffany was able to advance First Nation priorities as a Policy Advisor to the National Chief with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), support Canada’s top public servants and political professionals through her cabinet experience. She was also able to support communities through her policy development work with the Federal government. Tiffany also served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Tiffany now lives in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, with her three sons and husband.

Since it was first established, FNIGC’s National Student Bursary program has awarded more than $63,000 to 31 First Nations post-secondary students across Canada.

For more information on the bursary application process, email bursary@fnigc.ca.

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