The recipients for the 2025 FNIGC Student Bursary are Sara Sacchetti, Justine Gros-Louis, Dr. Sdahl Ḵ’awaas (Lucy Bell), and Mairi Denny. Each will receive a $2,500 prize, complimentary registration to FNIGC’s The Fundamentals of OCAP® online course, and a mentorship opportunity with FNIGC’s First Nations Data Centre. 

“On behalf of FNIGC and our Board of Directors, I am pleased to congratulate this year’s recipients.” said FNIGC CEO Jonathan Dewar, PhD. “Supporting the next generation of First Nations data champions as they pursue their post-secondary education is an important part of advancing First Nations data sovereignty. By providing both financial and professional support, FNIGC aims to help students continue their studies, build their knowledge and skills, and prepare them to make meaningful contributions in their communities and to the future of First Nations data sovereignty.”

Established in 2011, FNIGC’s National Student Bursary program has awarded more than $90,000 to 39 outstanding First Nations post-secondary students. For 2025, four students were selected by a committee established by FNIGC’s Board of Directors. 

THE 2025 FNIGC NATIONAL STUDENT BURSARY RECIPIENTS 

Sara Sacchetti 

Sara Sacchetti is from Thunder Bay, Ontario and is a proud member of Wiikwemkoong First Nation. At the time of application, Sara was in her third year in the Health Sciences program at McMaster University, Sara is actively involved with Indigenous Student Services serving as a mentor to students who are making the transition from high school to university.  

She has also contributed to a range of community initiatives, including volunteering and leading projects focused on fundraising and student engagement.  

In addition, Sara has gained experience in clinical research over the past four summers and plans to pursue a career in medicine to support Indigenous communities through culturally informed and accessible care. She is particularly passionate about creating initiatives that bridge gaps between healthcare systems and the communities they serve.  

In her spare time, Sara enjoys personal fitness, playing piano and creative writing, where she uses her poetry as a form of reflection, storytelling and connection.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-sacchetti-431610243/ 

Justine Gros-Louis 

Justine Gros-Louis is a Wendat woman from Wendake, Quebec who is currently a Master’s candidate in Archaeology at Université Laval. Deeply connected to the land and her community, Justine is interested in how archaeology can contribute to a greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage and support its transmission across generations.   

Her research focuses on the historic archeological site of the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette site (CeEu-11), which she studies through a collaborative approach grounded in Indigenous perspectives. Her passion for Traditional crafts extends into her personal life and informs her interest in the connections between material culture, memory and identity.   

Through her academic and professional work, she hopes to contribute to a more inclusive form of archaeology that respects Indigenous knowledge. In the long term, she aspires to apply her expertise in service of the Wendat Nation and to support the transmission of its cultural heritage. 

Dr. Sdahl Ḵ’awaas (Lucy Bell) 

Dr. Sdahl Ḵ’awaas (Lucy Bell) is from the Tśiits G’itanee Eagle clan of Haida Gwaii. A Haida scholar and repatriation leader, she has worked for more than 30 years to bring home hundreds of Haida Ancestors and belongings from institutions around the world. Her work is grounded in Haida ways of knowing, intergenerational learning, and healing through tla yahda (making things right).   

Her research and practice engage questions of Haida data, authority, and responsibility, with a growing focus on how the First Nations Principles of OCAP® align with Haida approaches to caring for knowledge and belongings which are housed in global museums and archives. Lucy recently co-curated an exhibition with her daughter at the Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver, reflecting her commitment to matrilineal knowledge and cultural continuity.   

She is the author of “Xaad Kilang T’alang Dagwiieehldang - Strengthening Our Haida Voice” (2016) and “Tla Yahda: Haida Museology Makes Things Right” (2025), and co-author of several other repatriation publications. Her work has been recognized with the BC Reconciliation Award and the Heritage BC Award.  

Mairi Denny 

Mairi Denny (she/her), a Mi’kmaw woman from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia, is a student at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, where her   interests focus on Indigenous rights, access to justice, and strengthening the communities that have supported her throughout her journey. She is committed to giving back through legal advocacy and through her beadwork business, using both paths to support community well-being.   

Alongside her studies, Mairi owns Kmu’j Designs (Wood Designs), a small business based around beadwork and woodwork. Mairi began beading in 2022 and quickly connected with it, both as a creative outlet and something that felt healing. Her work combines beadwork with natural materials like wood and sweetgrass, creating pieces that are personal and meaningful. She also sells beading supplies, making it easier for others in the community to access what they need to create their own work.   

Through her schooling and her art, Mairi is committed to preserving Mi’kmaw culture, supporting her community, helping those who are marginalized, as well as creating spaces where Indigenous knowledge and creativity are valued.   

Instagram Personal: @Mairi.Denny   

Business: @Kmujdesigns 

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This milestone is an indication of the sustained interest in—and the continued commitment to—The First Nations Principles of OCAP®, and an affirmation of FNIGC’s leadership role in the First Nations data sovereignty landscape.

Since its launch in July 2023, thousands of learners from all walks of life have enrolled in The Fundamentals of OCAP® and successfully earned a Statement of Achievement, including those living and working in First Nations communities, as well as provincial and federal government employees, post-secondary students, academics, and non-profit workers. These learners, whose countries of origin range from Canada, the US, and the UK, to Nigeria, The Netherlands, and Bangladesh, all share one thing in common: a better understanding of OCAP® and its applications to First Nations data sovereignty.

“Reaching 10,000 successful course completions is a reflection of the overall quality of the course and of the sustained learner interest in First Nations data sovereignty,” says Kristine Neglia, FNIGC’s Director of Education and Training. “This unprecedented achievement speaks to the increasing demand for learning opportunities that center First Nations perspectives, knowledge, and authority over data.”

In the summer of 2023, FNIGC unveiled a new version of the course that featured a complete redesign, including content updates reflecting the current context of OCAP® and First Nations data sovereignty. It also featured a new interface and look-and-feel that showcases original art by First Nations artists and new narration by First Nations voice actors. Available in English and French, the course is broken down into six modules which can be completed at the learner’s own pace over a six-month period.

Registration for the course is $500 CAD, which may be waived for First Nations learners who apply for financial support through The Fundamentals of OCAP® Sponsorship Program.

“The enduring success of The Fundamentals of OCAP® course demonstrates the commitment that First Nations have to asserting their inherent rights to their own data sovereignty.” says Jonathan Dewar, FNIGC’s Chief Executive Officer. “I am incredibly proud of the work our Education and Training team has done over the many years to get us to this milestone, and we are excited for the next steps that the team has underway”

Supported by a strong foundation in First Nations knowledge systems and perspectives, The Fundamentals of OCAP® online course provides learners with an understanding of the OCAP® principles and how they can be applied to the ownership, control, access and possession of First Nations data. The course supports First Nations in exercising jurisdiction over their data in ways that respect their rights, priorities, and collective well-being.

FNIGC invites you to join the more than 10,000 individuals who have begun their learning journey about OCAP® and First Nations data sovereignty.

To learn more about the course and how to register, visit: https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training/take-the-course/

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