Over 390 Indigenous students in British Columbia, including those studying in Squamish 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 BC Scholarship Society, 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 Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), are encouraged to apply before the April 2, 2025, deadline.
For more information, visit bcscholarshipsociety.ca/indigenous-awards.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief's Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
