Indigenous Graduate Award in Research

This award is intended to enable Indigenous graduate students to engage in community- or land-based activities with their Nation or community in order to build relationships, ground their own culture and identity, and deepen their knowledge as they undertake research leading to a PhD dissertation, a master’s thesis, or a capstone project in a course-based master’s program.

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Value

$4,000

Eligibility

To be eligible, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • must be a First Nation, Inuit or Métis person of Canada in accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, Part 2, Section 35(2). Proof of Indigenous ancestry is required;
  • must have satisfactory academic standing (equivalent to a 2.7 GPA). The GPA for current graduate students is calculated using the current graduate program graded course work. For newly admitted graduate students or current graduate students who have no graded course work to date, the admission GPA (AGPA) will be used;
  • must be registered in any year of a graduate degree at the U of A and who are pursuing research leading to a dissertation, thesis or capstone project;
  • selection based on academic achievement and the merits of the proposed project or activity;
  • students may hold this award once; and
  • preference given to clearly defined projects and activities (e.g., weekly volunteering at a Friendship Centre, regular Oskâpêw activities with an Elder or ceremonial space).

Eligible Research Activities may include:

  • working with, supporting and learning from Elders or Knowledge-Keepers;
  • participating in and contributing in meaningful ways to the life of the Nation or community; and
  • co-creating or conducting a research project that is community-based and community-guided.

Application Procedures

Students must apply directly to GPS by completing the online application via Google Form.

Proposed activities should involve a time commitment roughly equivalent to at least four hours per week over a four-month academic term, though there is no requirement that they be spaced in that way. Proposed activities could, for example, be concentrated in a shorter time period. Applicants should give a clear description of the following:

  • the proposed project or activity;
  • the reason for wanting to undertake it;
  • the connections that have or will be made with a host community;
  • the student’s interest in learning and utilizing Indigenous knowledge and skill; and
  • the relationship between the project or activity and the student’s dissertation, thesis or capstone research.

Proof of Indigenous ancestry is required. A photocopy (front and back) of one of the following documents must be uploaded to the online application for accepted proof of ancestry. Students are to write their status (Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis or Inuit) at the top of the document:

  • certificate of Indian Status, a status card or a band membership card;
  • letter from their band verifying the student's status;
  • membership card issued by a Métis organization that the student is registered with (Metis organization must be a legal entity);
  • a certified copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card or Inuit beneficiary card;
  • letter of support from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada or Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated;
  • a letter of support from an First Nation, Metis or Inuit organization (must be a legal entity) confirming the student's aboriginal ancestry; or
  • proof that an ancestor's name has been entered:
    • in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act; or
    • as beneficiary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement
Note: Students unsure about their residency or proof of Indigenous ancestry documents are to contact GPS Award Services.

Deadlines

Deadline for students to submit an application through Google Form is Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. After this deadline, this form will automatically close.