荔枝视频

March 23, 2026

Faculty of Graduate Studies marks another milestone year for Indigenous Graduate Awards

Seventy Indigenous students received more than $900,000 in combined funding this year, supporting greater access to graduate education at U荔枝视频
A collage of two headshots
Mick Elliott, left, and Ashley Cornect-Benoit Courtesy Mick Elliott and Ashley Cornect-Benoit

Entering into its 11th year, the , through the  (FGS), has supported Indigenous students of Canada, including First Nations Status and Non鈥慡tatus, M茅tis and Inuit learners, as they pursue graduate education at the 荔枝视频.

Each year, the call for applications opens in the fall, with submissions accepted from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The 2025 competition, which brings together five awards funded through both donors and the university, provided a combined total of $924,666 in annual support to Indigenous graduate scholars. Awards included in the competition are as follows:

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This past year鈥檚 competition was another record year, drawing 79 applications, with 70 students offered funding. The strong response reflects an expanding awareness of the program鈥檚 value, with growing anticipation for the 2026 competition.

鈥淭hrough the Indigenous Graduate Award Competition, U荔枝视频 is honoured to support the academic journeys and community鈥慸riven research of Indigenous graduate students,鈥 says , PhD, vice-provost and dean of graduate studies.

鈥淭hese awards acknowledge the remarkable achievements of Indigenous scholars while reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive graduate community where Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and leadership continue to enrich and strengthen our university.鈥

2025 IGA recipients

The 2025 荔枝视频 Indigenous Graduate Award Competition recipients include:

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) 鈥 Indigenous

  • Alex Spence, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Alexis Osorio de Barros, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Aly Ledene, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Amanda Fox, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Andrew Crawford, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Angela Roesel, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Angelina McLean, master鈥檚 student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Asher Friedland, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Ashley Cornect-Benoit, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Ben Charbonneau, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Science
  • Blair Yoxall, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
  • Brandon Eggleston, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
  • Breanna Schneider, master鈥檚 student, Schulich School of Engineering
  • Carson Ell, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Chantal Barber, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Schulich School of Engineering
  • Chase Giesbrecht, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Science
  • Chelsie Wampler, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Cindy Chartrand, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Conor Bogstie, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Dana Chaulk, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Deedra Ladouceur, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Desi Lindstrom, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Erica Van Vugt, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Gavin Woodburn, PhD student, Faculty of Science
  • Gayle McKenzie, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Geordie Cowan, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Harmony Bright-Doucette, master鈥檚 student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Jacob Beaudoin, master鈥檚 student, Schulich School of Engineering
  • James Tetreau, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Jayden Case, master鈥檚 student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Jayden Halls, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Jeffrey Horvath, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Jonathan Kaiswatum, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Jordan Joseph, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Justine Calliou, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Kourtney Horseman, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Kourtney Horseman, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Science
  • Leroy Wolf Collar, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Lindsay Weller, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Science
  • Mandy Mercredi, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Mary Ann Forbes, master鈥檚 student, School of Public Policy
  • Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Mick Elliott, PhD student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Norma Jeremick'ca Gresl, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Onyx Shelton, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Raela Thiemann, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
  • Rebecca Morin, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Sarah Cardinal, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Sarah Fuhriman, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Shannon Genest, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Shelly Eli, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Simone Cormier, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Suzanne Cunningham, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Tamara Sunshine, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Tanya Ripley, master鈥檚 student, Haskayne School of Business
  • Terri Cardinal, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Tori Wilde, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Ursula Filis, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Valerie McDougall, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Wendy Henshaw, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work

Anne and Armando Pradella Graduate Scholarship in Public Health

  • Harmony Bright-Doucette, master鈥檚 student, Cumming School of Medicine

ii' taa'poh'to'p Ahead of Tomorrow Graduate Scholarship

  • Gavin Woodburn, PhD student, Faculty of Science
  • Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Kienan Williams, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Matthew McConnell, PhD student, Faculty of Science
  • Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Sarah Green, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Ursula Filis, EdD student, Werklund School of Education

ii鈥 taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖 Graduate Scholarship

  • Angelina McLean, master鈥檚 student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Ashley Cornect-Benoit, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Schulich School of Engineering
  • Erica Van Vugt, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Gavin John, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • James Tetreau, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Arts
  • Jonas Stadfeld, PhD student, Faculty of Science
  • Landon Odishaw-Dyck Master of Science Faculty of Science
  • Leroy Wolf Collar, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
  • Raela Thiemann, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
  • Zoe Kreutzer, master鈥檚 student, Werklund School of Education

M茅tis Scholar Graduate Award

  • Alice Hartley, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Blair Yoxall, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
  • Chelsie Wampler, master鈥檚 student, Faculty of Social Work
  • Cindy Chartrand, EdD student, Werklund School of Education

Strengthening Indigenous graduate mentorship

U荔枝视频 offers a variety of resources to help graduate students strengthen their award applications and build the skills they need to succeed. The  provides workshops, scholarship caf茅s, and individualized guidance from peers who have secured some of Canada鈥檚 top graduate awards, including Killam and tri-agency doctoral funding. By sharing practical strategies and personal experience, GLC mentors help students approach competitive scholarships with greater clarity and confidence.

Indigenous graduate students can also access support through the  program. Led by Indigenous graduate students, SAGE creates a community grounded in mentorship, cultural connection and shared learning. It offers a welcoming environment where Indigenous scholars can build relationships, engage in meaningful discussions and support one another throughout their academic journeys.

The Indigenous Graduate Award (IGA) Competition opens annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. All Indigenous graduate students are encouraged to submit an application. Full eligibility details and application instructions are available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

ii鈥 taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖, the 荔枝视频鈥檚 Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, 鈥渋n a good way,鈥 U荔枝视频 is moving toward genuine reconciliation and Indigenization.鈥


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