We are honoured to be guests on the traditional and unceded territories of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Kwikwetlem, Semiahmoo, and Katzie peoples, on whose traditional unceded territories Simon Fraser’s three campuses stand.
Featured Graduate Student
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Guerin is dedicated to revitalizing hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the downriver dialect of the Halkomelem language spoken by the Musqueam people.
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Dawn Marsden is a master's student enrolled in Counselling Psychology focusing on Indigenous Knowledge.
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Ms. Teegee has completed her Executive MBA Indigenous Business and Leadership program.
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Michaela McGuire in Criminology presented on a panel on Indigenous issues in Toronto.
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Lucy Bell in INS studied repatriation and restitution in Chile.
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Tara Limothei in REM studied mercury contamination in mining sites in BC.
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Elena Pennell wants to shed light on the effect of SAWP on family life for Mexican migrant workers.
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Martha works with various Indigenous communities and manages the development of corporate strategy and programs related to Indigenous programming.
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Kyle is a member of the Anishinaabe-Ojibwe group of Indigenous peoples of Ontario.
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Valerie Bob combines her interests in native language renewal and ceremonial music for her PhD program.
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Monique Auger, a proud Métis woman, is a recipient of the 2015 Graduate Aboriginal Entrance PhD Scholarship.
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Skye Augustine is passionate about working in the field of marine science and contributing to First Nations communities.
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Katrina is interested in exploring approaches to counselling that centre Indigenous worldviews and support resisting colonial violence.
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Denise is a PhD student who is passionate in exploring holistic healing and transformation that have ensure the survival of Indigenous people throughout millennia. (BC Graduate Scholarship)
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Brandi is a Master's student who is focusing on the relationship between Indigenous language fluency and health and wellness. (BC Graduate Scholarship)
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Lauren is a communication master's student who wants to bridge Indigenous perspectives within soundscape research and methodology to consider how such techniques are controlling via surveillant practices and mediated listening. (SSHRC CGS Masters Scholarship)
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Jonathan researches how Indigenous communities engage with resource extraction projects, their impact and legal decision process. (SSHRC CGS Doctoral Scholarship)
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Spencer Greening has a gift for balancing traditional Indigenous knowledge, research, language and culture with Western scholarship, politics and activism.
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Carolyn is a PhD student that is working towards changing the educational system and the education programs to help future generations with their education. (Graduate Entrance Scholarship)
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Tsatia is PhD student bringing the urban Indigenous communities in the Metro Vancouver and Russian into dialogue with each other. (Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship)
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Mackenzie is an English PhD student researching poetry, Indigenous literature, and urban spaces. (Edward M.W. Gibson Fellowship in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
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Michaela is a School of Criminology PhD student examining the importance of belonging, justice, and injustice by analyzing decolonization, belonging, resurgence and self-governance. (Ph.D. Graduate Dean's Entrance Award, SSHRC CGSM, SFU Graduate Deans Entrance Award, etc.)
Indigenous Graduate Student Support
Denver Lynxleg (Anishinaabekwe, she/her/hers) is the Coordinator for Indigenous Graduate Programs. In her half time role with GPS, she is available two days a week to support current Indigenous graduate students' academic pathways through events, workshops, mentorship, and as a resource connector.
Please note due to COVID-19 restrictions GPS staff are currently working remotely
Want to speak to someone?
Connect with the GPS Indigenous Graduate Programs Coordinator
Monday and Tuesday
9:00 am—5:00 pm
AQ 6085, Burnaby Campus
Indigenous Graduate Awards
Below are two sources of funding through SFU that are specifically for Indigenous graduate students. For all of the awards and funding offered through SFU, please visit our Awards + Funding pages.
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The Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship is intended for students initiating a thesis based masters or PhD program who have Canadian citizenship and Indigenous ancestry. These awards are valued at $21,000 per annum for Indigenous doctoral students (4 years) and $18,000 per annum for Indigenous master’s (2 years). Students do not apply for this award - they must be nominated by the Graduate Program Chair of their new academic unit. This award is by nomination only. LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AWARD → |
Terms of Reference
- The Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship is currently valued at $21,000 per annum for Indigenous doctoral students and $18,000 per annum for Indigenous master’s students. Tenure of the award is two years at the master’s level and four years at the doctoral level.
- To be eligible for consideration, a student must be planning to enter a thesis based masters or PhD program at Simon Fraser University.
- During tenure of the Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship, the recipient must be registered full-time in a thesis based graduate program at Simon Fraser University.
- The Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship is normally held during consecutive academic terms. If a recipient registers “on leave” during tenure of their award, the award will be interrupted until the student is registered full-time and payments will be reinstated at that time. No deferment of award payments to future academic terms will be permitted, except under ‘extenuating’ conditions with the permission of the Chair of the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee (SGAAC).
- The criteria for this award are:
- Canadian citizenship and Indigenous ancestry;
- a minimum entrance cgpa of 3.5;
- demonstrated academic excellence at the undergraduate level and, if applicable, at the graduate level;
- evidence of outstanding achievement with particular emphasis on intellectual ability, originality and ability in research.
- Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship recipients may accept scholarship support from other sources including SFU’s ‘private’ awards (derived from annual and endowed funds) provided they are consistent with SFU’s general funding policies. Recipients should be aware that some external awards may restrict students from holding a scholarship at the same time as the external award.
- There is no restriction on Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship recipients receiving income for work performed during tenure of the scholarship.
- Entering students who meet the criteria are eligible for consideration. Students must be nominated for the Indigenous Graduate Entrance Scholarship by the Graduate Program Chair of the academic unit to which the student will be admitted.
- Awards are made by the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee after a University-wide competition in which departmental nominations are considered.
Revised: February 2017 / GUSE006
Indigenous Graduate Travel Award
This award provides financial support for Indigenous graduate students for the travel component important to their research. Indigenous or “Aboriginal” is defined by Canada’s 1982 Constitution as people identified as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada. Deadlines to apply are November 30, April 15th and July 30th of every year. |
Terms of Reference
- The purpose of the Indigenous Graduate Travel Award is to provide financial support for Indigenous graduate students for the travel component important to their research. Students can only apply for the Indigenous travel award once per academic year. Indigenous graduate students may apply for this fund before their travel to pay for costs in advance.
- To be eligible for this award, the following criteria must be met:
- This award is for Indigenous graduate students attending Simon Fraser University.
- Indigenous or “Aboriginal” is defined by Canada’s 1982 Constitution as people identified as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada.
- Disbursements of up to $1000 each may be applied for in each academic year (starting September 1 of each year).
- The funds will be given out on a first come / first applied for basis. The fund will be considered used for the year when the $5,000 limit for the year has been reached. Once the total fund has been distributed for the year, a message will be sent out through the Indigenous graduate student listserv.
- Repeat applications will be allowed from year-to-year. Preference, however, will be given to students who have not yet received money from this fund (this is at the discretion of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies).
- Application includes:
- A completed budget which accounts for the requested amount;
- A letter of support from the applicant’s academic supervisor or a faculty member familiar with your work (to verify the student’s academic status, intent, and need).
Travel Report
Upon completion of travel, successful applicants will need to submit the following within two weeks to the Graduate Awards Assistant: gpsaward@sfu.ca
A concise Travel and Activity Report, written in language suitable for the general public. Contents and/or quotes from the report may be published in Graduate Studies promotional material. If you do not wish for your travel report to be published, please indicate so.
The following could be included in your report:
- The activities that were carried out, in respect to how the travel contributed to your research and/or scholarly activities
- Any unanticipated benefits derived from the travel, including those in relation to your current research objectives an/or to your general experience as a graduate student
- Any special issues or problems you encountered
- Read about the award to ensure you and your research travel/expenses are eligible.
- Search for the award in the Graduate Awards Application System. Deadlines to apply are November 30, April 15th and July 30th of every year.
- Students need to submit a travel report after completion of their travel.
SFU Indigenous Community Resources
Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement
SAGE is a province-wide, inter-institutional, peer-support/faculty-mentoring educational program. The program supports Aboriginal students to make significant educational and social change using research, Indigenous knowledge, and community-oriented approaches. Non-Aboriginal graduate students engaged in Indigenous research are also encouraged to participate in SAGE. Join the SAGE listserv by emailing: grad.sage@ubc.ca.
Current Indigenous graduate students can volunteer and/or present their work at the Annual Indigenous Graduate Student Symposium (IGSS)
Indigenous Mentorship Network of the Pacific Northwest
The IMN-PN s a network of Indigenous and allied students, researchers, academics, professionals and communities across British Columbia and the Yukon. Our Mentors and Mentees have expertise and experience in Indigenous wellness research. Our understanding of wellness research is holistic, encompassing a broad range of disciplines and methodologies that contribute to wellbeing among Indigenous peoples, communities and collectives.
Join the IMN-PN listserv by emailing: imnpn@uvic.ca
The Indigenous Student Centre
The ISC is a space on Burnaby campus for all current Indigenous students. The ISC website includes an events page which promotes workshops and cultural activities.
The First Nations Student Associaton
The FNSA is an independent student-run organization for all self-identified Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Status/Non-Status (FNMI) students here at SFU. Join their email list to learn about upcoming events: fnsa-board@sfu.ca.
The Indigenous Living-Learning Community
Students in the Indigenous Living-Learning Community are able to live across Residence in building types that best fit their academic and personal needs. As a Canadian Indigenous student in this community you will connect with other Indigenous students and build community through peer support, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.
The Office for Aboriginal Peoples
The OAP was established in 2009 with the mandate to take the lead on implementing the Aboriginal Strategic Plan at Simon Fraser University. The OAP also provides resources such as a directory of Aboriginal Contacts.
Newsletters: Stay Connected
Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement (SAGE) join the SAGE listserv by emailing the SAGE Indigenous Graduate Peer Mentor: grad.sage@ubc.ca.
SFU’s Office for Aboriginal People’s Newsletter to learn more about SFU Indigenous-related events, announcements and important dates. Subscribe here.
Indigenous Mentorship Network of the Pacific Northwest Newsletter to learn more about the latest Indigenous-focused headlines, events and training, funding and job information, as well as resources and other unique opportunities. Subscribe here.
Indigenous Top Ten is a free biweekly publication designed to share breaking news, interesting research, best practices, and policy developments regarding First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education in Canada. Subscribe here.
Indigenous Research and Knowledge Resources
SFU's motto of Engaging the World means that we are committed to honouring all knowledge systems and working with our many communities. SFU graduate students develop valuable research which involves community members and benefits all partners involved in the work.
Teaching and Leadership
Indigenous leaders and educators come to SFU to enhance their knowledge and skills in order to benefit their communities. Indigenous students take classes in every Faculty at SFU. We have also developed the following programs specifically for Indigenous Peoples.
In addition to the resources available to all graduate students found under our Awards & Funding, Graduate Students, Community Guide, Professional Development, and News and Events sections of our website, we have collated additional support available specifically for our Indigenous graduate students.
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