Indigenous graduate student scholarship gets a makeover

By Krista Baliko Posted: September 7, 2017 6:00 a.m.

Four students received the 2016 Aboriginal Graduate Awards Program Scholarship (l to r) Dr. David Malloy, University of Regina Vice-President (Research), graduate students Elisabeth Fortier, Jeanelle Mandes, Moses Gordon, Emily Grafton, Executive Lead, Indigenization, graduate student Tanya Tootoosis and Dr. Thomas Bredohl, dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research.
Four students received the 2016 Aboriginal Graduate Awards Program Scholarship (l to r) Dr. David Malloy, University of Regina Vice-President (Research), graduate students Elisabeth Fortier, Jeanelle Mandes, Moses Gordon, Emily Grafton, Executive Lead, Indigenization, graduate student Tanya Tootoosis and Dr. Thomas Bredohl, dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research. Photo courtesy of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

The University of Regina’s Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) has given one of its graduate student awards a makeover.

Formerly known as the FGSR Aboriginal Graduate Awards Program Scholarship the new award will now be called Kaskitomasowak, Cree for ‘they earned it.’

“Along with Emily Grafton, the Executive Lead, Indigenization, we wanted the award to be more meaningful to our students,” says Dr. Thomas Bredohl, dean of FGSR. “To achieve this, we asked Life Speaker Noel Starblanket to help with the changes and after holding a ceremony that included prayers and songs, he received the name, Kaskitomasowak.”

Bredohl adds that the scholarship has also increased from $2500 each to $5000 each.

Cheryl Quewezance, the acting Executive Lead, Indigenization, says it’s important for University of Regina Indigenous students to have awards in Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota and Métis because it represents who they are as Indigenous peoples.

“It recognizes the territory and the language group they represent. It also recognizes that the students have earned these awards conceptually and spiritually, as well as earning the knowledge, honour and financial support,” says Quewezance. “It gives the Indigenous students a voice to be heard within academia as well as within their own communities.

Quewezance says the change also means that the University of Regina is extending to the entire campus the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action with regards to Indigenous language preservation and revitalization.

“Having an award in Cree recognizes that Indigenous languages are important, that Indigenous voices are heard, and acknowledges Indigenous contributions to academia. It also assists in the decolonization of the University through recognition of the Treaty territory and language group students come from,” says Quewezance.

The deadline to apply for the Kaskitomasowak scholarship is September 30, 2017. Eligibility requirements for the award are as follows:

  • Indigenous students who are registered in a graduate program other than one that is course-based.
  • Awards are available to both part-time and full-time students.
  • Must be fully-qualified or a qualifying student.
  • Preference will be given to those students entering their first semester of graduate studies.
  • Financial need will be considered.
  • A graduate student may hold only one of these awards in any academic year (September to August)
  • Is eligible for a maximum of two awards during the tenure of a given program (i.e. master's or doctoral)
  • Recipients must register in the semester for which the award applies.

For more information about this scholarship please contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.