Scholarships for Indigenous students
Our scholarships for Indigenous students work to address the education inequity faced by Indigenous peoples in Alberta by making post-secondary studies more financially accessible.
The $1,500 awards are based on scholastic achievement, financial need and community involvement. Scholarship recipients are selected by an external committee with expertise in academia and Indigenous education.
We award 9 scholarships each year to Indigenous students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution.
Applications are open now until January 31, 2025.
Apply nowEligibility criteria
- Applicants must be a member of a First Nation or band, or have Inuit, Métis or Indian status as referenced on the Indigenous Services Canada website.
- Applicants must be residents of Alberta and have lived here for the past 12 months.
- Applicants must be enrolled in any full-time post-secondary certificate or diploma program of 2 or more years duration at an Alberta-based, accredited post-secondary institution.
- Applicants cannot have received an Indigenous scholarship from Alberta Blue Cross® in the past.
All applicants must clearly describe their community involvement, personal goals and financial need, and submit 2 reference letters for evaluation.
Support
If you have questions or need support, please email scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca.
Morgan Chalifoux, 2023 recipient of an Alberta Blue Cross® Indigenous scholarship
Meet Morgan Chalifoux, a 2023 recipient of our Indigenous Scholarship program. Watch our video to learn why Morgan is pursuing an education in social work, what she plans to do next and how she supports her community.
Luke Klug, 2022 recipient of an Alberta Blue Cross® Indigenous scholarship
Meet Luke Klug, a 2022 recipient of our Indigenous Scholarship program. Watch our video to learn why Luke has chosen to study kinesiology, how he’s helping the next generation and what he plans for the future.
A spiritual approach to healing
Hear from 1 of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Zoe Kreutzer, about how a debilitating injury and subsequent care changed the course of her life and led her on a new career path.
Learning and growing towards a bright future
Hear from one of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Luke Pambrun, and learn about his inspirational journey towards a brighter future through post-secondary education.
Accredited post-secondary institutions
- Alberta College of Art and Design
- Ambrose University College
- Athabasca University
- Augustana Faculty, U of A
- Bow Valley College
- Burman College
- Concordia University of Edmonton
- Northwestern Polytechnic
- Keyano College
- The King's University College
- Lakeland College
- Lethbridge Community College
- MacEwan University
- Maskwacis Cultural College
- Medicine Hat College
- Mount Royal University
- NAIT
- Norquest College
- Northern Lakes College
- Olds College
- Old Sun Community College
- Portage College
- Red Crow Community College
- Red Deer Polytechnic
- SAIT
- St. Mary's University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
- University nuhelot'įne thaiyots'į nistameyimâkanak, Blue Quills
- Yellowhead Tribal College
Indigenous Scholarship FAQs
The program
Applications will be available on September 3, 2024, and can be submitted until January 31, 2025.
Recipients will be notified in early March and funds will be disbursed shortly after.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email after the funds have been distributed to the recipients. This will be in mid-March.
Each scholarship is $1,500.
There are 9 scholarships.
Yes, until the 2024-2025 year, there was one scholarship for mature students and one scholarship for youth. Starting in September 2024, the scholarships have been unified into one. This change means applicants no longer need to submit their high school transcripts or discern which application form to fill out.
Please reach out to scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca with any questions.
Eligibility
Any student who is a member of a First Nation or band, or have Inuit, Métis or Indian status as referenced on the Indigenous Services Canada website may apply. Applicants must also be an Alberta resident and have resided in Alberta for the past 12 months. Applicants must also be enrolled in any full-time post-secondary certificate or diploma program of 2 or more years’ duration at an Alberta-based accredited post-secondary institution.
No, applicants must be enrolled in and attending a post-secondary institution to be eligible.
No, applicants must be enrolled in a full-time post-secondary certificate or diploma program of 2 or more years’ duration.
No. In previous years this scholarship was only open to first-year students. However, as of September 2024, applicants can be in any year of study.
No, applicants must be attending an Alberta-based accredited post-secondary institution.
No, applicants must be attending an Alberta-based accredited post-secondary institution as listed above or in the application form.
No, past recipients are not eligible to receive the scholarship in future years, even if they have entered a new program.
Application process
Applicants need to submit their completed application form along with 2 letters of reference.
No. In previous years, applicants have been required to submit proof of status or membership. While this is no longer required, applicants will be asked to self-verify their status in the application form. Recipients will be required to provide proof of status before the scholarship funds will be released. Alberta Blue Cross® will destroy this proof within 6 weeks of receiving it.
The letters of reference can come from anyone who has direct knowledge of you. This person could be a teacher, employer, volunteer coordinator, Elder or community member. Ideal letters of reference will speak to your work in the community and academic goals. References can also be submitted as video or audio files. If you would like to submit them this way, please contact scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca
Applications that showcase a strong role in the community, speak to the financial need of the applicant and demonstrate how the applicant intends to use their education in the future.
The application package and any supporting documents should be emailed to scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca or mailed to the following address:
Alberta Blue Cross
Community Impact
10009 108 Street
Edmonton,Alberta
T5J 3C5
Selection process
Recipients are selected based on their financial need, their community service and how they intend to use their education to improve themselves and their community.
An adjudication committee made up of 3 representatives from post-secondary institutions across Canada meet to select the recipients based on the criteria provided by Alberta Blue Cross®. The adjudicators are Indigenous and/or have a strong background in Indigenous education.
If you are selected to receive the scholarship, you will receive a phone call from an Alberta Blue Cross® representative. You will be asked to provide proof of your Indigenous Status, which will be destroyed within 6 weeks of being received. You will also need to provide your social insurance number, as you will receive a T4A for this scholarship. You will also have opportunities to be featured on our social media accounts, website and blog.
Was this information helpful?
Thank you for your feedback
With your support, it helps so many students with disabilities to be able to graduate."
says Brittney Trimming