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 offer two types of Indigenous scholarships:
Indigenous students
Three scholarships are awarded annually to students who are completing their high school education and entering their first year of post-secondary study at an accredited institution.
Mature Indigenous students
Six scholarships are awarded annually to individuals, deemed as mature by their post-secondary institution, entering their first year of study at an accredited institution.
The application process is now closed.
Luke Klug, 2022 recipient of an Alberta Blue Cross Indigenous scholarship
Meet Luke Klug, a member of the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation band and kinesiology student at the University of Alberta. He learned about our Indigenous scholarship program from his uncle, a coordinator for the Athabasca Tribal Council. As a recipient of one of the 2022 Alberta Blue Cross® Indigenous scholarships for mature students, we’re proud to share his inspiring story.
“Receiving this amazing award has allowed me to devote more of my time to my studies and less to working, so I don’t have to stress about paying my rent and supporting my son,” said Luke.
After completing the Personal Fitness Trainer program at NAIT, Luke became inspired to become a physiotherapist and help people move without pain. When he was 16, he suffered a knee injury and underwent eight years of medical appointments, tests and medications until he finally found a physical therapist who was able to help him overcome the injury and relieve his pain. After being involved in a serious car accident in 2019, he decided to stop making excuses and go back to school.
Luke places a high value on his physical well-being quite highly, working out six times or more a week. He also enjoys riding his motorcycle and playing video games in his spare time. He operates a personal training business and has spent countless hours researching and speaking with physical therapists and medical professionals to be able to provide the best results for his clients.
Luke’s also spent time giving back to his local community by sitting in on group therapy sessions for youth, where he provides first-hand experience and offers a unique perspective. “This has been a very rewarding experience for me in ways that are hard to articulate with words,” he explained.
Studious and hardworking, Luke intends to apply for the University of Alberta's Rehabilitative Medicine program, which is among the best in the world. After graduating as a physical therapist, Luke plans to open a clinic and hire other therapists, creating the freedom for him to travel and learn more about the human body.
Eligibility 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 the first year of any full-time post-secondary certificate or diploma program of two or more years duration at an accredited post-secondary institution.
All applicants must clearly describe their community involvement, personal goals and financial need, and submit three reference letters for evaluation.
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
How to apply
Application forms will be available on this page starting September 1, 2023.
Completed applications should be emailed to scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca or mailed to
Alberta Blue Cross, Community Impact
10009 108 Street NW
Edmonton, AB
T5J 3C5
Support
If you have questions or need support, please email scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca.
Believeing in yourself is all it takes
Hear from one of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Ina Fairbanks, about how believing in herself allowed her to realize and work towards her dreams.
Learning and growing towards a bright future
Hear from one of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Taylor Sample, and learn about her inspirational journey towards a brighter future through post-secondary education.
