SACKVILLE, NB — Indigenous students at Mount Allison University will have more access to financial support thanks to the generosity of CIBC. The bank announced a gift of $150,000 in support of student bursaries and Indigenous-focused community initiatives.

Beginning in the Fall of 2021, the CIBC - Mount Allison Indigenous Student Bursaries, 14 in total, will be distributed annually to returning Indigenous students studying full-time at Mount Allison. The Awards will be based on demonstrated financial need but also consider academic merit and community involvement. 

The Awards will be distributed by Indspire’s Building Better Futures program. Indspire is a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. Students can apply at: indspire.ca/apply 

“Indigenous students and community members make many important contributions to the Mount Allison community as we walk together on the path to reconciliation. With recent challenges and the traumatic history of Residential Schools in Canada, it is more important than ever that we are listening and finding ways to move forward together,” says Mount Allison University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau. “We thank CIBC for this forward-thinking gift that will directly support Indigenous students but also help provide additional valuable learning opportunities for the entire Mount Allison community through outreach initiatives such as campus visits with Indigenous Elders, workshops, and support for ceremonies. On behalf of the entire University community, Wela’lin to CIBC.”

Patricia Musgrave-Quinn, Mount Allison’s Indigenous Affairs Co-ordinator says, “It is our goal and responsibility to create an environment and support structure for Indigenous students that allows them to thrive and also prepares them with the skills, traditions, cultural knowledge, and competencies to become the future leaders of our communities and Nations.”

“CIBC is committed to helping Indigenous clients and their communities achieve their ambitions, and education plays a critical role in that process. By empowering students to plan their futures, we support the next generation of strong Indigenous leaders,” said Mike Bagnall, Vice President and Region Head, Atlantic, Commercial Banking, CIBC. “Together with Mount Allison University we will be able to broaden the reach of these opportunities to make a long-lasting impact in communities across the province and region.”

The CIBC funding will also help support the Wabanaki Program on campus, including activities such as Indigenous Leadership Workshops, Elder honorariums, Sacred Ceremonies, and Community Gatherings.

Read more about Indigenous initiatives and supports at Mount Allison University at: mta.ca/indigenous

We would like to acknowledge that we are located within the territory of Mi’kma’ki, the unceded, ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Our relationship and our privilege to live on this territory was agreed upon in the Peace and Friendship Treaties of 1752. Because of this treaty relationship it is to be acknowledged that we are all Treaty people and have a responsibility to respect this territory.