LAC LA BICHE - The financial struggles that can come with post secondary tuition and fees can be challenging for some. Fortunately, for future Métis students gearing up for higher learning this fall, an opportunity to receive some support will be awarded to a handful of applicants.
Through the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) local 2097, four recipients in Lac La Biche County will receive a $1,000 bursary each to put towards their education or needs. The funding will provide an opportunity to relieve some stress, and give more opportunity to focus on their education, said Local 2097 President Brenda Bourque-Stratichuk.
“It's extremely important because education is very expensive and it has been all the time,” she said. “It’s very expensive for not only tuition but living allowances, your rent and books..if we can help them that way financially it makes their journey a little easier,” she told Lakeland This Week.
In recent years, the local Métis leader is pleased to have seen an increase in local Métis seeking a higher level of education.
“As the years go by, we find that more of our citizens are attending post secondary which we see as a big plus for our nation and our community…we would like to support their endeavours,” Bourque-Stratichuk said.
Supporting Métis students
The bursary is open to any registered Métis individuals within the county. Applicants are expected to provide not only proof of enrolment at an institution within the province, but also reflect through a short essay their experiences supporting the community and the importance of civic responsibilities, said Bourque-Stratichuk.
The deadline to apply is June 27.
“You have to be from this county, show proof of full-time enrolment, some of your accomplishments and your community involvement. We look at the essay that you’ve written to us because it tells us a little bit more about yourself so we take that into account in selecting a recipient,” she said.
Creating opportunities to not only support those planning to attend but also encouraging Métis members to seek education is at the cornerstone of awarding the bursary and a value that the local MNA shares, she said.
“Our goal is to invest in education, in order for us as a nation to make any type of meaningful advancement or be real contributors, our citizens must first achieve success through education. We believe in doing that so we can create a better society for everyone,” she explained.
Encouraging education
While the MNA local 2097 has been awarding the bursary for many years, Bourque-Stratichuk says it is just one component of an overall goal to give positive opportunities for members.
“It's a part of our Métis locals vision and one of our goals is education. We’ve been doing this bursary for a number of years. We will continue to do it whenever we have funds available,” she said, adding that along with the financial help, a goal of the program is to encourage recipients to return to the Lac La Biche area and create opportunities for others. “We feel that it’s important for people to pay it forward and give back, be involved in your community, be involved in your culture and what your membership means to you...We feel that the more you’re engaged and the more that you want to give back to your nation it’s beneficial for everyone.”
Awarding recipients
Applications are all expected to be in no later than the June 27 deadline. On June 30, a panel of the local’s members will review applications and select the four recipients. Following the decision, awards will be presented prior to the 2022 fall semester to confirm all recipients are officially attending.
