Turtle Spirit Pathway Award for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Students

Awarded to students who are First Nation, Inuit, or Métis people of Canada in accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, Part 2, Section 35(2) with satisfactory academic standing entering the first of an undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta. Selection based on academic standing, indicated financial need, and demonstrated financial barriers to attending university. This award is renewable for up to five years subject to satisfactory academic standing on a full-time course load between the most recent September to August annually.

Award
Open
Scopes
Entrance
Deadline
01/10/2025
Supplemental Questions

  1. The University of Alberta respectfully acknowledges it is located on traditional Treaty 6 Territory and the homeland of the Métis, and is home to a diverse and vibrant community of over 1,600 Indigenous students, staff, and professors from across Canada.

    The intent of this application is to verify eligibility for the Turtle Spirit Pathway Award and support the selection of award recipients.

    Using the Medicine Wheel as a guide, we are interested in learning more about your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of being. A demonstration of financial challenges and barriers to attending university is an eligibility requirement for this program. The questions in this application will provide us insight into some of the challenges and barriers you may be facing to attending the University of Alberta. We have chosen to ask questions about your academic goals and life circumstances as opposed to specific individual/family financial details, like family income, as we recognize not all applicants will be able to access and/or share family financial information and that financial details will not tell us as much about you as an individual.

    We recognize the questions in the application are personal and will require self-reflection that may be uncomfortable or triggering. Be candid and respond within your comfort level. Should you need mental health and well-being support or someone to talk to, we encourage you to contact the Kids Help Phone, Canadian Mental Health Association, or Hope for Wellness Help Line.

    If you have questions about the application while you are working on it, please email awards@ualberta.ca

    I have read this section in its entirety.

  2. Physical Aspect


    The questions in this section are designed to give us a brief insight into your life circumstances. We recognize these questions will not tell your whole story. There will be space available to go into more detail about your personal, family, and financial situation in the 'Emotional Aspect' section below.

    Please select the response that most closely describes your current housing/living situation.

  3. Please select the response that most closely describes your ability to access food.
  4. Please select the responses that most closely describe the option(s) you are considering to help pay for attending university?
  5. Excluding your cell phone, do you have access to a reliable internet connection and a computer at home?

  6. Spiritual Aspect

    We want to learn more about your path. This could include, but is not limited to:
    Telling us how the spirit of the turtle inspires you
    Speaking to your connection with your culture or interest in exploring your culture
    Speaking to your connection with your community and/or what your community means to you
    An interesting or funny story you would like to share that would tell us more about you
    Telling us about a time when you found the courage to step out of your comfort zone
    Tell us about who you are, where you come from, and your personal journey so far

  7. Mental Aspect

    Please share your interest in pursuing postsecondary education. What will achieving a post-secondary education mean for you?

  8. Emotional Aspect

    Keeping in mind your responses in the 'Physical Aspect' section, tell us more about your personal, family, and financial situation. Within your comfort level, this could include details about:
    Your living situation
    Your family finances
    You as an individual and/or how you identify
    Challenges you have faced in high school
    Wanting to apply in the past, but deciding not to for some reason (tell us about it)
    Health related issues for yourself or a loved one
    Experiencing a traumatic or significant event
    Other information you feel is important to help us understand the personal, family, or financial challenges that may prevent you from attending university

    What has been your most significant challenge(s) in pursuing your education goals?

  9. Supporting Documentation


    I acknowledge that if I have not already provided First Nation, Métis, or Inuit documentation as part of my application for admission that I will provide documentation upon request to confirm my eligibility for the Turtle Spirit Pathway Award.

  10. Authorize and Release Statement


    • 1. I certify that the information contained in this application is complete and correct as of the date of submission. I authorize the Selection Committee or the staff at the University of Alberta to access my academic transcripts and any other information applicable to this application.
    • 2. Full Name
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