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

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 year 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 of a first undergraduate degree program subject to satisfactory academic standing on a full-time course load between the most recent September to August annually.

Award
Open
Scopes
Entrance
Deadline
02/15/2027
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 (Francis Whiskeyjack - Elder involved with UofA community) as a guide, we are interested in learning more about your connection to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of being. Please take this application as an opportunity to tell us about your journey towards attending the University of Alberta. Please note that a demonstration of financial challenges and barriers to attending university is an eligibility requirement for this program. The questions in this application are designed to provide us insight into some of the challenges and barriers you may be facing to attending the University of Alberta. Most of our questions focus on your academic goals, life circumstances and motivations rather than specific financial information. We want to get to know you as an individual and hear about your unique journey, while giving you the space to share about any financial adversity or how you have overcome financial barriers in order to attend post-secondary.

    We recognize the questions in the application are personal and will require self-reflection that may be uncomfortable or triggering. Please be candid and respond within your comfort level, to the best of your ability. 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 us at either awards@ualberta.ca or indigenous@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, including the environmental factors that impact your physical well-being. We recognize these questions will not tell your whole story but instead a partial picture. 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 or journey with your culture. This is an opportunity to tell us your story of connection, understanding or experiences to your spiritual self. The could include, but is not limited to:
    Telling us how the spirit of the turtle inspires you in your personal and academic journey
    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
    Please take this opportunity to be creative and allow us to learn more about your unique journey.

  7. Mental Aspect

    Please share your interest in pursuing postsecondary education. What will achieving a post-secondary education mean for you? If you have selected a program, what made you choose it? We encourage you to reflect on how a post-secondary education could foster mental wellness, growth, curiosity, and introspection. Examples of what this could include:
    Your motivations, strengths, and intentions in attending the University of Alberta
    A time when you had to step out of your comfort zone on your path here
    A 'lightbulb' moment of inspiration

  8. Emotional Aspect

    Keeping in mind your responses in the 'Physical Aspect' section, tell us more about your personal, family, and financial situation as they relate to your emotional well-being, world view and interconnectedness. Within your comfort level, this could include details about:
    Your living situation
    Financial situation as it relates to attending university
    You as an individual and/or how you identify
    Overcoming challenges
    Experiencing a life-altering or significant event
    Other information you feel is important to help us understand the personal, family, or financial barriers that may prevent you from attending university

  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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