FAUW announces scholarship funds for students from Six Nations of the Grand River

This article was originally published on the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo's (FAUW) website.

The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) is pleased to announce a five-year agreement with the Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office (GRPSEO) to fund scholarships for University of Waterloo students from Six Nations of the Grand River. FAUW will contribute $10,000 each year, to be distributed evenly by GRPSEO among all Six Nations students attending the University that year, in any program, in either part-time or full-time studies.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo for providing scholarship funds specifically for Six Nations of the Grand River post secondary students attending the University of Waterloo,” said Justine Henhawk-Bomberry, Director of Post Secondary Student Services at GRPSEO. “These funds will certainly lighten the financial strain students encounter when attending post secondary and will allow for them to focus on their studies. Supporting student success is definitely the key to empowering Six Nations students through higher education.”

While there are other scholarships available to Indigenous students at the University of Waterloo, generously funded by alumni and corporate sponsors, FAUW is specifically supporting Six Nations students in recognition of the University’s location on the Haldimand Tract, which was promised to the Six Nations in the Haldimand Treaty of 1784, and of the many benefits this location has afforded the University and its faculty. The Association was inspired by such sector-leading examples as the University of British Columbia President’s Office scholarship for students from the Musqueam First Nation and the Haudenosaunee Promise scholarship provided by Syracuse University.

FAUW representatives consulted with Jean Becker, Associate Vice President Indigenous Relations, about the scholarship. “The Six Nations scholarship from FAUW shows their commitment to local Indigenous students and is a step towards addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call for universities to close the gap in post secondary education for Indigenous students,” said Becker. “I am delighted that our faculty has taken this step to support Six Nations students and Indigenous relations at the University of Waterloo.”

FAUW thanks the Office of Indigenous Relations for its advice and support. The Association hopes that this will be one of many new resources for Indigenous students attending the University of Waterloo and will continue to work with GRPSEO and the Office of Indigenous Relations to support Waterloo’s growing population of Indigenous students and employees.