The new bursary program will cover university tuition and living expenses, providing personalized financial support to Haudenosaunee and Mississauga students
A new bursary program for Indigenous students of Haudenosaunee and Mississauga ancestry has been launched this year at McMaster University. Eligible applicants can receive financial assistance starting in Fall 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students will be required to submit documentation to verify their Indigenous ancestry in accordance with the Indigenous ancestry verification guidelines.
The new bursary is named ionkhihahonnién:ni which translates to “they’re making a path for us” from the Mohawk language. It is intended to assist eligible Indigenous students with both tuition and cost of living expenses such as housing, transportation, food and childcare with the goal of making post-secondary education more accessible.
Chrissy Doolittle, the director of Indigenous Student Services and co-developer of the bursary program was interviewed by The Silhouette. She noted that they are currently assessing the financial needs of the first round of students and working towards disbursing the bursaries to those individuals.
“There is quite a bit of misunderstanding out there about how federal funding works from band funding offices in that not all students receive funding and that funding does not cover their entire cost to come to post-secondary education. So
There is quite a bit of misunderstanding out there about how federal funding works from band funding offices in that not all students receive funding and that funding does not cover their entire cost to come to post-secondary education. So
Chrissy Doolittle, Directorwe really wanted to make sure that we looked at this in a way that was meaningful and was going to make an impact on each student .
Indigenous Student Services
The bursary aims to address the specific financial barriers Indigenous students face which stem from a
The program is open specifically to members of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga nations, the traditional territories and lands of which McMaster University is located on. Students that are band members of these nations are eligible to apply for the bursary even if they live elsewhere in Canada or internationally. “The Haudenosaunee and Mississauga nations actually span quite a wide area, including Western New York and Eastern Ontario. There are approximately 24 different communities that would be eligible,” said Doolittle.
The Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations actually span quite a wide area, including Western New York and Eastern Ontario. There are approximately 24 different communities that would be eligible.
Chrissy Doolittle, Director
Indigenous Student Services
In addition to the bursary program, a new Indigenous Financial Aid Specialist role has been established within Indigenous Student Services.
Doolittle mentioned that the specialist will be responsible for administering the funding by first conducting an analysis of each student's financial needs, which will determine the amount that they will receive for the bursary.
“In the past … we’ve always been the middleman where we have been able to help direct students to Aids and Awards or help navigate Award Spring applications with them or help connect them to emergency supports … but having this position in-house allows us to actually help the student here … we can look at their financial picture and can determine how we can best help support them,” said Doolittle.
Having this position in house allows us to actually help the student here … we can look at their financial picture and can determine how we can best help support them.
Chrissy Doolittle, Director
Indigenous Student Services
Through these initiatives, the ISS and McMaster hope to ensure that Indigenous students have the financial support and resources they need to be able to focus on their studies and goals and thrive academically. More information about the bursary can be found on the Aids and Awards page in the Office of Registrar.
McMaster has found a new home for its Downtown Centre after hearing from the city that its current building, the old Wentworth County Courthouse at 50 Main Street East, is needed again for municipal purposes.
Roger Couldrey, McMaster’s vice-president, administration, told the public about the find.
“We are pleased to announce that McMaster is taking over more than 50,000 square feet of space at 1 James North, right at the corner of James and King,” he said in an interview with the Daily News.
McMaster will be leasing the entire building at 1 James Street North—an office building on top of Jackson Square mall.
“I think it’s a great location. It’s one of the best corners in downtown Hamilton, and is a stand-alone building that we can make our own. It allows us to contribute once more to the rejuvenation of downtown Hamilton,” said Couldrey.
More than 200 staff members and 4,000 students will continue to use the new Downtown Centre.
Most service units from the current DTC will be making the move to the new building, while a few others will be implemented into the Medical Health Campus that is currently under construction and set to at open at the start of 2015.
Financial Affairs—who overseas investments, purchasing, accounts and treasury—and Advancement—the office responsible for fundraising and donor relations—will be making the move to 1 James North, along with the office of Institutional Research and Analysis and the Centre for Continuing Education.
Some of the research units will be packing up for McMaster Innovation Park, while the Regional Medical Associates will be making their own arrangements for new space.
The new lease was signed after negotiations between Yale Properties and the University, through Strategic Procurement and Facility Services.
“It is a long-term lease, not indefinite but long-term,” said Couldrey. He continued, “we are not making the details public. The University will be investing quite substantially in fitting out the new space.”
The 50,000 square feet at the 1 James Street North property is a smaller space than the current DTC but Couldrey doesn’t see it as a problem.
“The DTC was built as a public building, a court house, and is very spacious. The new building will be designed to normal office standards. By virtue of the multiple parties moving [elsewhere] we actually have a need for less space,” he said.
Thousands of students and hundreds of staff transitioning to 1 James North will have to find a new place to park.
The building is in a convenient location for access to public transit but those who drive to the DTC will have to pay for parking under the building or in a nearby lot.
McMaster hopes to make the move in late 2014 and early 2015, permitting a lease extension on the 50 Main Street East building.
“The City originally gave us notice to move out of the DTC building by Dec. 31 2014. We have asked for an extension and are hopeful that a small extension will be possible. We are planning the move accordingly,” said Couldrey.
McMaster has operated out of the Downtown Centre for 13 years.
