Founder hopes to provide more in the coming years

Page 10

More than 300 Metis students were recognized at the Belcourt Brosseau Metis Awards Celebration of Educational Achievement in Edmonton on Sept. 30. Investing In Our Future Together was the theme of the gathering, celebrating the five-year anniversary of the awards. It brought together the award recipients and the award founders, Dr. Herb Belcourt, Orval Belcourt and Geroges Brosseau.

The awards give Metis Albertans the opportunity to get a post-secondary education and achieve career goals through a fund that has disbursed more than $1.3 million.

The men were the directors of Canative Housing when they established the Belcourt Brosseau Metis Awards Fund through the Edmonton Community Foundation. The fund provides awards ranging from $1,000 to $9,000 per student.

Canative Housing Corporation was formed in 1971 as a non-profit housing corporation. It was designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal people who were living or moving into Edmonton who could not find acceptable housing.

Since 1971, the rent collected has been going into a large fund, which has been contributing to Metis education.

"I feel so proud of these Metis Albertans," said Herb Belcourt. "And, really those who have rented from the Canative Housing Corporation should be proud to know that the rent they paid is going to educate their children and their grandchildren. I have to commend the Native people for that, especially the last five years, every month nobody was late with their rent."

Herb said one of the highlights of the event for him was talking to the students. "They're positive and it makes me feel very good to see that."

Belcourt added another highlight was when Dave Hancock, Alberta's advanced education minister, announced that the government would match the amount in the awards fund.

"With this $14.5 million and if they're matching the whole thing, then that'll be a lot of money for years so we should be able to give out a million dollars a year on scholarships if the government comes through with their announcement," said Herb. "These extra funds would definitely help even more people. If this fund comes through, it's going to be phenomenal for the Metis people of this province. In fact, you could go across Canada with it, but that would be up to the board."

Out of the 300 students honored, 50 were recognized and presented with Metis sashes by Elder Marge Friedel.

"We had a very cultural night," said Theresa Majeran, communications co-ordinator for Belcourt Brosseau Metis Awards. "We ate bison, we had fiddle music and we did a very cultural thing because we wanted to bring these students back to their roots a bit."

Majeran said the reason for this was to get the recipients to talk about the awards to their friends and tell them there are benefits waiting for them.

"We want them to tell their friends about the Belcourt Brosseau awards, get some funding, go to post-secondary, and participate in this Alberta economy."

The future intent for these awards is obvious, said Herb, and that's to continue giving scholarships to the Metis people of Alberta because "education is so important and I can't say enough about it.

"We have to keep encouraging education. The more education we have we won't take a back seat to anyone," said Belcourt. "I think if we all stick together as Native people and encourage education, I think that we will be all far ahead."

Financial assistance is available to people in both the trades and post-secondary. For most programs, the application deadlines are May 15, however for students entering the trades, they can apply year-round. For more details and application forms visit www.dollarsforlearners.com or call Theresa at (780) 454-5555.