Fund established to celebrate veterans

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The federal government will provide more than $1-million to an Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Trust to recognize and pay tribute to the contributions of Aboriginal veterans.

The announcement was made No. 4 at various locations across Canada, including Ottawa and Saskatoon.

"Improving educational opportunities for Aboriginal people is one of our government's priorities," said Indian Affairs minister Ron Irwin. "We know that education opens the mind to new ideas, and that it opens doors to new opportunities and a better quality of life."

The scholarship will be open to all Aboriginal people, including status and non-status Indians, Inuit and Metis. Preference may be given to descendants of Aboriginal veterans.

Extensive consultation with Aboriginal veterans' organizations was done to establish the fund.

"The Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Trust is a positive and rewarding opportunity for all Aboriginal post-secondary students," said Penny Kerrigan, national Aboriginal representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. "It will give Aboriginal students in need a chance to receive assistance to further their education."

The intention to develop the trust was announced Nov. 11, 1995. Following that announcement, Indian Affairs consulted with the National Aboriginal Veterans Association, the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association, the Metis Veterans of Saskatchewan, the Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta and the Native chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students to obtain advice on the establishment of a trust fund.

Veterans have chosen the Canadian Native Arts Foundation to administer the scholarship trust.

"The establishment of the Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Trust will forever enshrine the contributions made by Aboriginal veterans who, in their protection of Canada, are now being honored by Canada's contribution to the protection of the educational development of Aboriginal youth," said John Kim Bell, president of the arts foundation.

Scholarships will be available to students enrolled as full- or part-time students in post-secondary programs of two or more academic years. Students must be enrolled in recognized Canadian or foreign post-secondary education institutions, including technical institutes, colleges, CEGEPs and universities.

Eligible applicants must have been accepted in a program of study and must have maintained acceptable academic standards in accordance with the requirements of the post-secondary education institution.

Student merit, financial needs, family contributions and other assistance will be taken into consideration in the granting of scholarships.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the Aboriginal veterans who have been working so hard on this project over the past year. I believe the results prove that it was a worthwhile endeavor," said Irwin.