20+ years of working with Indspire to build brighter futures for Indigenous youth

Brett is a Geoscience graduate from Vancouver Island University (VIU). While attending university, Brett played as goalie for the VIU Mariners. One of his proudest achievements was maintaining dean’s list status while starting for the hockey team.

“The bursary from Imperial and Indspire was a crucial support system for me. It not only eased the financial burden of pursuing post-secondary education but also served as a motivating factor. Knowing that reputable organizations believe in, and support, my educational journey has been empowering and has fuelled my determination to succeed.

During my time at Vancouver Island University, I worked on multiple projects which excited me, but my favourite would have to be analyzing and mapping seismic readings from offshore drilling rigs. Growing up around oil and gas I felt like I was learning about what I had been exposed to my whole life.

To Indigenous youth considering post-secondary education, I would say embrace the journey with confidence. Your unique perspectives and experiences bring value to academic environments. Seek out support systems, explore your passions, and remember that your education is a powerful tool for positive change in both your life and your community.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunities provided by the Indspire program and the partnership with Imperial. This program not only supports individual aspirations but also contributes to the broader goal of empowering Indigenous communities through education. I believe that initiatives like this have a lasting impact on individuals and their communities.”

Dorin is an engineering graduate from the University of Alberta. While attending University, Dorin completed three different internship placements in agriculture as well as the energy industry, where he currently works today.

“I believe that all youth should have an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Programs like these provide extremely beneficial support that can give students in economically disadvantaged situations a fair opportunity to pursue their academic and professional aspirations.

Being a student and living on your own for the first time can be a financially stressful experience. This bursary helped me feel financially secure at the time, which meant a lot.

The Indspire program is a great financial resource but by partnering with companies like Imperial it also offers a great opportunity to make contacts with potential employers. My best advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity presented to you by the program because you never know where it could lead you.”