At Teck, we are committed to collaborating on positive change for Indigenous Peoples. Our ongoing contributions to Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards have helped students achieve their goals, lessened their financial burden and enabled them to give back in their communities.
Since 2012, Teck has been a partner with Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. The organization aims to increase graduation rates for Indigenous students through financial awards, support programs and other resources. From 2019 to 2020, Indspire provided $17.8 million through more than 5,100 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada.
The positive long-term impact of the student awards is showing. Approximately 90 per cent of award recipients will graduate and 45 per cent of employed recipients work in fields that support Indigenous people.
In 2020, Teck donated $22,400 for the Teck Frontier Energy Bursary for Indigenous Students, supporting Indigenous students from the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta who are attending post-secondary institutions. We also provided $11,000 through the Teck Indigenous Awards for Indigenous students attending a post-secondary or technical training and development program.
Shayla Wood, one of the Teck Frontier Energy Bursary recipients this year, and whose family originated from the Fort Chipewyan area in northeast Alberta, is keen to pursue a career working with Indigenous youth and families.
“I have always wanted to work with Indigenous youth and families, and being Indigenous myself, I feel as though I have much to offer and exceptional knowledge to share with other Indigenous peoples.” said Shayla. “This award will support me mentally and financially to successfully finish my degree and obtain a career in the area that interests me most.”
By reducing financial burdens, students can focus more on their educational goals and reach their full potential. The opportunities created from higher education will benefit Indigenous students, their families and communities.
Teck created the bursary awards almost a decade ago as part of a commitment towards developing long-term relationships with Indigenous peoples in the areas where we operate, and building capacity in order to support the economic development of communities and Indigenous peoples. We are committed to making a lasting positive impact on the communities where we operate.
Learn more about our approach to Relationships with Communities and Indigenous Peoples on our website.
