Celebrating 20 years of supporting Indspire

A two-decade journey of investing in Indigenous education through scholarships, bursaries, and more.

This year marks 20 years of our partnership between Imperial and Indspire – an Indigenous-led national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people and helps break down barriers for Indigenous youth as they pursue education to achieve their highest potential.

Since 2003, we have provided more than $1.8 million to Indspire – most of which has directly supported Indigenous students through the Building Brighter Futures program. Through this program, Imperial has provided more than 500 Indigenous students with scholarships or bursaries as they pursue further education.

Brett Clark – Vancouver Island University

Brett Clark – Vancouver Island University

Métis Nation of Alberta
Bachelor’s Degree – Geoscience

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.”
Cayla Gillis – Aurora College

Cayla Gillis – Aurora College

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Office Administration Diploma

Cayla attended Aurora College’s Office Administration program. While at Aurora College, Cayla was awarded the student seat on The Board of Governors, and was chosen as the Student Association President in her first year and lead for two years. She was also selected to be Valedictorian of the 2022/2023 graduating class Aurora College, Thebacha campus.

“It’s important for companies to support programs like Indspire’s because it can help make college more accessible and affordable for students. This bursary relieved some of the financial burden on myself and I was able to focus more on my studies and spend more time with my family.

My advice to Indigenous youth looking to apply for an Indspire scholarship would be to research the program, investigate the eligibility requirements, application process, and any specific criteria they may have. Take time to understand what they are looking for and tailor your application fittingly. Reach out to mentors, teachers, and community members who can support you. They can provide guidance and help you showcase your unique strengths and experiences.

Higher education can open so many doors and provide Indigenous youth with valuable knowledge and skills. Remember, you have unique perspectives and experiences to bring to the table. Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams and make a difference in this world!”
Dorin Clough – University of Alberta

Dorin Clough – University of Alberta

Métis Nation of Alberta
Bachelor’s Degree – Engineering

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.”
Dante Carter

Dante Carter

Onion Lake First Nation
Bachelor’s Degree – Commerce

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Listen to Dante's story

Brett Clark – Vancouver Island University

Métis Nation of Alberta
Bachelor’s Degree – Geoscience

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.”

Cayla Gillis – Aurora College

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Office Administration Diploma

Cayla attended Aurora College’s Office Administration program. While at Aurora College, Cayla was awarded the student seat on The Board of Governors, and was chosen as the Student Association President in her first year and lead for two years. She was also selected to be Valedictorian of the 2022/2023 graduating class Aurora College, Thebacha campus.

“It’s important for companies to support programs like Indspire’s because it can help make college more accessible and affordable for students. This bursary relieved some of the financial burden on myself and I was able to focus more on my studies and spend more time with my family.

My advice to Indigenous youth looking to apply for an Indspire scholarship would be to research the program, investigate the eligibility requirements, application process, and any specific criteria they may have. Take time to understand what they are looking for and tailor your application fittingly. Reach out to mentors, teachers, and community members who can support you. They can provide guidance and help you showcase your unique strengths and experiences.

Higher education can open so many doors and provide Indigenous youth with valuable knowledge and skills. Remember, you have unique perspectives and experiences to bring to the table. Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams and make a difference in this world!”

Dorin Clough – University of Alberta

Métis Nation of Alberta
Bachelor’s Degree – Engineering

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.”

Dante Carter

Onion Lake First Nation
Bachelor’s Degree – Commerce

Listen to Dante's story

Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering

Since 2018, Imperial has supported Soaring to provide an opportunity for Indigenous youth to learn more about our organization and open the door to a potential career in our industry.

Learn more about the event

Imperial Indigenous Scholarship Program

The Imperial Indigenous Scholarships are distributed annually through Indspire to Indigenous students who are attending post-secondary institutions in Canada with demonstrated financial need for contribution to education costs and with a preference to students studying in the following academic programs:

STEM, geology, geophysics, chemistry, computer science, business, and accounting.
Diploma technology programs including petroleum, mechanical, instrumentation and electrical and chemical production.
Other programs related to the energy industry.

Learn more about the application process and deadlines for the Imperial Indigenous Scholarship program

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