The Building a Better Future initiative provides financial support to eligible Syilx Okanagan Nation members. This scholarship, bursary and award initiative recognizes student perseverance and achievement to encourage our members to continue their educational pursuits. These scholarships, bursaries and awards are for high school students graduating this Spring of 2024 and/or students starting or continuing a post-secondary program in the fall of 2024. Students are welcome to apply for multiple awards – please read eligibility requirements of each available award.
Applications will open for the Building a Better Future Bursary in Spring 2024.
Available Bursaries for High School Graduates of 2023/24
- $1000 High School Graduate Bursary (3 available) sponsored by EMB and Hi Traxx Contracting and Lance McLean.
NOTE** If you are a high school graduate, currently enrolled in post-secondary, please visit the post-secondary bursaries page and submit an application for applicable bursaries… Students are welcome to apply for multiple awards.
Available Bursaries for Post Secondary Students
- $1500 Education for Life Award (2 available) sponsored by FortisBC
- $3500 Engineering Scholarship sponsored by EMB Management Ltd.
- $1500 Surveying, Mapping, or Geomatics Bursary sponsored by EMB
- $1500 Business Bursary sponsored by EMB
- $1500 Walking My Learning Forward Award sponsored by EMB
- $1500 Progressive Fence Syilx Bursary
Partnerships that make these bursaries possible
Fortis BC
While building the Terasen Gas Southern Crossing Pipeline, Terasen Gas (now FortisBC) forged strong relationships with the member communities of the Okanagan Nation Alliance. In recognition, Fortis BC has established a Financial Award for Okanagan Nation Alliance members who are committed to building a better future for themselves and their community through post-secondary educational studies. This bursary has been available since 2009.
EMB Management Ltd.
Formed in 2014, EMB Management Ltd. (“EMB”) offers project development, project delivery, engineering, construction management and construction inspection services to utility and infrastructure clients across Western Canada. To help support Syilx Okanagan Nation members in furthering their education, EMB introduced $10,000 in awards in 2022 as a component of our Building a Better Future Initiative.
Progressive Fence
Progressive Fence Installations Ltd. has been providing fencing and security solutions in British Columbia for over 35 years. In 1981 Progressive Fence started out as an installation company and expanded into an industry leader providing customers with state-of-the-art technology in fencing, security products, access controls and entry gate systems. Their contribution has provided $1500 towards students pursuing post-secondary education.
Hi Traxx Contracting and Lance McLean
Hi Traxx Contracting and Lance McLean have donated $1000 towards one of the three Syilx Siya awards available.
Applications
Who is Eligible to Apply?
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- You must be attached by ancestry and identity to the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
- Registered or applied to attend an accredited post-secondary institution on a full-time basis between: September 2023 – April 2024 (unless otherwise noted in the specific award listing)
OR
- A Grade 12 high school student graduating high school in the spring of 2024.
Each scholarship, bursary and award have its own set of additional criteria and deadlines. Please make sure to read each award for the full set of eligibility requirements. If you are a high school student who has been accepted to a post-secondary institution in a program equal to or greater than 2 years, you are also eligible to apply for the post-secondary institution bursaries. However, post-secondary students are NOT allowed to apply for high school awards.
Important Dates
- Application deadline: Applications to open Spring 2024
- Award Announcement: July 24-25, 2024
- Payments: Summer 2024
Application package requirements
- Students must ensure all application requirements are met before submitting an application. (see Checklist)
- Students must take responsibility to ensure that all information is up-to-date and included in the submission package.
- Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Include all attachments in one email. We will send you an email notification when your application has been received.
Click Here for the High School Bursaries Application
Click Here for the Post-Secondary Bursaries Application
Read the terms carefully before completing your application and relevant supporting documentation. Students are welcome to apply for multiple awards, if they meet the requirements.
PLEASE SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO:
Tara Montgomery, ONA Communications Lead
by Email: tmontgomery@syilx.org
Questions may be directed to:
Tara Montgomery
Phone: (250) 707-0095 ext 120
Email: tmontgomery@syilx.org
Thank you to our Partners:
2023 Building a Better Future Bursary Recipients:
2023 High School Bursary Recipients2023 Post-Secondary Bursary Recipients