Indigenous Student Centre

• Tutoring
• Scholarship and bursary information
• Cultural activities and events
• Smudging
• Educational and information sessions
• Networking opportunities
• Referrals to supports on and off campus
• Study and community space

The ISC offers the following weekly drop-in supports at the Centre:

Monday:

• Medical Science Cohort Advisor: 10 a.m to 12 p.m.
• Writing Centre Advisor: 12 to 1:30 p.m.
• Biology Tutor: 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday:

• Indigenous Services Librarian: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• William Johnson, Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network: 2 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday:

• Accessibility & Accommodations Advisor: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Health & Wellness Support: 1 to 3 p.m.
• Chemistry Tutor: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday:

• Career & Academic Advisor: 1 to 4 p.m.
• Math/Stats Tutor: 2 to 4 p.m.

Friday:

• Writing Centre Advisor: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The ISC hosts a variety of ongoing cultural events in the Centre and on campus, including:

• Mawio'mi
• Sacred Fire & Smudging
• Friday Feasts
• Group readings
• Talking circles
• Drum circles
• Movie and games nights
• And more!

Apart from Dalhousie’s regular merit-based entrance scholarships, some are specifically for Indigenous students:

Dalhousie Indigenous Graduate Scholarship

• Valued at $15,000/year
• Awarded annually to an Indigenous/Aboriginal student who has either recently started or is planning to pursue graduate studies at Dalhousie. Find out more

First Nations & Indigenous Black Students Scholarships (Undergraduate)

• $3,000 renewable entrance scholarships
• Available to First Nations and Indigenous Black students from the Maritime provinces

Nova Scotia Black and First Nations Graduate Entrance Scholarships

• $15,000 renewable scholarships
• available to Nova Scotia Black and First Nations graduate students (master’s or doctoral level)

Morris Saffron Award

• Available to Status or Non-Status Indigenous graduates of Dalhousie’s Transition Year Program

The University of King’s College scholarships

• Available specifically for Indigenous students studying at the University of King’s College, including the Dr. Carrie Best Scholarship, the Alumni Media Scholarship, and the ATV Media Scholarship

Additional Dalhousie bursaries

• Dalhousie can also help all eligible students with some financial support through varous bursaries.

Indspire

• Indspire, an Indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people, also offer bursaries and scholarships.

NWAC Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award

• Every year, Native Women's Association of Canada coordinates the Helen Bassett Commemorative Award granted to four young Indigenous women in the amount of $1,000 each. The awards are made possible by the generous donation of Helen Bassett. Helen Bassett was an Ontario artist and an amazing woman who tried to make a difference as an individual and engage the government into fair solutions to Aboriginal land claim issues.

STEAM Horizon Awards

• STEAM Horizon Awards are available to Canadian students aged 16-18 who will be/are pursuing post secondary studies in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts or Math at a Canadian university.

Loretta Saunders Community Scholarship Fund

• The Loretta Saunders Community Scholarship Fund is a scholarship fund to support indigenous women in their chosen field of study.

NIB Trust Fund

• The NIB Trust Fund supports education programs aimed at healing, reconciliation and knowledge building. Funds are available to First Nation and Métis individuals. Visit the website for more information.

Additional scholarships and bursaries can be found through search tools such as the Government of Canada Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool, Scholarships Canada, and Scholarship Tree. 

Michele Graveline (she/her) - Indigenous Student Advisor

Michele Graveline (she/her) is an Indigenous Student Advisor at Dalhousie. She grew up in a Metis community within Treaty 5 in Northern Manitoba and relocated to Mi’kma’ki in 1995. She completed a BA (Hons.) at the University of Manitoba (’92) and a MAEd at Mount Saint Vincent University (‘08). Her interests include Earth-based healing, plant medicine, personal writing, ecological relations, cultural safety, and anti-violence against women and MMIWGTS. She has been supporting Indigenous students in this territory since 2009, first in public schools and starting in 2017, at Dalhousie.

Michele can be reached at mgraveline@dal.ca.

Dillon Hughson (he/him) - Indigenous Student Advisor

Dillon Hughson is an Indigenous Student Advisor at Dalhousie. He is a member of Qalipu Mi’kmaw First Nation and identifies as an urban Indigenous person having grown up in the Kjipuktuk (Halifax) area. He began supporting Indigenous students in public schools in 2021, and later returned to the classroom after obtaining his Bachelor of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University. His interests include culturally responsive and restorative practices to help students achieve and enjoy their goals. In his spare time, Dillon enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the Atlantic provinces and practicing mindfulness.  

Dillon can be reached at Dillon.Hughson@dal.ca.