Join UCalgary's thriving community of Indigenous learners, leaders and changemakers
We look forward to supporting you to join our campus community! You’ll be joining a community that welcomes, respects and supports the rich diversity of Indigenous learners, their communities, cultural traditions and aspirations in post-secondary education.
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).
The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”
As the hub of Indigenous life on campus, Writing Symbols Lodge helps students succeed by providing a variety of services, facilities, programs and events.
Did you know UCalgary has a variety of Indigenous-specific clubs such as the Indigenous Students’ Circle or the Calgary Indigenous STEAM Students’ Association? Explore all of our clubs here
The University of Calgary offers both high school awards and continuing awards. You apply to high school awards prior to university and to continuing awards each summer after your first year. Students who receive third party funding (such as band funding) are still eligible for awards.
As part of submitting UCalgary's standard award application, you may be considered for several awards specific to Indigenous students. Examples include:
$10,000
High school award
Awarded to Indigenous students based on academic merit and essay
$5,000
High school award
Awarded to Metis students from Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Métis Nation of Alberta)
$5,000
High school award
Awarded based on academic merit, financial need and contribution to school/community
$2,500
High school award
Awarded to students whose parent(s), legal guardian(s), or chose family guardian(s) have never attended a post-secondary institution, either full-time or part-time, in Canada or anywhere in the world OR is a student who was a child or youth in care in Canada
Some awards are granted to multiple recipients. You can apply as soon as you’ve submitted your application for admission.
Tessa WolfLeg is taking International Indigenous Studies at UCalgary, with a minor in psychology.
UCalgary is committed to recruiting and supporting Indigenous students in our post-secondary programs. Admission pathways offer a supplementary admissions review process and bridging programs for Indigenous applicants. These admission pathways enable faculty-specific commitments to increase access for Indigenous learners.
UCalgary has a dedicated team to support prospective Indigenous students with questions about programs, admission and Indigenous support on campus.
Don’t be too shy to explore the Writing Symbols Lodge. Even if you don’t know anyone, come and sit down. And, if you’re alone, I’ll come say hi! We have a supportive group of Indigenous students from across Canada at UCalgary, and it's a place to seek help when you need it because we can't go through life alone.
Joshwa Campiou, BA in Psychology
UCalgary‘s Indigenous Strategy, ii’ taa’poh’to’p, was launched on Nov. 16, 2017.
Grounded in compassion and informed by community, ii’ taa’poh’to’p remains a guiding light for the campus community to engage in transformative reconciliation through acts of decolonization and indigenization of the academy in ways of knowing, doing, connecting, and being.
As a strategy, ii’ taa’poh’to’p is both a collective vision and a call to action, guiding the university on a progressive journey of transformation and renewal. The strategy outlines the university’s ongoing commitment to principles and recommendations designed to inform and imagine our way forward towards Truth and Reconciliation.