Program aims to help First Nation students close Manitoba’s life-expectancy gap

It’s a program aimed at helping Indigenous healthcare students and closing the life-expectancy gap between First Nations and others living in the province and it’s looking for applicants. 

On Tuesday, a joint announcement made by the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) and the Business Council of Manitoba (BCM) detailed how 150 awards, worth a total $450,000, will now be distributed over a five-year period to students in healthcare from SCO First Nations.

“Our Nations want more of our people delivering health care. The financial awards we are announcing today — 30 each year for the next five years — are an important component of our Health Human Resources strategy,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels in a news release. 

“We encourage students from SCO member Nations to apply to the Business Council for an SCO award to support their educational journey and alleviate some of the financial burden, allowing students to focus on their studies.”

The program, part of the Indigenous Education Awards established in 2001 by the BCM, is aimed at ensuring Indigenous patients get the best-quality healthcare that includes a strong focus on their cultural and holistic needs, as right now, the SCO says less than 1.5 per cent of nurses and fewer than 1 per cent of doctors are Indigenous.

“It is crucial for the BCM and our membership to actively participate in reconciliation,” said Jesse Steckley in the release, the Council’s director of Indigenous Education Awards and Work Integrated Learning. “By investing in Indigenous students, our members are dedicated to a future workforce representative of the people in Manitoba.”

Since its inception, the program has seen 3,300 awards distributed worth more than $8 million to almost 2,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students, and the partnership and 150 awards are being lauded by the provincial government. 

“Our government’s number one priority is fixing healthcare. We are proud to partner in supporting more First Nation students in accessing post-secondary education, so they can pursue their dreams of becoming healthcare leaders in Manitoba,” said Minister of Advanced Education and Training Renée Cable in the release.

“Working collaboratively with Indigenous governments and the business community will help address the healthcare needs in Indigenous communities and across Manitoba. I’m excited to see what these students will accomplish.”

Members of the SCO First Nations are encouraged to apply through the Council’s website or submit a hard-copy application by May 31, 2025.