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Graduate Studies

Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Students

The Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Students was established in 2009 in honour of Harvey E. Longboat, and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to McMaster University, the Six Nations of the Grand River and broader communities.

The award is tenable for one academic year, beginning September. Recipients can receive the award more than once, but must re-apply each year.

Overview

Eligibility

The Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship is open to

  • incoming or returning graduate students (Master’s or PhD) of First Nation, Inuit, or Métis descent.
  • applicants who will be attending McMaster University in the September 2024 to August 2025 academic year. Students must intend to be enrolled for a minimum of two terms.

Note: The Harvey Longboat Award is not exclusive to students from the Six Nations of the Grand River Communities; the application is open to any current graduate student (or applicant to a graduate program at McMaster University) who identifies as First Nation, Inuit, or Métis.

Selection criteria

Award winners demonstrate

  • exceptional promise in community leadership
  • mentorship to other Indigenous students
  • mentorship within First Nation, Inuit, or Métis communities
  • leadership to advance Indigenous education, either inside or outside of a university setting
  • high academic achievement

Intent

This award is intended as a means to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievement and exceptional promise of an Indigenous graduate student or students at McMaster University. Consideration is also given to Indigenous scholars who have demonstrated mentorship within community settings.

Value

Several students may receive this award simultaneously. A total value of $30,000 in scholarship is available for the Harvey E. Longboat Award, to be dispersed according to the following division:

  • $15,000 awarded to one individual recipient; and
  • $15,000 awarded to either one individual OR divided and awarded to several recipients (typically 2-5 awards, at the discretion of the selection committee).

Questions

If you have any questions, please email the School of Graduate Studies at graduatescholarships@mcmaster.ca and/or Senior Advisor, Indigenous Student Services at indigsc@mcmaster.ca.

Information Box Group

How to apply

Step One: Student Application and Transcripts

  • Student candidate completes the application portion. This includes: Applicant information section and (a maximum one page each) for the statements
    1. Letter of Introduction,
    2. Community Involvement Statement
    3. Plan of Study, plus transcripts (scanned from all postsecondary institutions attended).
  • Completed candidate application portion to be combined as one .PDF saved with the file name ‘Student Last Name_Longboat_2024’.
  • Candidates upload completed application portion to MacDrive.

Step Two: Referees

  • Applicants to contact one academic and one community member for a reference.
  • When contacting referees, students should ask their referees to provide their letters on organizational letterhead (where applicable) then upload their reference letters to MacDrive.
  • Referees can refer to Selection Criteria to help inform the content of their letters.
  • Naming conventions for their reference letters are:
    • Student Last Name_Community Reference_2024 or
    • Student Last Name_Academic Reference_2024.
  • You will be required to provide an upload link to your referees.

Harvey E. Longboat Scholarship Application Checklist

A complete Harvey E. Longboat Scholarship application includes these components:

  1. Candidate Application (with Letter of Introduction, Community Involvement Statement, Plan of Study)
  2. Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions (scanned copies are OK)
  3. Community Reference Letter
  4. Academic Reference Letter

Check Quick Forms for reference letter templates. You will find Quick Forms on the upper right hand side of this webpage or below (if viewing on a mobile device).

Longboat Graduate Scholarship recipients

Information Box Group

2022/23

  • Marrissa Mathews, PhD, Political Science
  • Alexandra Nychuk, PhD, Health and Society
  • Kaeliana Smoke, Masters, Anthropology

2021/22

  • Johannah Bird, PhD, English
  • Alexandra Nychuk, PhD, Health and Society

2020/21

  • Amanda Beaudry, Masters, Nursing
  • Johannah Bird, PhD, English
  • Rachel Van Every, PhD, Health, Aging and Society
  • Alexandra Wagstaffe, PhD, English

2019/20

  • Johannah Bird, PhD, English
  • Jill Harvey Rogers, Masters, Sociology
  • Laurie Sherry Kirk, PhD, Social Work
  • Marrissa Mathews, PhD, Political Science
  • Denise McQueen, Masters

2018/19

  • Johannah Bird, PhD, English
  • Katelyn Knott, Masters, Gender Studies and Feminist Research
  • Kelsey Leonard, PhD, Political Science
  • Marrissa Mathews, PhD, Political Science
  • Joanna Miller, Masters, Physiotherapy
  • Mary Ellen Simon, Masters, Anthropology

2017/18

  • Aimee Battcock, Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour
  • Johannah Bird, English, PhD
  • Kelsey Leonard, PhD, Political Science
  • Rachelle McKay
  • Mary Ellen Simon, Masters, Anthropology

2016/17

  • Rachel Bomberry, Masters, Health Policy
  • Kelsey Leonard, PhD, Political Science
  • Joshua Wilfred Manitowabi, Masters, Anthropology

2015/16

  • Laurel Curley, PhD, Social Work
  • Christa Lee Jonathan, Masters, Sociology
  • Kelsey Leonard, PhD, Political Science
  • Joshua Wilfred Manitowabi, Masters, Anthropology
  • Carrie Lynn McMullin, Masters, History
  • Lacey Jeanette VanEvery, Masters, Public Health

2014/15

  • Kaitlin Sandra Debicki, English and Cultural Studies
  • Sandra Muse, PhD, English and Cultural Studies

2013/14

  • Kaitlin Sandra Debicki, English and Cultural Studies
  • Sandra Muse, PhD, English and Cultural Studies
  • Randa Stringer, PhD, Medical Sciences

2012/13

  • Laurel Curley, PhD, Social Work
  • Shelby King, PhD, English and Cultural Studies
  • Sandra Muse, PhD, English and Cultural Studies

2011/12

  • Jennifer Adese, PhD, English and Cultural Studies
  • Laurel Curley, PhD, Social Work

2010/11

  • Sandra Muse, PhD, English and Cultural Studies

Q&A with Alexandra Nychuk, 2022-23 Longboat Scholar

Alexandra Nychuk of Manitoba Métis Federation-Bison Local, is in her second year of a PhD in health and society. She is studying under the guidance of her supervisor, Dr. Chelsea Gabel.

Alexandra joined McMaster from the University of Winnipeg, where she completed a Master’s in Development Practice – Indigenous Development.

About your academic journey

What inspired you to continue on your academic journey once you had completed your undergrad degree?

I really ended up here on accident. As a neurodivergent student, I have struggled with reading and writing but love the acquisition of new knowledge. My undergraduate degree in Athletic Training (Athletic Therapy in Canada) really ignited my interest in research. As a health care practitioner, I learned that the power of my patient’s “history”—or what I would now call storytelling—were far more impactful in their diagnosis than the special tests that I was being taught.

As I continue on my educational trajectory, I notice the importance of storytelling in my work and studies, and also in my life generally. For me it is not about telling my own story but rather listening and providing my Indigenous kin opportunities to tell their stories using ethical, and sometimes what broader society would deem as unconventional methods.

What is the focus of your research?

The process of colonization continues to affect First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in diverse ways depending on each group’s history, experiences, and policies. Currently there is a large gap in Métis-specific health research for two main reasons:

    1. the Métis are the only Indigenous group whose health is not a federal responsibility, therefore making tracking Métis medical information more difficult, and
    2. misidentification due to individuals with mixed ancestry self-identifying as Métis has created inaccurate statistics.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic and debilitating gastrointestinal condition, with two main types:

    • Crohn’s Disease
    • Ulcerative Colitis

Both conditions have detrimental effects on quality of life.

Globally, Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD. In other parts of the world, IBD has been linked to the process of westernization and modernization which are closely linked with the process of colonization. In addition, colonization has been recognized as a significant factor in causing disproportional rates of mental illness in Indigenous people. A recent study found that there is a correlation between childhood trauma and IBD. Despite this, there has been little investigation into the prevalence and/or effects of IBD on Indigenous populations in Canada.

This study uses a body mapping method to answer two questions:

    1. What are the consequences of IBD on mental health in Métis patients?
    2. What is the role of colonialism on Métis identity (intergenerational trauma, stress, and shame) in these consequences?

Once you complete your PhD, where do you see yourself?

This is a really great question. At this point I am not sure exactly, but I envision myself within the growing field of health. I will continue to challenge myself to understand and accept other ways of doing, knowing and being as valid.

About the Longboat Scholarship

You have received the Longboat Scholarship twice; what has this award meant to you?

I am very honoured to have received this generous award twice, as it has relieved a significant amount of my financial burden, allowing me not only to focus on my studies but devote more time to extracurricular initiatives, such as STEM Fellowship Indigenous Advisory council lead and McMaster Indigenous Graduate Students Chair. These opportunities allow me to participate in the creation of decolonial mentorship and education opportunities for my kin, in addition to engaging in research and strategic planning initiatives outside of academia for development of the Manitoba Métis Nation.

What advice do you have for other Indigenous students who would like to apply for the Longboat?

Apply even if you are not sure that you fit the criteria, as we are often our worst critics. Do not be afraid to ask trusted people to read over your application and give feedback as sometimes you miss things. Another set of eyes can really enhance your application. Also, seek out previous winner’s applications. I have learned a lot from looking at my mentor’s previous applications and always share my applications with others, in return.