Indigenous Summer Scholars Program (ISSP)
The Indigenous Summer Scholars Program (ISSP) is a 12-week applied research program that engages Indigenous undergraduate students and recent graduates from undergraduate programs in a variety of scholarly, collaborative, and community-based research projects while they explore the possibilities of graduate studies.
Meet the 2024 Indigenous Summer Scholars
Each year, Indigenous undergraduates and recent graduates from undergraduate programs (the "scholars") participate in this paid summer program in which they are matched with them with University of Winnipeg Faculty members (the "researchers") and contribute to their ongoing research projects. The scholars are immersed in the research team and mentored directly by an assigned faculty member.
During the program, the scholars participate in a series of workshops to build their academic and research skills, and social and cultural activities such as a welcoming feast, sharing circles, and beading workshops.
Each scholar receives an award of $5,000 for their participation in the program.
Scholars may be nominated by researchers to take part in their summer project, or may apply directly to the program to be paired with a researcher.
The Indigenous Summer Scholars Program has two components:
- Each summer scholar receives training as a member of a research team, undertaking research on a project under the supervision of a faculty or staff researcher.
- The scholars participate in a series of workshops and events designed to give them an introduction to the centrality of research in graduate studies, to Indigenous knowledges in the academy, and to the skills needed to succeed as a graduate student.
Students receive an award of $5,000 for their participation over the twelve weeks.
Check out a documentary video from the 2017 ISSP program:
For more information contact issp@uwinnipeg.ca.
The goals of the program are:
- To strengthen the pathways for Indigenous students to move into advanced study and, ultimately, into leadership in the academy and all sectors of society.
- To re-affirm the significance and centrality of Indigenous peoples, ways of knowing, and experiences at The University of Winnipeg.
- To create a network of Indigenous scholars and allies on campus.
Faculty and staff can complete the Research Project Proposal Form to submit their project to the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program.
Funded faculty researchers and their teams each host and mentor one or more scholars, with the project awarding each scholar a $5,000 stipend. Research teams without funding are still encouraged to apply as the Faculty of Graduate Studies has a limited number of stipends to support projects or researchers who cannot fully fund their own scholars. Research teams led by Indigenous faculty will receive full funding.
The project proposal form allows faculty to nominate a student to participate in the project, if they wish. Students who are nominated will receive an email directing them to complete the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program Student Application Form.
Both the Research Project Proposal Form and Indigenous Summer Scholars Program Application Form are due March 1, 2024.
NSERC funded ISSP researchers and paired scholars may wish to combine the ISSP program with an NSERC USRA. If so, please read Combining the ISSP with the USRA and review the 2024 ISSP/ NSERC USRA Guidelines
To be considered for the program, regardless of whether or not they have been nominated, students must complete the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program Application Form.
The form requires all applicants to upload an unofficial transcript or marks statement.
Applicants who have not been nominated to the program will be asked to upload a letter of recommendation from a University of Winnipeg faculty member. The letter of recommendation should comment on the applicant's aptitude for research and/or the importance of the ISSP to the applicant.
Learn about our Summer Scholars from previous years:
2023 Summer Scholars
2022 Summer Scholars
2021 Summer Scholars
2020 Summer Scholars
2019 Summer Scholars