McMaster gets ‘remarkable’ $5M gift for Indigenous academic, support programs

McMaster University has received a $5 million gift from the Mastercard Foundation as recognition of the schools commitment and leadership in Indigenous education.

In a release from the university, it says the funding was given with the goal of advancing the schools ability to develop and operate programs and services that support the values and goals of young Indigenous people.

“It will serve as an important catalyst that will help strengthen and sustain Indigenous education at McMaster and across Canada,” says Vanessa Watts, the acting chair of the Indigenous Studies Department at McMaster.

“This gift will enable us to build on the success of our long-standing programs and create exciting new opportunities to support the goals and aspirations of our incredible Indigenous students.”

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The gift was given as part of the Mastercard Foundation EleV Program which is aiming to create post-secondary pathways for 100,000 Indigenous young people and help them move into careers by 2030.

The foundation split up an investment of $235 million to recognize the impact 30 Canadian organizations are having in advancing education for young Indigenous people.

The investment is said to be to honour the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report and 94 calls to action.

McMaster says it is working with Indigenous communities at the school to determine how they will allocate the funding.

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