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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact the Indigenous Graduate Students' Association? 

You can contact us via email at igsa@ualberta.ca or by visiting us at our office in 2-105 Education North. (Office hours to resume shortly.) ​

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We encourage Indigenous graduate students (and Indigenous undergraduate students) to pop in! Meet the IGSA Executives, study/write, or have some tea! This space is for all of us to build community and support each other.

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Please note that the IGSA office is closed on general holidays.

How do I become a member of the IGSA?

All graduate students enrolled at the U of A and self-declaring as Indigenous shall be considered for membership in the IGSA. International students who identify as Indigenous may additionally be eligible for membership. Membership is free and comes with voting privileges at our AGM.

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You can request membership on our BearsDen page to be included on the IGSA mailing list.​

What funding opportunities are available for FNMI graduate students?

We encourage all full-time FNMI graduate students to apply for the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship Indigenous (AGES-I). You might also be eligible for the Indigenous Graduate Award in Research and various bursaries found on the Government of Canada's Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool.

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IGSA members will be updated on different funding opportunities throughout the year in our weekly newsletter (must be an active BearsDen member to be added to the listserv).

Where on campus can I smudge? 

This document overviews the University of Alberta's smudging guidelines. Here you will find suggestions on which rooms on campus can be booked for ceremony and smudging. In order to book a room for ceremony, you can fill out a space evaluation form here.

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Additionally, you can use the Smudge and Meditation room in First People's House during office hours. The room has a specialized fan/air system.​

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When does the IGSA host elections for core council?

The IGSA has two election periods during the year. One in the spring and one in the fall. Information about elections are sent out via the First People's House listserv.

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The Fall 2024 election is happening now!.

I want to nominate myself for a position on the IGSA, but I can't attend meetings in person. Is that a problem?

Nope! The IGSA almost exclusively hosts meetings online. The only positions that require in-person work are those that choose to host weekly office hours. Almost all of the duties can be done remotely.

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The only requirements to qualify for nomination are as follows:

  • Individuals must be full time or part time graduate students at the University of Alberta during the academic year in which they are in office,

  • Individuals must be Indigenous (as defined by subsection 1.01.01(1) of the Constitution of the IGSA),

  • All elected individuals must attend a minimum of 2/3 of scheduled IGSA meetings.

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Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about the duties of IGSA positions.

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