TRU announced it received a $5 million award to go toward advancing post-secondary education for Indigenous youth (Image credit: Curtis Goodrum/CFJC Today).
By Aaron Schulze
Indigenous Youth Education

TRU receives $5 million award to advance post-secondary education for Indigenous youth

Sep 9, 2025 | 11:07 AM

KAMLOOPS — A $5 million award to Thompson Rivers University (TRU) will go toward advancing post-secondary education for Indigenous youth.

TRU announced it was a recipient of the Mastercard Foundation’s EleV Program’s funding for its innovative and impactful initiatives for Indigenous youth.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Sept. 9), TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Airini said the university plans to further strengthen work with students and communities across Secwepemcúl’ecw and beyond and help advance educational and research opportunities where Indigenous knowledge, values and leadership are equal.

“By accepting this gift, we undertake to advance language revitalization, education and research initiatives that support the next generation of Indigenous learners and knowledge makers at TRU. We are inspired to build stronger futures for all, together, through the power of education and research,” Dr. Airini said.

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TRU says the award is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment of providing $235 million to 30 organizations across Canada to advance post-secondary education for Indigenous youth.

“Thompson Rivers University is listening deeply and acting boldly for reconciliation, centring relationships with Indigenous Peoples at the heart of its work and shaping its mission, operations, and curriculum to embed Indigenous values,” Jennifer Brennan, Mastercard Foundation senior director of Canada programs said.

by Aaron Schulze

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