TD Bank Group, in collaboration with AFOA Canada, has unveiled the 25 recipients of the 2024 TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples. The chosen students, hailing from First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada, will receive financial support to further their post-secondary education.
Doris Bear, Vice President of Indigenous Banking at TD, expressed pride in the initiative.
“We are proud to play a role in supporting students from Indigenous communities in their journeys towards achieving their academic and career ambitions,” she said. “It is also our privilege to help connect them with employment opportunities under the program, as well as make our terrific network of colleagues and leaders available to them as part of this experience.”
Launched in November 2022 and managed by AFOA Canada, a not-for-profit organization led by Indigenous Peoples, the scholarship program aims to empower Indigenous students and invest in their communities’ futures. Terry Goodtrack, President and CEO of AFOA Canada, emphasized the program’s transformative potential.
“The TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples can help transform the lives of students and is also an investment in the future of Indigenous communities,” Goodtrack stated. “This scholarship helps empower the student recipients to pursue a positive future for themselves and their communities.”
Intern joins HR team
One of the recipients, Cailen Davis, who is studying Business Administration at Saint Francis Xavier University, expressed gratitude for the scholarship and internship opportunity with TD’s Human Resources team.
“I’m grateful to be a scholarship recipient and to be interning with the Human Resources team at TD this summer,” Davis said. He highlighted the importance of acknowledging the past while taking responsibility for the future, referring to the Mi’kmaw concept of Two-Eyed Seeing.
Each of the 25 recipients will receive $15,000 per year for up to four years to cover tuition and living expenses. They will also have access to internship opportunities with TD, providing valuable work experience, and will be offered full-time employment upon successful completion of their studies.
2024 recipients
The 2024 recipients include:
- Amber Big Plume, Tsuut’ina Nation, Alberta
- Arden Elliot, Mattagami First Nation, Ontario
- Audrey Robertson, Fisher River Cree Nation, Manitoba
- Brianna Patrick, Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation, Manitoba
- Cailen Davis, Membertou, Nova Scotia
- Dante Carter, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan
- Fitzgerald Stuart, Inuvik, Northwest Territories
- Jayna Maytwayashing, Lake Manitoba First Nation, Manitoba
- Jessica Mirasty, Flying Dust First Nation, Saskatchewan
- Kate Young, Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan
- Kaylei Denny, Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia
- Kya Steinbach-Parker, We’koqma’q, Nova Scotia
- Lonnie Cote, Cote First Nation, Saskatchewan
- Madeline Wastesicoot, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta
- Maxine Iron, Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Saskatchewan
- Meghan Breen, Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation, Northwest Territories
- naskwâw Laframboise, Manitoba Métis Federation, Manitoba
- Neylan Stevens, Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia
- Norma Handsor, Tŝideldel First Nation, British Columbia
- Sadie Turning Robe, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Saskatchewan
- Saskia-Mae Livingstone, Métis Nation of Alberta, Alberta
- Shera Wysote, Listuguj Miꞌgmaq First Nation, Quebec
- Teagan Dubiel, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan
- Tyler Trudeau, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations of One Man Lake, Swan Lake and Whitedog, Ontario
- Valerie Bozark, Dene Tha’ First Nation, Alberta
The scholarship is available to members of First Nation, Métis, or Inuit communities who are permanent residents of Canada and enrolled in a full-time, minimum two-year program at an approved post-secondary institution in Canada. Applications for the 2025 scholarships will be open online starting September 2024.
For more information on the scholarship program and this year’s recipients, visit the TD Bank Group and AFOA Canada websites.
About TD Bank Group TD Bank Group is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets, serving over 27.5 million customers. TD’s operations include Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges under the symbol “TD”.
About AFOA Canada AFOA Canada, an Indigenous institution, focuses on capacity development and the day-to-day needs of Indigenous professionals in management, finance, band administration, leadership, and program management. AFOA Canada aims to improve the management skills of those responsible for Indigenous resources, contributing to successful self-determination and a better future for Indigenous people and communities.