Congratulations to McGill’s Indigenous Vanier Scholars: Michelle E. Smith (DISE), Wahéhshon Shiann Whitebean (DISE), and Iris Kahtehrón:ni Stacey (Education)

On July 15, the federal government announced the newest cohort of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholars. Of the 26 McGill Vanier recipients, two are Indigenous scholars, Jeremy Desjarlais and Michelle Smith.

With the addition of Desjarlais and Smith, the total number of Indigenous Vanier Scholars currently studying at the University has doubled. Reaching this milestone is not just happenstance, says Josephine Nalbantoglu, Associate Provost (Graduate Education) & Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. It is the result of a concerted effort to recruit and retain Indigenous scholars, and to provide them with institutional support.

Recipients were Michelle E. Smith (Integrated Studies in Education), Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 2021, Wahéhshon Shiann Whitebean (Integrated Studies in Education), Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 2020, and Iris Kahtehrón:ni Stacey (Education), Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 2018.

“Recruiting Indigenous students to pursue graduate studies at McGill is a big priority for us, and I have been thrilled to see an increase in the number of Indigenous applicants to our graduate programs,” says the Dean. “I am especially proud to see our Indigenous doctoral students receive Canada’s most prestigious national awards year after year. Like all Vanier Scholars, McGill’s Indigenous Vanier recipients are innovative leaders committed to expanding knowledge. The outstanding work of these four scholars in the areas of language revitalization, education, and culture showcases the research excellence McGill is known for.”

Read the full McGill Reporter article on Vanier Scholars.