WARMAN, SK – The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network (SIEDN) and Great Plains College were proud to award the fifth SREDA Indigenous Economic Development Scholarship (SIEDS) to Kelly Cameron.
The SIEDS scholarship was established to recognize leaders in the Indigenous community by offering an annual $5,000 scholarship to an Indigenous student who is actively enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Community Economic Development. The program is offered by Cape Breton University and hosted at Great Plains College Warman Campus.
“SREDA is committed to strengthening the next generation of Indigenous leaders as it’s our belief that a successful, growing economy, is an economy where all people thrive,” said Erin Lawson, Interim CEO of SREDA. “We’re proud to lead this initiative, along with Great Plains College and SIEDN, to support these leaders as they gain new skills and expand their career opportunities.”
This year’s recipient, Kelly Cameron of Duck Lake, is the Business Supervisor, Indigenous Engagement at SaskEnergy, where his focus is to help prepare Indigenous communities and organizations for economic, community and business development opportunities to ensure they play a key role in the economy for years come, ultimately helping creating a better quality of life for their people. Kelly is a life-long learner, having previously earned a Business Administration Diploma in Management Studies from Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and a Bachelor of Management, Aboriginal Business and First Nation Governance from University of Lethbridge prior to beginning his MBA in Community Economic Development.
“This MBA program has been challenging and rewarding in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The flexibility of a part-time program has allowed me to benefit from receiving a top-notch education while continuing to work full-time and maintain my commitments to my family,” said Kelly. “Thank you to all those who made this scholarship possible, the additional support will have a great impact on myself and my family as I continue my education. I look forward to using my MBA education as a mechanism to further assist Indigenous people and communities in building capacity to identify and initiate their own solutions to economic, social and environmental issues, ultimately helping build healthy, economically viable communities.”
In addition to Kelly’s academic achievements he has also volunteered his expertise as a board member to many non-profit organizations that are committed to the advancement of Indigenous peoples, including the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce Saskatchewan (ICCS), Saskatoon Aboriginal Professionals Association (SAPA) and United Way.
“We are honoured to award the fifth SIEDS scholarship to Kelly Cameron, a deserving candidate who fits the bill of ‘leader in the Indigenous community’,” said Brad Mahon, president and CEO at Great Plains College. “Kelly has had a great impact on the communities and organizations he has been involved with and we look forward to seeing that impact grow as he completes the MBA program.”
Since the partnership was first established in 2018, SREDA has committed $15,0000 toward the SIEDS scholarship, which has been matched through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship program for a total of $30,000.
“SIEDN supports higher education as the elders said ‘education is our new buffalo’,’” said Milton Tootoosis, founder and Chair of SIEDN and chief economic reconciliation officer for SREDA. “Advanced learning opportunities for Indigenous people, such as this, will help build the capacity First Nations and Metis communities need to help rebuild their economies, like they always had for thousands of years prior to the colonization.”
The MBA in Community Economic Development is offered on alternate weekends over a two-year period at Great Plains College Warman Campus through Cape Breton University. This program allows students to earn an innovative MBA while working, with a focus on strategic leadership, First Nations economic development and public policy.
More information about the SIEDS scholarship or Great Plains College’s Entrance Scholarship program is available at greatplainscollege.ca/scholarships.
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About Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA)
SREDA helps entrepreneurs start and expand businesses, support Indigenous economic reconciliation, assist in the attraction of new business to the Saskatoon Region, encourage local business growth, coordinate collaborative development across the Saskatoon Region and provide insight on the local economy. For more information, visit sreda.com.
About Great Plains College
Great Plains College offers post-secondary certificate, diploma and degree programs as well as university, safety training, adult basic education and English language training throughout its locations in Biggar, Kindersley, Martensville, Maple Creek, Swift Current and Warman.
About Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network (SIEDN)
Established in 2012, SIEDN was created organically through discussions among key First Nations economic development leaders who shared common goals and a vision for First Nations economic development in Saskatchewan. The mission of SIEDN is “To promote and support the sustainable economic livelihood of Saskatchewan Indigenous communities through building capacity, relationships and knowledge” focusing on capacity development, networking, communications and research and advocacy.
For more information on Great Plains College, contact:
Amy Masse, communications & marketing coordinator
Phone: (306) 778-5498
Email
For more information on SREDA, contact:
Erin Lawson, Interim CEO and Chief Marketing Officer
Phone: 306-664-0724
Email