The Canadian Press · National
Gillis Purcell Memorial Scholarship for Indigenous People
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for a scholarship supporting Indigenous students pursuing careers in journalism. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact Indspire (the organization that manages this funding) to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student who wants to tell stories and report news through a career in journalism. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Indspire how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Indspire during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Indspire whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Studying Journalism — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Draft and revise your essays~10 hours
Use the STAR framework. Be specific, show impact, proofread twice.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is giving a vague answer about why you like news.
Winners instead share a specific story or local issue they want to investigate.
Mention a specific beat, like environment or politics, to show you have a plan.
The biggest mistake is using a general teacher who doesn't know your writing style.
Winners instead ask a journalism professor or a local editor who can vouch for your curiosity and ethics.
Get a letter that proves you have the grit for reporting.