The Samson Cree Nation Post-Secondary Student Support Program is committed to providing vital support services to our members pursuing higher education. Since its transition from the Department of Indian Affairs to the Samson Cree Nation Board of Education in 1994, the program has empowered students to pursue academic and career success, reflecting the resilience and determination of our people.
Through funding from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Samson Cree Nation, and provincial grants, we uphold our responsibility to create opportunities for our people to thrive in both the traditional and modern worlds.
The Samson Cree Nation Post-Secondary Student Support Program is guided by the core values of the Samson Cree Nation:
These values form the foundation of our program, ensuring our work reflects our commitment to the well-being and success of our community.
Education has always been central to our identity as First Nations people. Historically, the knowledge shared by elders, parents, and relatives equipped the young to take on their roles within the community. This tradition of teaching and learning laid the foundation for the treaties that formalized our relationship with settlers, including the promise of education as a treaty right.
Treaty Right to Education refers to Treaty No. 6 between Her Majesty the Queen and the Plains and Wood Cree Indians of Fort Carlton and Fort Pitt 1876 as follows:
“Her Majesty agrees to maintain schools for instruction in such reserves hereby made as to Her Government of Dominion of Canada may seem advisable, whenever the Indians of the reserve shall desire it.”
— Recorded February 24, 1877
This promise symbolizes more than just access to education; it represents a commitment to ensuring our people succeed in a world that requires both traditional knowledge and new ways of learning. Though the treaty relationship has often been unequal, we continue to exercise our treaty right to education, working to reimagine what education means for our people and future generations.
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Founder
To cultivate a healthy, educated, knowledgeable, and industrious Samson Cree Nation community.
To support Samson Cree Nation students with funding, guidance, and resources for academic success and leadership development.
Central to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program is the concept of the Direct Education Pathway. This pathway allows students to outline their career and educational goals and chart a course for success. Whether pursuing a single diploma or a multi-degree pathway, the program is designed to prepare Samson Cree Nation members for meaningful careers and entry into the workforce.
We encourage our students to approach their education as a tool for personal and community empowerment. By aligning their studies with their career aspirations, they can continue the legacy of using individual gifts and skills to benefit our Nation, just as our ancestors did as leaders, hunters, visionaries, and negotiators.
Today, the Samson Cree Nation Post-Secondary Student Support Program is more than just a resource—it is a testament to the resilience and determination of our people. Together, we are rewriting the narrative of education, supporting our youth in attaining higher levels of learning, and inspiring a future where their knowledge and skills contribute to the prosperity of Samson Cree Nation as a whole.
Our shared vision is to foster success for our students, equipping them to thrive in the two worlds we inhabit. Post-secondary education is not just a pathway to individual achievement but a collective journey to uplift our Nation and build a brighter future for generations to come.
With each graduate, we continue the legacy of excellence, honoring the promise of the treaty, and ensuring that the opportunities envisioned by our ancestors become a reality for every member of Samson Cree Nation.
