Indigenous MLIS Student Award

Eligibility

The Indigenous MLIS Student Award is open to any person of Canadian Indigenous Ancestry (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit). At the time of application, the applicant must be either accepted to or enrolled in a part-time or full-time ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science graduate degree program or equivalent.

Applicants must not have received this award in the past. Candidates will not receive the Maureen Woods Education Award and this award in the same year. Preference will be given to Saskatchewan residents or persons with strong Saskatchewan connections.

Applications open on September 9 and close on October 31, 2024.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be considered on the basis of demonstrated ability to fulfill program requirements (indicated by academic achievement and/or references), leadership potential, interest in the profession, demonstration of competencies required of professional librarians of today, and connection to and interest in Saskatchewan.

Applications for the award must include:

1. A completed Indigenous MLIS Student Award online application form;
2. An up-to-date resume;
3. A cover letter, which should outline the applicants cultural connections and how their lived cultural experience has contributed to shaping their interest in librarianship, their interest in and/or connection to Saskatchewan, their interest in librarianship, and their career goals and objectives;
4. Legal documentation stating identification as an Indigenous person and/or a letter from a recognized member or leader of your Indigenous community that attests to your identity and specifies your engagement with your community;
5. Two letters of reference, one academic and one employment, who can testify to the candidate’s academic achievement and professional ability, to be sent directly to the SLA office;
6. Post-secondary transcripts sent directly from your institution to the SLA office (via email or mail)

A short interview with finalists may be required.

How to Apply

Please fill out the online application form. If you have any questions about your application, please email the SLA office at info@saskla.ca.

Any accompanying reference letters, electronic transcripts, or electronic proof of enrollment can be emailed to info@saskla.ca. Physical copies of any documents can be mailed to:

Saskatchewan Library Association
Suite 14 – 1870 Lorne St.
Regina, SK
S4P 2L7

General Information

The SLA Board issues a call for applications and establishes submission deadlines. Indigenous MLIS Student Award applications are reviewed by the SLA Awards Sub-Committee. For more information about the award, please contact the SLA office by calling 306-780-3633 or by emailing info@saskla.ca.