Application — Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation

2027 Program Application

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Step 1 of 7

About you

Welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

About 20 minutesplus time to write your essay
Saves as you goin this browser on this device. On an iPhone, come back within a week.
Stuck?Email neil@vjkf.org

On a school or library computer? Your progress may not be kept, and the next person could see your answers. Try to finish in one sitting, and press Clear my answers at the bottom when you’re done.

Just the basics so we know who you are and how to reach you. We use what you give us only to assess your application and arrange your week. See our privacy policy.

First name

Last name

Preferred name optional

What you’d like us to actually call you.

Pronouns optional

We send acceptances here, so use one you check.

Phone optional

Date of birth

Current grade

Grade 11 students are prioritised. Grades 10 and 12 go on a waitlist.

For unisex sizes, what is your usual T-shirt size? optional

Unisex sizing. Everyone gets a shirt during the week.

Step 2 of 7

Your community

This program exists for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. You tell us how you identify. Documentation is never required to apply; the question about it below is optional.

I self-identify as

First Nations — status First Nations — non-status Métis Inuit

Nation, band, or community optional

Home community

We use this to arrange your travel.

Do you have documentation of Indigenous identity that could be provided if asked? optional

Some of our university partners require documentation for on-campus programming. That is the university’s requirement, not ours. You are fully eligible either way, and every applicant is considered for placement at one of our partner universities. Answering this just helps us match you to the right campus.

Yes No I’m not sure

What counts as documentation?

Inuit: Membership in one of the four collectives defined by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (Section 1.4 of the Inuit Nunangat Policy): the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivvik, or the Nunatsiavut Government.
Métis: A valid Métis Nation citizenship card from MN–Saskatchewan, MN–British Columbia, MN–Alberta, the Manitoba Métis Federation or MN–Ontario — or a letter from the registrar confirming you meet the criteria for citizenship.
First Nations: A valid status card, a verification letter from your First Nations government, or both.
Non-status First Nations: A letter from the First Nation you are connected to, confirming your relationship and connection to the Nation.

Questions or concerns? Email neil@vjkf.org.

Mailing address

Town or city

Province or territory

Postal code

Step 5 of 7

Your essay

Pick one of the three prompts below and write up to 400 words. There is no trick to it. We want to see how you think, not how much you already know.

Choose your prompt

1. STEM in the newsPick a science, technology, engineering or math story from the news in the past year that caught your attention. Briefly describe what happened, then explain why it interested you. You might write about what it made you curious about, how it connects to your own life or community, or what questions it left you with. You don’t need to be an expert. 2. Your community and the knowledge you’d bring backTell us about your community. It could be your Nation, your hometown, your family, or another group you belong to. What makes it special to you? What strengths or needs do you see there? Then describe the knowledge or skills you hope to gain through research and university, and how you’d like to share them with your community. 3. Your ambitions for universityWhat do you hope to get out of university? Tell us about the fields you want to explore, the kind of person you want to become, or the goals you’re working toward. You can also share what excites you or what feels uncertain. It’s fine if you haven’t figured everything out yet — we want to hear what’s driving you.

See an example for each prompt

1. STEM in the news: A student might write about a new way of monitoring water quality in northern communities. They could explain how the technology works in their own words, why clean water matters to them personally, and what they’d want to ask the researchers who built it.
2. Your community and the knowledge you’d bring back: A student might describe growing up hearing Elders talk about changes in caribou migration. They could explain that they want to learn data and mapping skills so they can work with their community to document those changes, combining traditional knowledge with scientific tools.
3. Your ambitions for university: A student might write that they’re interested in health sciences because a family member’s experience with the health care system showed them how few Indigenous health professionals there are. They could share their hope of studying nursing or medicine, and some of their motivations for doing so.

Your essay

Type it here, or upload it as a file below, whichever is easier. You only need to do one.

Up to 400 words, roughly four or five paragraphs. 0 / 400 words

Or upload your essay instead of typing it

Drop your essay here, or choose a file

PDF, Word (.docx), or a clear photo of a handwritten page — up to 10 MB

FILE

Stuck on how to start?

Jot down a few honest sentences first and shape them afterwards. Plain and clear beats polished, and it’s fine to ask a teacher or family member to read it over.

Step 6 of 7

Parent or guardian consent

Every application needs the Parent / Guardian Consent form, signed by your parent or legal guardian. We also contact them directly about travel, so their details matter.

Download the consent formParent / Guardian Consent · PDF, 345 KB

Save the PDF. No printer? Your school counsellor or teacher can print a copy for you.
Your parent or guardian fills it in and signs it, on a computer or phone (typing their full name counts as a signature), or printed and signed by hand.
Upload it below. A clear photo of the filled-out, signed form taken on your phone is completely fine.

Parent or guardian’s name

Relationship to you optional

Their email

Their phone

Signed consent form required

Drop the signed consent form here, or choose a file

The filled-in PDF, or a clear photo of the signed page — up to 10 MB

FILE

Can’t upload it? Tick “I’ll email them instead” below and send the signed form to teassa@vjkf.org with your name in the subject line. Your application isn’t complete until we have it.

My parent or guardian knows I am applying, has read the consent form, and agrees to me applying. I understand VJKF will use my information to assess this application and arrange the program week, as described in the privacy policy. I can’t upload my documents here, so I’ll email them to teassa@vjkf.org instead.

Parents and guardians: talk to us first if you’d like

We are happy to set up a call with our Program Director before you agree to anything. Email info@vjkf.org.

Finished, or on a shared computer?

Stuck on a question? Read the questions and answers or email neil@vjkf.org.

About you

Your community

Your school

The program

Your essay

Parent or guardian consent

Review & submit

You did it. Your application is in.