2025 Indigenous Bursary Recipients Announced

Meet the Recipients of BCEIA’s 2025 Indigenous Bursaries

Funds raised through BCEIA’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation film screening are supporting three Indigenous students pursuing education connected to engineering, conservation and land stewardship.

BCEIA is pleased to introduce the recipients of our Indigenous Scholarships, funded through the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation screening of The Spirit Who Swims.

The virtual and in-person screening raised more than $6,000, fully funding this year’s Indigenous Scholarship Program. We are grateful to everyone who attended and contributed—and especially to our Gold Scholarship Sponsors, whose leadership helped turn the event into direct support for Indigenous students:

• Core6 Environmental
• Keystone Environmental
• SLR Consulting

We also extend our sincere thanks to New Relationship Trust, which administers the scholarships on BCEIA’s behalf and helps bring this funding to Indigenous students who can benefit from it.

Anderson McPhail

Kitasoo Xai’Xais Nation
Engineering Foundations
North Island College

Anderson is a member of the Kitasoo Nation and is finishing his engineering diploma at North Island College, where he is studying to become a Professional Engineer. He was born and raised in the Comox Valley. Anderson aspires to attain his P.Eng to subvert expectations regarding Indigenous people and education, and wants to pave a way for other Indigenous youth to pursue post-secondary education uplifting themselves, and their communities.

Remote communities can struggle due to unreliable or unaffordable energy, leading to economic and humanitarian crises. As an aspiring engineering student, I hope to pursue engineering to tackle energy poverty through sustainable infrastructure and create community-led solutions in remote Indigenous communities. As an Indigenous student, I feel a strong responsibility to give back to my community. I have seen how a lack of reliable infrastructure in remote communities can lead to heavy reliance on diesel, which harms the environment and disrupts Indigenous lifestyles. Studying civil engineering at UVic will give me the technical skills and experience to accomplish my goals. UVic’s strong support for Indigenous peoples, co-op program, and environmental responsibility make it the ideal place for me to grow. I hope to use the knowledge and experience I gain to support Indigenous communities by developing sustainable infrastructure that reflects community values and long-term needs. In summary, I am committed to using my education in civil engineering to address energy poverty and support Indigenous communities. UVic offers the ideal environment to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for this work, and I am excited to contribute to sustainable, community-led solutions for the

Jadrein Roberts

Skidegate Band Council
Indigenous Land Stewardship
Native Education College

My name is Jadrein Roberts, and I am Haida. I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, and spent my childhood summers in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, where my late mother, Linda Roberts, was from. I am currently enrolled in the Indigenous Land Stewardship Program at the Native Education College in Vancouver. After completing this program, I plan to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation at the University of British Columbia (UBC). My long-term goal is to return home to Haida Gwaii and build a career that supports my community and helps care for the land and environment I come from.
I am a proud member of the Haid Nation, and my long-term goal is to work in Indigenous land stewardship. i want to help bring together traditional knowledge and modern environmental practices to care for our territories and protect the land for future generations. This work is vital not just for the Haida people, but for all Indigenous nations. Every community has a role to play in maintaining the connection to our land, culture, and language, and it’s something I feel deeply responsible for. I plan to continue learning in both formal and community-based settings, especially from Elders and knowledge keepers who have the wisdom to guide me. This Indigenous Land Stewardship Program is an important step in that journey. It will help build the skills, knowledge, and connections I need to support my community, work on land-based projects, and engage with others who share the same passion for protecting the environment. In the future I hope to work in a role where I can contribute directly to Indigenous land management and cultural restoration, whether that’s as an educator, environmental planner, or working with youth on land-based learning programs. No matter the path, my goal is to help strengthen the relationship between our people and the land, and to ensure we continue to thrive as Indigenous nations.

Joshua Wesley

Gitsegukla First Nation
Resource Management Operations
Vancouver Island University

Joshua Wesley is Gitxsan from Gitsegukla First Nation (Wilp Wii Gyet) and Tsimshian on his mother’s side. Born and raised in his community, Joshua grew up immersed in the land and cultural practices that have sustained his people for generations. From a young age, he learned to hunt, fish, and harvest alongside his family—experiences that not only built strong survival skills but also instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility to his territory, culture, and community.

I’m pursuing my undergraduate degree in business and sustainability at Royal Roads University. This program will equip me with the tools to lead in areas like innovation, strategy and sustainable development. Skills i see as essential to building meaningful and forward thinking solutions in todays world. My focus is on applying what i learn to create real impact, both in business and in my indigenous community.

Supporting the Next Generation

Joshua, Anderson and Jadrein each demonstrate a strong commitment to education, their communities and the lands and waters that sustain them.

BCEIA is proud to support their educational journeys and grateful to our sponsors, attendees and New Relationship Trust for helping transform an evening of learning and reflection into meaningful opportunities for Indigenous students.

Congratulations, Joshua, Anderson and Jadrein!