A woman from the English River First Nation is the recipient of this year’s Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) Indigenous Economic Development Scholarship (SIEDS).

Indigenous students who are enrolled in the master of business administration (MBA) program in community economic development at the Great Plains College Warman campus are eligible for the scholarship.

The campus hosts the program which is offered by Cape Breton University.

“They have to apply for the scholarship”, Great Plains College Donor Services Coordinator Dianne Sletten says. “They tell us their story and what education they have and what kind of work they have done to advance economic development in First Nations communities.”

This year’s scholarship has been awarded to Melvina Aubichon who serves on the board of directors of English River First Nation’s Des Nedhe Development Corporation.

Aubichon was also part of the founding group of the Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Development Network, has been a board member of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers and worked with the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

The scholarship was created in 2018 with the help of the Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Development Network (SFNEDN).

Aside from being enrolled in the MBA program, Aubichon has a business administration diploma from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

After graduation, she says she plans to continue creating employment opportunities for Indigenous people living in northern Saskatchewan.

Students who receive the scholarship are awarded $5,000 which can be used toward their first or second year of study.

The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority and provincial government provide $10,000 each for the scholarship.

(PHOTO: From left to right: SFNEDN Board Member Heather Exner-Pirot; Melvina Aubichon; SREDA President and CEO Alex Fallon, Martensville-Warman MLA Nancy Heppner. Photo courtesy of Great Plains College.)