Call for Proposals – The Student MSA Wild Salmon Grant 2023-2024
The MSA Wild Salmon Grant is generously funded by J.W. Bud Bird through an endowment with the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA). This $5,000 grant is awarded annually to an Indigenous undergraduate student in their second, third, or fourth year of study at St. Thomas University.
We are looking for proposals for an academic and/or creative work from Indigenous students to be considered for this $5,000 grant, which have a goal of engaging public concern and support for the Miramichi River watershed, and the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon. The completed academic work should include, among other factors, the value of traditional Indigenous knowledge as it relates to the preservation of rivers and natural spaces. Proposals for the academic work can be:
- Elder stories collection based on interviews with knowledge-keepers
- Projects with a focus on the Wabanaki language
- An artwork, musical composition, photo essay, creative writing, or other form of research-creation
- A series of articles, a podcast, or other form of journalism
- A documentary film
- A research paper or policy brief (approx. 5,000 words) on a relevant topic (traditional ecological knowledge, consultation with Indigenous communities, etc.)
- Or another project related to your academic and personal interests that fits the theme.
All projects must also include a 500-word final report about the process of researching the project and completing your final academic or creative work. The completed work and the final report will be made available through the Miramichi Salmon Association for conservation and public advocacy purposes.
Deadline to apply: December 8th, 2023, by close of business. Applications will be accepted via Microsoft Forms. (See form HERE) The Selection Committee will choose the recipient from among the applicants, after which students will be notified of next steps.
For proposal support and questions about the grant, contact: Dr. Peter Toner, Associate VP Research research@stu.ca; Chelsea Harris-Carr <charriscarr@stu.ca>
Academic Work guidelines:
The project must be completed under the supervision of an appropriate STU faculty member, approved by the Vice-President Academic & Research. It is also ideal for you to have a mentor to provide you with guidance (such as an Elder or knowledge-keeper). The Associate Vice-President Research can assist with finding an appropriate faculty supervisor.
The academic work relating to this project (in whatever form it takes) and the final report for the project must be completed by April 19th, 2024. The academic work and the final report will be received by the Associate Vice-President, Research and sent to the Vice-President of Advancement for submission to the Miramichi Salmon Association.
The requirement for the final report is a (minimum) 500-word written report. The report should include a detailed timeline of activities, a description of your research/creative process during the project, insights gained, and suggestions for future work in this area.