Millar Western awards scholarship to student from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation
As part of the Forestry and Economic Development Agreement (FEDA) signed in May 2004 by the company and the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Millar Western formalized a long-standing arrangement to provide scholarships to Alexis students attending post-secondary education institutions. Under the agreement, up to six $1000 scholarships will be provided each year to students pursuing higher education, with applications to be evaluated by the FEDA’s Environmental Co-Stewardship Committee.
On November 7, 2005, members of the Environmental Co-Stewardship Committee met and approved the first scholarship awarded under the FEDA. Misty Potts, an Alexis community member currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Manitoba, has been granted $1000 in support of her research on environmental changes in Alberta’s Nakoda Nation. Mrs. Potts’ research employs GIS technology to conduct vegetation identification and analysis to study environmental impacts related to water and land use, and their effects within the community. Her objective is to bridge the gap existing between traditional Indigenous knowledge and western scientific methods, by combining approaches from both disciplines.
Millar Western congratulates Mrs. Potts on her achievements to date and wishes her continued success in her studies. The company is pleased to support her work as part of its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for the youth of the Alexis Nation.