The NWMO and Indspire partner to provide scholarships to Indigenous students in northwestern Ontario and beyond

A group of students sitting on university steps

The NWMO is proud to partner with Indspire to help remove financial barriers for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education.

September 2, 2026

Toronto, Ont.

The NWMO is proud to partner with Indspire to help remove financial barriers for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is partnering with Indspire to fund a series of post-secondary scholarships.

The awards are open to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students who are attending post-secondary institutions across Canada, with a greater focus on students from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Treaty 3. They are named in honour of Indigenous Elders from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in northwestern Ontario and Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. They include:

the Elder Dorothy Parenteau Memorial Scholarship
the Chief Esther Pitchenese Memorial Scholarship
the Elder Paul Watts Memorial Scholarship
the Elder Gordon Williams Memorial Scholarship
the Empowering Future Generations scholarship

The NWMO donation to Indspire will provide $70,000 of scholarship support for the upcoming academic year. Eligible students can apply for these scholarships through Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures Bursaries and Scholarships program. The deadlines for submission are Nov. 1, 2026 and Feb. 1, 2027.

“Partnerships like this one help ensure Indigenous students have the support they need to pursue their goals and make lasting contributions to their communities,” said Kate Espina, Vice-President of Development at Indspire. “We are proud to partner with the NWMO to invest in the next generation of Indigenous leaders.”

For the NWMO, investing in Indigenous youth is a key element of our broader corporate citizenship and Reconciliation efforts.

“Fostering future Indigenous leaders aligns with our core value to walk a Reconciliation journey,” said Jessica Perritt, Vice-President of Indigenous and Municipal Relations and Transportation. “We are proud to partner with Indspire to help remove financial barriers for students as they pursue careers that will help shape the future of their communities and society overall.”

The Indspire partnership is part of the NWMO’s broader Sponsorships and Donations Program. Since 2014, this program has supported a wide variety of initiatives, with the goal of having a meaningful impact on young people, communities and the environment.

About the NWMO

Founded in 2002, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

The NWMO has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders who are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management.