On March 21, 2025, the University of Lethbridge's Dhillon School of Business (Mokakit) hosted its annual Scholarship Dinner. This year’s event celebrated 40 years of Indigenous business management education and honoured the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Elders—past, present and future through the Elders in Residence program.
Through seat sales, donations, match funding, a silent auction and the generosity of the CPA Education Foundation, the evening featured Indigenous art, dance and music and successfully raised over $110,000 to establish the Kas’sin Noo nii’ ksi Scholarship (meaning in this context ‘Our Elders as our guides and teachers’). The scholarship will create opportunities and lasting significance for Indigenous students at the University of Lethbridge each and every year.
The Elders in Residence program, founded in 2008, plays a pivotal role in supporting Indigenous students at the University of Lethbridge. Indigenous Learning and Program Coordinator at the Dhillon School of Business, Rhonda Crow, says the Dhillon School of Business did an Aboriginal student needs assessment, interviewing students, faculty, staff and elders to find out what the students needed.
“From that report there were recommendations,” Crow says. “One of the recommendations was that the students wanted to see and have access to elders.”
That’s when Dr. Francis First Charger, Niinaisipistoo (Owl Chief) became the first Elder in Residence, offering a listening ear and words of wisdom to Dhillon School of Business students, faculty and staff. Shortly after, the late Carolla Calf Robe, Napiakii (Old Woman) joined, and then Catherine Hunt, Staah’tsi’naims’skaa’ki (Thunder Pipe Woman Under the Sky) and Shirlee Crow Shoe, Miisaminiskim (Long Time Buffalo Stone) were called upon to join the program.
"The elders in residence, our role is we support the students, we listen and we advise them and encourage them to continue on with their studies," Crow Shoe explains.
Today, the Elders in Residence support all University of Lethbridge student, staff or faculty from any culture.
It’s easy to see just how important the Elders are to students across campus. Quincy Yellow Wings, a third year Bachelor of Management student majoring in Indigenous Governance and Business Management says that the Elders in Residence program has been a treasured source of guidance and support throughout her time at the University of Lethbridge.
“Having access to the Elders in Residence is an incredible honor,” says Yellow Wings, “especially since I no longer have my maternal or paternal grandparents. The support from the Elders fuels my determination to keep going, no matter what challenges I face in life.”
Sitting with First Charger, Yellow Wings also notes that Elders don’t provide straight answers but always share stories and experiences.
“Through his stories, I learned that each of us walks a unique path, encountering obstacles that we are meant to overcome,” she says.
The Elders on their part, have gained a real affinity to their work.
"I like helping people,” First Charger says, “it’s our Blackfoot way. When someone’s struggling we’re there to help them out."
Hunt says there is a special bond that is formed between Elders and students. She smiles, "I like it when the students, when they get to know me they call me mum, or they call me grandma, and they see me, and [say], ‘hello grandma’, that’s what I love. Because there’s a connection there."
In honour of the support the Elders in Residence program gives students, more aid, now of a financial means will be available to Indigenous students across campus.
Dean of the Dhillon School of Business, Dr. Kerry Godfrey, E gim mi Niitsitapi (man has a heart for Real People or Indigenous People) says you never lose when you are supporting a student’s educational journey.
"I truly believe education is an opportunity towards prosperity, both individually and in society,” he says. “Anything that we can do to improve opportunity, remove barriers to access is what I’m really hoping this scholarship is the start of, of even greater things to come.”
On her part, Yellow Wing says if she was chosen to be a recipient of the Kas’sin Noo nii’ ksi Scholarship it would give her an extra boost of confidence to keep focusing on succeeding academically.
“It’s always a great feeling when you are lucky enough to receive a scholarship,” she says. “Not only does it help relieve financial burdens, but it also can create opportunities for you that otherwise would’ve been difficult to achieve without the help of a scholarship.”
Donations are still being accepted for the Kas’sin Noo nii’ ksi Scholarship in support of Indigenous students at the University of Lethbridge. You can donate here.