Oscar-winning producer's family funds indigenous studies at McGill

First-of-its-kind program to provide recruitment outreach, bursaries, scholarships and cultural activities designed to help indigenous students succeed

Support for indigenous students has gotten a huge boost, thanks to a unique new program created at McGill University.

McGill alumnus Jake Eberts (BEng'62), whose film credits include Dances With Wolves, Black Robe, The Education of Little Tree and Grey Owl, has long had an interest in indigenous peoples. To honour the memory of his parents — Edmond (BA'28, BCL'31) and Elisabeth — Eberts has now teamed up with other family members to create an endowment fund to attract, support and integrate indigenous students at McGill. The four-year renewable program will provide a mix of recruitment outreach, bursaries, scholarships and cultural activities.

"Coming to a new city, especially one as large and as culturally diverse as Montreal, can be a major culture shock for native students," says Waneek Horn Miller, newly appointed Coordinator of the First Peoples' House of McGill. Miller is familiar to Canadians as co-captain of the 2000 Olympic women's water polo team in Sydney, Australia, and host of the 2001 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards on CBC television.

Miller adds, "The Eberts gift will make a tremendous difference. This endowment will help attract, support and retain promising indigenous students of Métis, Inuit, Native (both 'status' & 'non-status'), Maori and Aboriginal heritage."

One area likely to benefit most directly is recruitment. "The Eberts Endowment will allow us to work with First Peoples' House on better ways to communicate directly with prospective students from these communities," says Sylvia Franke, registrar and executive director of McGill's Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar's Office. "We want them to know about opportunities for studying here, and we would like to make it easier for them to consider choosing McGill."

The Eberts Endowment, which exceeds $600,000, will support:

• First Peoples' Entrance Bursaries: Three Eberts First Peoples' Entrance Bursaries valued at $6,000 per year to support three indigenous or Inuit students on a renewable basis.
• First Peoples' Bursary Recruitment Fund: This fund will build recruitment activities for the Eberts Bursaries.
• First Peoples' House Support: An annual grant of $6,000 - $18,000 to fund the social integration of indigenous students and the Eberts Bursars at McGill. McGill will provide facilities, social activities and networking opportunities for indigenous students, giving them a "home away from home" and helping ease their integration into McGill and Montreal's relatively alien environment. Activities will include Pow Wows, hot lunch programs, Elder visits, guest lectures, housing support, academic counselling and a mentoring program.

About the Eberts family
Four generations of the Eberts family have attended McGill, including Jake's father and grandfather, his five siblings, one of his sons, various cousins and a nephew and niece. In addition to Jake, the family's endowment contributors include Edmond Eberts (BSc'60), Gordon Eberts (BA'61), Lindsay Eberts (BCom'66), Beth (Eberts) Stikeman (BA'69), Jeremy Eberts (BA'77) and Alexander Eberts (BA'97).

About First Peoples' House
The First Peoples' House believes that innovative partnerships should exist between McGill University and Aboriginal communities. The First Peoples' House aims to provide Aboriginal students with a "home away from home."

First Peoples' House Annual Pow Wow: McGill First Nations and Inuit alumni will be honoured along with Jake Eberts and family at a special ceremony to celebrate their contribution to the University. All media and members of the public are welcome to attend.

About McGill University
McGill University is Canada's leading research-intensive university and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. Founded in 1821, McGill has 21 faculties and professional schools which offer more than 300 programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. McGill attracts renowned professors and researchers from around the world and top students from more than 150 countries, creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education environments in North America. There are approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students. It is one of two Canadian members of the American Association of Universities. McGill's two campuses are located in Montreal, Canada.