Askunessippi (Antler River) Scholarship

Photograph of a winding river with treed banks.2020

Established by an anonymous member of the MLIS Class of 1992

The Antler River Scholarship was established in 2019 and provides annual scholarship of $1000 to help fund the education of a student entering the Master of Library and Information (MLIS) program. Preference is given to an Indigenous student (First Nations, Métis or Inuit). This scholarship was established with a generous gift from an alumnus of the MLIS Class of 1992, though the donor wishes to remain anonymous.

In light of Western’s commitments to the goals laid out under Truth and Reconciliation, FIMS is particularly appreciative of a scholarship that aims to address historical and continuing inequalities in access to post-secondary education for Indigenous students.

“To meet the TRC goals, we need to learn,” says MLIS Graduate Chair Grant Campbell. “And to learn, we need the voices of Indigenous persons in our classrooms: voices that can teach us, as scholars and instructors, what happens when our professional tools and skills and theories meet up with Indigenous perspectives, traditions and concerns.”

FIMS Dean Lisa Henderson notes that the scholarship represents one part of a wider effort by the faculty to address the TRC.

 “At FIMS we have a number of initiatives that speak to Indigenization and decolonization, including a developing archive for ‘Smoke Signals,’ Dan and Mary Lou Smoke’s longstanding Indigenous program at Radio Western, an Indigenous Contexts course for MLIS students taking shape in consultation with community members and librarians, and a faculty search for an Indigenous colleague scheduled to take place in Fall 2020,” says FIMS Dean Lisa Henderson. The Askunessippi (Antler River) Scholarship is a beautiful expression of our emerging commitments; we are so appreciative and look forward to introducing its first recipient in our Fall Newsletter.”

Askunessippi means Antler River, which is the name of the Thames River in the Anishnaabe language. The name comes from a time when a very influential and highly regarded leader of the community lived at the mouth of the river at Lake St. Clair or the Lake of the Swirling Eddies. The area held a prominent place for Treaties and gatherings. The descendants of the great leader now live on Walpole Island.

If you would like to learn more about the Askunessipppi (Antler River) Scholarship, or how you can help FIMS support Indigenous admission to MLIS, please contact Susannah Gergich at sgergic@uwo.ca. You can also make a gift to the Askunessippi (Antler River) Scholarship here: www.westernconnect.ca/Askunessippi