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StFx University and Cape Breton University have each received a $250.000 gift from the sisters of St Martha congregation of Antigonish, a Christian organization dedicated to serving the community. Starting next September, first year students from Indigenous communities in Eastern Nova Scotia enrolled in the nursing or education programs at Stfx or CBU are eligible for a $10.000 renewable scholarship.
Stfx president Dr. Andy Hakin says this donation will have an impact on generations of Indigenous people and their work on truth and reconciliation will continue. “We are thrilled to be recipients of this gift to support Indigenous Learners, Says David Dingwall, President and Vice Chancellor of Cape Breton University. “CBU has a strong 40-year history with indigenous communities in Cape Breton/Unama’ki and CBU offers an environment that embraces the knowledge, wisdom, and traditions of the Mi’kmaq people. This gift will allow us to continue on our journey of truth and reconciliation through the growth of Indigenous culture, language, and education at CBU.”
The monetary gift is in honour of Sister Dorothy Moore and Sister Veronica Matthews, two role models for the Indigenous community.
Sister Dorthey Moore, and honorary degree recipient of CBU attended multiple schools in her youth including the residential school in Shebenacadie where she was not allowed to speak the Mi’Kmaq language. She graduated from Holy Angels High School and became the first Mi’kmaw person to enter a Roman Catholic order before becoming a lifelong educator and faculty member at Cape Breton University. She has also worked to preserve Indigenous languages.
Sister Veronica Matthews, from Eskasoni came from a family of medical practitioners. She entered the sisters of St Martha in 1955 and later graduated from the St Martha’s School of Nursing and completed her BSCN at Dalhousie. Her work in Indigenous health care earned her an honorary doctorate from StFx in 2015.
