Donor Profile: W.P. Scott Charitable Foundation
September 30, 2021 marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, which is a direct response to Call to Action 80 (that called for a federal statutory day of commemoration for the 140 federally run Indian Residential Schools which operated in Canada between 1831 and 1998). The year prior to September 30, 2021, the Faculty of Native Studies rapidly gained recognition around the world for Indigenous Canada, a leading massive open online course offered through Coursera. Awareness regarding the importance of education on Canada’s historical and current relationship with Indigenous peoples grew substantially when Dan Levy decided to take the course and invited his social media followers to do the same and learn together as a group.
Like Dan Levy, Scott Marshall took up the opportunity to register for the Indigenous Canada MOOC on Coursera. Not only did he take the course, but he attended the “Reconnecting with Indigenous Canada” Alumni Week event with Dan Levy and Drs. Savage (Tracy) Bear and Paul Gareau, alongside more than 1300 live, virtual attendees. Shortly thereafter, the W.P. Scott Charitable Foundation, a private family foundation, contacted the Faculty of Native Studies with interest in supporting the ongoing development of online courses in order to advance learning about truth and reconciliation in Canada. By doing so, Native Studies graduate employment has been made possible and there has been greater capacity to develop and offer more courses that are online and available for continuing education.
In addition to activating his allyship through being a donor, Scott identified how the learning has built his skills to listen and approach issues differently and has empowered him as an advocate for change. When asked how he has applied the knowledge that was gained from Indigenous Canada, Scott responded that he wrote to family and friends about the course and encouraged them to take up personal learning and development. Further, he has pursued ongoing education by supporting Indigenous authors and investing time with their work to deepen his understanding.
Donor support is integral to the teaching, research, and service at the Faculty. Together, we are indeed reimagining relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and this could not be possible without the over 1500 donors that we have had since Native Studies’ inception 34 years ago. Native Studies is a small (but mighty!) Faculty that is working to create transformative change by equipping students through professional development, certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees. Thank you to W.P. Scott Charitable Foundation and to the many people who have supported Native Studies continuing and online education through myriad ways.
Written by Avery Letendre
