2026-2027 Kausattumi Grants Program - Scholarships

Call Open: Accepting Applications January 31st - May 1st, 2026

Our annual Kausattumi Grants Program (KSP) aim to support Indigenous students in the region who are engaging in community-based wellbeing research: thesis, capstone projects, and other defined research projects. This year (2026-2027), we are calling for applications from two levels of post-secondary students: 1) Doctoral students (e.g., PhD, Dr.PH, PsyD., etc) and 2) Master's or Post-Professional students - either of which must be engaged in an Indigenous community-based research project that investigates some aspect of wellbeing. Please see more information for each competition below.

Students who were successfully awarded a full Master's/Post-Professional or Doctoral scholarship last year are eligible to enter a renewal scholarship into this year's competition (i.e., were successful and NOT awarded a renewal or bridge-funding KSP scholarship last year). Renewal application forms focus on progression since last year's proposal and are competively peer reviewed. Please see the renewal section below for more details.

Two online presentations followed by a Q & A will be held on Friday February 13th, 2-3pm AST and Monday April 13th, 2-3pm ADT.

Stay tuned and sign up for our E-Digest to hear when we are hosting writing circles and online workshops where students can work on their applications!

Master's & Post-Professional Applications

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS – Master’s or Post-Professional Scholarships
Submission Deadline: Friday May 1st, 2026

Background
The Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network (Atlantic-IMN) starting in 2017, received its core funding from the Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health, at CIHR. It is now supported by the Wabanaki Labrador Networking Environment for Indigenous Health Research. The Atlantic-IMN supports capacity building for students undertaking research related to Indigenous health and wellness and Indigenous early career researchers through culturally relevant learning opportunities and mentorship activities.

Funding Amount and Duration
Scholarships of $10,000 are available for Indigenous graduate students entering or enrolled in a Post-Professional, Master’s degree, or equivalent program involving community-informed and supported health research that serves to benefit Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada. By community-informed and supported health research, we are referring to research that responds to a community-identified need and is supported by an Indigenous community, Nation, or organization.

The funding is provided for a one-year period: September to August (2026-2027). The amount of the scholarship will be pro-rated in the case of part-time enrolment status and/or expected date of completion for current program of study. For example, a student enrolled in a Master's program on a part-time basis will be eligible to receive a scholarship award of $5,000. 

Eligibility Requirements

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students entering or enrolled in a Master’s degree or equivalent program involving community-informed and supported health research that serves to benefit Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada, with the supervision of an Indigenous or allied health scholar at a postsecondary institution.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students are eligible if they are attending any Canadian post-secondary institution, as long as they haven't received funding from another Indigenous Mentorship Network in the same funding period.
If a student is applying from outside of Atlantic Canada, they must demonstrate a connection to the region (e.g., they must be Indigenous to Atlantic Canada and/or they must demonstrate the impact that their research will have on the health of Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada).

Evaluation & Rubric

Applications for the 2026-2027 KSP are competitively assessed using peer review. Two or more reviewers who have declared no conflict of interest will review applications and score them according to the rubrics below. Once applications are individually scored, a reviewer meeting is held to discuss scores and provide further feedback for students.

Master’s, Post-Professional, and Doctoral KSP Rubric 2026-2027

Participants final scores are rated as follows:

Performance: Score Range

Excellent: 90-100

Very Good 80-89

Good: 70-79

Adequate: 60-69

Marginally Acceptable: 50-69

Insufficient details/ cannot fund: 0-49

Below are the questions that the reviewer team members will be asked in order to determine an overall score for each application.

1. Does the proposal address an important health need for Indigenous people in the Wabanaki-Labrador Region?

2. Is the proposal community-informed throughout the project?

3. Are the purpose, objectives, context, methodology/methods clearly described?

4. Does the KT plan align with the proposal and community priorities?

5. Does the applicant clearly describe their relationship to the research?

6. Does the student describe whether or how they plan to maintain or re-connect to their Indigenous community (or Indigenous communities more broadly) through their research?

7. Are the personal, professional and academic goals clearly described?

8. Is the training environment (supervisor(s), community leaders) suitable?

Successful applicants will participate in and contribute to Atlantic-IMN and broader WLN activities.

Application Deadline
Please complete and submit the application via email to info@atlantic-imn.ca by Friday May 1st, 2026 (5pm ADT). State your last name and the type of application you are submitting (e.g., LastName_Master’s_Scholarship) in the email subject line and application file name. Application forms may be downloaded from the Atlantic-IMN website: www.atlantic-imn.ca.

If you have any questions about the application process or requirements, or want help completing the application, please contact the Atlantic-IMN Coordinator via email: info@atlantic-imn.ca

Download the Call for Applications

Download the Application Form

Download the Evaluation Rubric

Doctoral Applications:

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS – Doctoral Students
Submission Deadline: Friday May 1st, 2026

Background
The Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network (Atlantic-IMN) receives its core funding from the Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health, CIHR through the Wabanaki-Labrador Indigenous Health Research Network. The Atlantic-IMN supports capacity building for students undertaking research related to Indigenous health and wellness, and Indigenous early career researchers through culturally relevant learning opportunities and mentorship activities.

Funding Amount and Duration
Scholarships of $15,000 are available for Indigenous graduate students entering or enrolled in a Doctoral degree or equivalent program involving community-informed and supported health research that serves to benefit Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada. By community-informed and supported health research, we are referring to research that responds to a community-identified need and is supported by an Indigenous community, Nation, and/or organization(s).

The funding is provided for a one-year period: September to August (2026-2027). The amount of the scholarship will be pro-rated in the case of part-time enrolment status and/or expected date of completion for current program of study. For example, a student enrolled in a Doctoral program on a part-time basis will be eligible to receive a scholarship award of $7,500. 

Eligibility Requirements

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students enrolled in a Doctoral degree or equivalent program involving community-informed and supported health research that serves to benefit Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada, with the supervision of an Indigenous or allied health scholar at a postsecondary institution where funds can be transferred.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students are eligible if they are attending any Canadian post-secondary institution, as long as they haven't received funding from another Indigenous Mentorship Network in the same funding period.
If a student is applying from outside of Atlantic Canada, they must demonstrate a connection to the region (e.g., they must be Indigenous to Atlantic Canada and/or they must demonstrate the impact that their research will have on the health of Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada).