Sharon Morrison Memorial Indigenous Education Fund

Quote from Lance Morrision, son of Sharon – “When we moved to Yellowknife 1981, we moved here with no family, no support, and little money. We lived in social housing and for many years, on social assistance. My parents were both high school drop-outs and not a lot of opportunities were available. In 1985, mom decided to make changes. Aurora College was launching a Homecare/Long-Term Care program, and Mom saw her chance to break the cycle of poverty we had always known. After graduating the program, Mom did a placement at Mary Murphy Home, than started at Stanton Regional Hospital’s Extended Care Unit, and after 35 years, she retired from Stanton in 2021. She spent those years teaching generations of nurses that came after her, and inspired many to be the best in compassionate care. 

“In her later years, she was also passionate about nêhiyawêwin, our ancestral language, and was always excited about Indigenous language and cultural revitalization programs happening in the North. Mom’s traditional name was Red Butterfly Woman and when we look at the lifecycle of the butterfly – from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly – it represents a life of amazing transformation. Therefore, I wanted to ensure those bursaries and grants would also be transformation to their recipients. Mom would be glad her legacy can live on in these recipients for years to come. I have been overwhelmed by the amazing community support that has come from friends and loved-ones over the past few months since the fund was launched. Truly, I am grateful. kinanâskomitin.”

The Sharon Morrison Memorial Indigenous Education Fund is eligible for charitable organizations (organizations with a registered charitable number) conducting activities in the Northwest Territories.

If you do not have a registered charitable number, please call or email our office to discuss further: +1-867-446-4527, information@ykcf.ca.

Grants from the Sharon Morrison Memorial Indigenous Education Fund are designed to complement new and/or established programming and/or community-based activities focused on Indigenous language or cultural revitalization and reclamation. 

Applications can be submitted to the Sharon Morrison Memorial Indigenous Education Fund when the application portal opens. In 2024, the application portal opens in early June. Please use the link on our website to apply.

Please note that application dates may vary in future years.

$2000

Please note that funding amounts vary year by year. 

Applications are reviewed by our Grants Committee and Fund Advisors.

31 July 2024 at 11.59pm MST: All applications due via grant portal found on the Yellowknife Community Foundation website.

August 2024: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff and Grants Committee members conduct due diligence checks on all applications and undertake a review process. As a normal part of our review process, you may hear from us with questions about your application. We appreciate your time in providing clarity.

September 2024: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.

• All successful applicants will be required to submit a final report through our online portal.
• We want to hear from you during the lifecycle of your grant! Please reach out anytime with an impact story, picture or video, or just to say “Hi!”.

• 2023 No award