ABOUT THE FUND AND THE SCHOLARSHIP

THE FUND

THE AWARD

The StepUP Fund is a scholarship fund for the Beausoleil First Nation who occupy Christian, Beckwith and Hope Islands, located in the southern tip of Georgian Bay. The fund provides financial assistance to BFN students to pursue post-secondary education.
The fund was established in 2009. Initially, it was a flow through fund, such that any funds raised were forwarded to the Beausoleil First Nation Education Authority to disburse to students of their choosing. In 2009, a $2,000 tuition scholarship for BFN students was awarded. In 2010, a second tuition scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was awarded.
Since then, an annual scholarship has been provided. And with the support of local cottagers and others, the flow through fund has grown into an endowment, one that we hope to continue to grow so that it provides educational support to the BFN community in perpetuity.
The Huronia Community Foundation manages donations to the “Step UP” fund. The HCF is a public foundation with charitable status that serves the people of Huronia. It builds permanently endowed charitable funds for the changing needs of the community and provides grants to eligible charitable organizations in arts, culture, education, health, environment, sports & recreation and social service sectors.
All donations to the StepUP Fund are funneled through the Huronia Community Foundation and onward to the Beausoleil First Nation Education Authority when authorized. This ensures accountability for the gathering and distribution of funds and allows for donors to receive charitable receipts for donations.

THE AWARD

The “StepUp” award assists Beausoleil First Nation Youth in their pursuit of post-secondary education, whether it be with an accredited University or College, a training or apprenticeship program, an internship, a program of part-time studies or other post-secondary educational program. The award helps to offset gaps in provincial and federal government funding, giving a larger number of BFN students the opportunity take the next steps towards their future through further education.
The “Step UP” Award is given to a Beausoleil First Nation student at the annual secondary school commencement held in August of each year. The amount of the award varies annually and is dependent upon available funds. Award recipients are selected by the Beausoleil First Nation Education Authority.
The Beausoleil First Nation have been living on Christian Island since 1856 and the islands have a rich history. In the early 1600s, seeking refuge from Iroquois war parties, as many as 8,000 people including 60 French settlers and 13 Jesuit missionaries fled to the island from local villages and the Jesuit mission of Ste. Marie Among the Huron near Midland. It was on Christian Island in 1649-50 that tragic events lead to the demise of the Huron Nation as an organized people, and the abandonment of a Jesuit mission known as Fort Ste. Marie II. Many people died from the harsh winters, and the Jesuits and the remaining Huron abandoned the island in June 1650. Christian Island is now home to about 1,200 year round residents and many others during the summer months.
To make a donation please go to the DONATIONS page on this site.