Rio Tinto renews partnership with Indspire to support Indigenous students

Rio Tinto is pleased to announce that it is renewing its partnership with Indspire, Canada's leading Indigenous charity that primarily provides bursaries and scholarships to Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education or training.

Through its Rio Tinto Aluminium Fund Canada, the company is providing $450,000 over the next three years to Indspire's Building Brighter Futures bursaries, scholarships and awards program as well as its recognition and development events—the National Gathering for Indigenous Education, the Indspire Awards and Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering.

Rio Tinto country head for Canada Alf Barrios said: "We’re committed to working together with Indigenous Peoples to address challenges and create opportunities. When it comes to education and training for Indigenous youth, there are big gaps to be filled. That’s why we’ve been a proud partner to Indspire since 2009. Broadening our partnership with Indspire will help give students the support they need to stay in school, succeed in their studies and fulfill their dreams."

Indspire president and CEO Roberta Jamieson said: "We’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with Rio Tinto to advance Indigenous education in Canada. Our shared vision is that education is the path to opportunity. The support that Rio Tinto provided over the past 11 years is making a significant positive impact on the lives of hundreds of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, as well as their families, communities and Canada."

Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous Students

As part of the renewed partnership, Rio Tinto is continuing to provide, through Indspire, the Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous Students, to offer financial support to Indigenous students who are enrolled or plan to enrol in post-secondary studies principally toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

Since 2015, the Award has supported 720 Indigenous students across Canada. Ninety-four per cent of supported students completed the program they were enrolled in, and are ready to realise their incredible potential and be leaders in the community.

About Indspire

Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2017-18 Indspire awarded $14.2 million through 4,900 scholarships and bursaries to Indigenous students across Canada.

Note to Editors

Other Rio Tinto-supported organisations that work with Indigenous youth include: Pathways to Education, the Breakfast Clubs, the Colloque sur la perseverance et la réussite scolaires chez les Premiers Peuples, the Carrier Sekani Vanderhoof Youth Center, the Kitamaat Valley Education Society, the Cheslatta Training Centre and the Haisla Nation Council.