Sovereign InsuranceSA国际影视传媒檚 recent $50,000 donation to the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning is not only a financial boon for the Yellowknife-based organization, but a source of SA国际影视传媒渁 lot of pride,SA国际影视传媒� according to Kelsey Wrightson, DechintaSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director.
SA国际影视传媒淭he team at Dechinta, we work really, really hard to deliver meaningful and community-driven programming,SA国际影视传媒� she said soon after SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 donation was announced publicly on Jan. 15. SA国际影视传媒淭o be recognized by Sovereign Insurance with this donation, itSA国际影视传媒檚 really important for everybody because it demonstrates to us that the work that we do is supported by a wide community of others.
SA国际影视传媒淚t demonstrates that our work is being recognized, people are supporting us, and that we are having positive impacts beyond even what weSA国际影视传媒檙e really aware of.SA国际影视传媒�
Dechinta is an Indigenous, land-based initiative that provides accredited post-secondary education and research experiences in the North.
SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 $50,000 donation to Dechinta was actually its second of 2023. Earlier in the year, the Toronto-based company made a $5,000 donation to the organization in the name of reconciliation strategist Tanya Tourangeau.
Later in the year, the company elected to make a second, larger donation, also in TourangeauSA国际影视传媒檚 name.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were so grateful that Tanya introduced us to Dechinta and weSA国际影视传媒檙e honoured to be able to support the amazing research, initiatives and programs they offer,SA国际影视传媒� Sovereign Insurance content manager Jennifer Peckett said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen we had the opportunity to make a much larger $50,000 donation later last year, we knew that investing further in Dechinta would make a significant difference and impact, while also aligning with SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 values, commitment to reconciliation, and purpose of enhancing the resilience of Canadian communities.SA国际影视传媒�
SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 second donation to Dechinta, much like the first, will be used primarily SA国际影视传媒渢o reduce barriers that Northern Indigenous students experience when accessing post-secondary education,SA国际影视传媒� according to Wrightson.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen we receive donations like this, theySA国际影视传媒檙e first used to support student tuition so that Northern Indigenous students can access post-secondary in their homelands at no cost,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 a really important part of our work and important part of our ethical commitment as an organization, but [donations] also really support organizational stability. As a nonprofit, our funding fluctuates, and sometimes itSA国际影视传媒檚 really unknown when weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to receive more funding.
SA国际影视传媒淒onations from the wider community are really important for Dechinta to be able to continue to deliver meaningful programming over time,SA国际影视传媒� Wrightson added.
Dechinta has been operating in Yellowknife since 2010. Wrightson, who has served as its executive director for the last five years, called it SA国际影视传媒渁 special organization for a lot of reasons.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淥ur programming has been recognized internationally as some of the most innovative and cutting edge programming that centres [around] Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous Elders and really creates a learning community that is meaningful to Indigenous Northerners.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淥ur programming is so important because, not only is it reducing the barriers that Northern Indigenous students are facing when accessing post-secondary, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 really transforming how people understand what education could be, what educational pathways are open to them, and the kinds of opportunities that could be in front of them,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e really proud of the way that Dechinta has become a program of choice for so many Northern students who are choosing to enter post-secondary for the first time, or returning to post-secondary after having challenging experiences in southern institutions.SA国际影视传媒�
Dechinta is currently accepting applications for its summer 2024 program.
