SAIGE
Empowering Indigenous education with an AI-based scholarship matching tool
About the Project
Background
The problem is clear, and the stakes are high. In Canada, less than half of Indigenous adults have completed post-secondary qualifications, compared to over two thirds of their non-Indigenous peers. This gap fuels a cycle of inequity, with lower employment rates for Indigenous populations. Yet, a remarkable statistic emerges: Indigenous graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher achieve the same employment rates as non-Indigenous graduates, regardless of specific identity or remoteness (Statistics Canada, 2023).
Education has the power to level the playing field. Yet, for many Indigenous youth, the barriers to post-secondary education are overwhelming. The number one reason they don’t complete their studies? Financial constraints. These costs go far beyond tuition, encompassing expenses for relocation, transportation, housing, food, daycare, and family responsibilities (Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, 2004). While some receive funding from their bands or nations, the majority do not. As a result, most young students are left to juggle student loans, grants, and part-time jobs just to stay in school—a precarious balancing act that too often leads to burnout or dropout (Indspire, 2022).
This is more than a missed opportunity—it’s a crisis. By breaking down financial barriers and creating pathways to post-secondary education, we have the power to transform lives, close employment gaps, and unlock untapped potential within Indigenous communities across Canada. The time to act is now.
Vision
Education is transformative and empowering, both for individuals and for entire communities.
When we invest in our education, we don’t just improve our own lives; we fuel collective growth, ignite fresh ideas, and strengthen our communities. This collective uplift reinforces autonomy and agency, and creates lasting benefits for future generations. When we invest in our education, we build our own futures, and become Good Ancestors.
SAIGE envisions a more financially equitable future for Indigenous youth who seek to pursue post-secondary education, ensuring that they have both visibility and access to the right resources to ensure their post-secondary success.
Objectives
SAIGE is an AI-based scholarship matching tool created by and for Indigenous youth. It aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous students and the funding they need by simplifying and accelerating the scholarship search and application process. This allows prospective students to focus on what matters most: getting their education.
The SAIGE project is dedicated to advancing data sovereignty by exploring community-based solutions for storing, managing, and distributing data in ways that respect and empower Indigenous communities.
This project is part of the Indigenous AI Impact Residency, a cornerstone of the Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program. Delivered by Mila in collaboration with Indspire, the program fosters career pathways for Indigenous talent.
Meet the Team
Mary Gallerneault
Mary Gallerneault is from Kingston, Ontario, which is located on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territory and included in the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. She has family ties to the Red River Métis, on her father's side. Mary is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on harnessing new technologies to enable and drive greater autonomy and creativity in materials manufacturing and processing. In the summer of 2024, she was part of the inaugural cohort of the Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program, organized by Mila and Indspire. She hopes to get the SAIGE solution to launch so that it may empower the next generation of Indigenous researchers.
Garrett Hrechka
Garrett Hrechka grew up in Dauphin, Manitoba, which is located in Treaty 2 territory, and is a proud citizen of the Metis Nation. He is currently studying math and computer science at the University of Victoria. Beyond his studies, Garrett is an avid field hockey fan, a sport that gave him the incredible opportunity to participate in the National Indigenous Games. In the summer of 2024, he was part of the inaugural cohort of the Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program, organized by Mila and Indspire.
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In the Media
Une première cohorte ambitieuse d’éclaireurs autochtones en IA (Radio-Canada)
L’IA offre ses solutions aux communautés autochtones (Le Devoir)
As an organization committed to advancing education for Indigenous communities, we are proud to support the development of innovative tools that break down barriers to opportunity. Harnessing AI to create a scholarship matching tool for Indigenous students would be a game changer—it would not only simplify access to financial support, but would also empower students to pursue their dreams and unlock their full potential. This initiative is a testament to the transformative power of technology when guided by a vision of equity and inclusion.
Brandon Meawasige, VP Marketing and Communications, Indspire
