The Robin P. Armstrong Memorial Prize for Excellence in Native Studies

The Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG), Statistics Canada, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada award the Robin P. Armstrong Memorial Prize for Excellence in Native Studies to a graduate student in geography or native studies for the best Master's or PhD thesis on an aboriginal topic. The prize winner is announced at the annual CAG conference.

This award was established to

• recognize and promote excellence in applied research on Canada's aboriginal peoples;
• commemorate the contribution of Robin P. Armstrong in undertaking and promoting excellence in geographical research and quantitative analysis on aboriginal issues within the government of Canada and the CAG, and in helping to found the Native Canadians Specialty Group of the CAG.

Winners

• 2006 - Dr. Piotr Wilk, Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Maxim and Dr. Jerry White, "Self-Employment on Indian Reserves".
• 2005 - Ryan C. Walker, Department of Geography, Queen’s University, under the supervision of Professor Evelyn Peters, "Urban Citizenship and Aboriginal Self-determination in the Winnipeg Low-cost Housing Sector".
• 2004 - Bettina Koschade, Department of Geography, Queen's University, under the supervision of Professor Evelyn Peters, "The Tay River watershed is our responsibility: The Ardoch Algonquins and the 2000-2002 Environmental Review Tribunal Hearings".
• 2003 - Yael Levitte, Department of Geography, University
  of Toronto, yael.levitte@utoronto.ca, under the supervision of Professor Meric Gertler and Professor Amrita Daniere, "Social Capital and Aboriginal Economic Development: Opportunities and Challenges"
• 2002 - Kathleen Wilson, Queen's University, kwilson@eratos.erin.utoronto.ca, under the supervision of Prof. Evelyn Peters, "Exploring the Determinants of Health for First Nations People in Canada: Can existing frameworks accommodate traditional activities?" (published in Social Science and Medicine 55 (11) : 2017-2031)

The prize includes

• a cash prize of at least $700, based on the funds available in the Robin P. Armstrong Memorial Fund at the CAG. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has agreed to commit at least $500 on an annual basis. Statistics Canada will provide an additional $500 where the winning paper has made significant use of Statistics Canada data;
• an opportunity to present a paper during a special Native Canadians Specialty Group session at the CAG conference (or one of the regional CAG conferences) at which a certificate and letter of commendation will be presented to the winning student;
• financial assistance for travel from the CAG, as long as the student has been a CAG member for the current and previous year;
• nation-wide publication of the winner's name on the Statistics Canada and CAG Web sites and of his or her paper (or an abstract) in an appropriate CAG publication (such as the Canadian Geographer, or the Native Canadians Specialty Group newsletter);
• a complimentary one-year subscription to Canadian Social Trends, a Statistics Canada quarterly journal; a letter of recognition from the President of the CAG and/or the Chair of the Native Canadians Specialty Group to the Dean commending the professor who has supervised the student research.

Eligibility

All students who, during the current or previous calendar year, have completed a Master's or PhD thesis in native studies or geography related to Canada's aboriginal peoples may apply.

How to apply

Students must submit

1. a cover letter
2. curriculum vitae, and
3. an abstract (1000-1500 words) that outlines

• the problem or question studied
• review of related literature
• the design or methodology
• findings, statistical results and conclusions, and
• a statement of significance.

Applications should be sent by e-mail no later than January 31 to:

Dr. Michael Ripmeester, mripmees@brocku.ca
Department of Geography
Brock University,
St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
Phone: (905) 688-5550 x. 4416
Fax: (905) 688-6369

Selection criteria include

• significance of the problem
• conceptualization, design and execution of the study
• quality of the results
• potential for improving theory, and
• general clarity, insight and originality of the work.

Extra merit will be given for research that involves quantitative data analysis, and in particular, the use of Statistics Canada and INAC data on aboriginal peoples.

For more information, contact

• Evelyn Peters, University of Saskatchewan, evp818@duke.usask.ca, (306) 966-5639
• Pamela White, Statistics Canada, pamela.white@statcan.ca, (613) 951-3255
• Dan Beavon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, beavond@ainc-inac.gc.ca, (613) 715-1126
• Mary Jane Norris,Canada Heritage,
  mary-jane.norris@pch.gc.ca, (819) 997-9782
• Joel Yan, Coordinator, University Liaison Programme, Statistics Canada, ulp@statcan.ca, 1-800-465-1222, (613) 951-2858

To make a contribution to the fund

Please make out your cheque to The Canadian Association of Geographers and indicate that it is for the Robin P. Armstrong Memorial Prize. Send the cheque to:

Valerie Shoffey
Canadian  Association of Geographers,
Dept of Geography, McGill University,
805 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 425,
Montreal, Quebec  H3A 2K6

In order to receive a tax receipt you must include your mailing address.