Student Bursary
Illuminating change: from innovation to Indigenous journalism
Oct 22, 2025
At seventeen, Nickla, a member of the Beausoleil First Nation, located on the southern tip of Georgian Bay, Ontario, stood at the crossroads of possibility and uncertainty. Graduating from high school in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, with a remarkable 91% average, she had proven her academic excellence. But as an Indigenous student passionate about storytelling and environmental justice, she faced the daunting reality of pursuing her dreams in a media landscape that often misrepresented or ignored Indigenous voices altogether.
Her journey to the University of King's College's Bachelor of Journalism Program wasn't just about academic achievement, it was about answering a calling to amplify Indigenous stories and combat the systemic injustices she witnessed in media coverage of her communities.
The TELUS Student Bursary became the catalyst that transformed her dreams into reality. Beyond the financial support that made attending King's College possible, it was validation that her unique perspective and innovative spirit mattered. The bursary empowered her to pursue her post-secondary goals with confidence, knowing that her commitment to Indigenous journalism and environmental advocacy was valued and supported.
But Nickla's impact began long before university. Her entrepreneurial spirit manifested in , with a groundbreaking project that merged her environmental consciousness with community engagement. This innovative venture, which became a CBC National News story, demonstrated her ability to create solutions that address both climate change and economic opportunity.
Her environmental leadership and entrepreneurial spirit earned national recognition when she won the Pow Wow Pitch Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Award and the Minister's Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence from Nova Scotia. These achievements led to her invitation as a guest speaker at the Indigenous Clean Energy National Conference in Ottawa, where she shared her success story with a national audience, inspiring other young Indigenous entrepreneurs to pursue clean energy solutions.
"Happy Cones isn't just about ice cream," Nickla explains. "It's about showing that Indigenous youth can lead the way in environmental innovation while creating meaningful employment opportunities in our communities."
Her work bridges traditional Indigenous values of environmental stewardship with cutting-edge clean energy technology, demonstrating how Indigenous knowledge and modern innovation can work together to address climate change.
Now, as she studies investigative writing, storytelling and Indigenous reporting at King's College, Nickla is determined to use journalism as a tool for justice. She aims to enhance knowledge of Indigenous perspectives, learn best practices for reporting on Indigenous communities, and apply critical analysis to coverage of Indigenous stories about healthcare, education, poverty, treaty rights, and environmental justice.
"We see countless examples of one-sided reporting, double standards, and systemic injustices," she reflects. "I want to change that narrative and ensure Indigenous voices are heard authentically in Canadian media."
Her journey from creating solar-powered solutions to pursuing Indigenous journalism exemplifies how supporting Indigenous students creates leaders who drive change across multiple sectors. From clean energy innovation to media representation, ensuring Indigenous voices and environmental stewardship need to remain at the forefront of Canada's future.
Learn more about how the
TELUS Student Bursary program
is empowering young changemakers like Nickla across Canada.
