Surrey's KPU gets $358,507 to run a tuition-free archaeology school for First Nations students
Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey received a three-year, $358,507 grant from Canada's science funding agency for a First Nations archaeology field school that launched in spring 2026 and trains students in GPS fieldwork and land history.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on surreynowleader.com.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey has received $358,507 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the federal science funding body, to run a tuition-free First Nations archaeology field school for three years, the Surrey Now-Leader reported November 3.
The six-credit program launched in spring 2026. It trains First Nations students in GPS data collection, landscape history and identifying cultural materials in the field. Students also learn to work as Land Guardians. The program combines online instruction with hands-on fieldwork in Indigenous communities.
Why the program was created
BC has a shortage of trained archaeologists, and many First Nations people already carry out archaeology work in their communities but hold no formal credentials, according to the Surrey Now-Leader. The KPU program gives those people a path to recognition and builds a larger pool of people with the training.
KPU's Indigenous Admissions Committee built entry paths that do not rely only on the standard academic records most programs require, to lower the barriers for students who have field experience but have not followed a traditional classroom route.
Brian Pegg, an anthropology instructor at KPU, leads the field school.
Who it is for
The program is open to First Nations students with field experience or interest in land-based archaeology. It is tuition-free, funded through the three-year NSERC grant.
The funding body
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, known as NSERC, funds university research in natural sciences and engineering. Its grants go to projects at institutions across Canada. The KPU field school received its three-year grant through NSERC's program for applied research that connects universities to community needs. The Surrey Now-Leader did not say what happens to the program after the three years of NSERC funding end.
What you can do
First Nations students in Surrey or elsewhere in the region who are interested in archaeology or land stewardship can find enrollment information at kpu.ca. The program started in spring 2026 and is funded for three years from the date of the grant. The Surrey Board of Education is one of the publicly elected bodies that oversees K-12 education in the city; this program is at the post-secondary level and runs through KPU's own admissions process.
Questions this story answers
How much is the grant, and who gave it?
The grant is $358,507 over three years, from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, known as NSERC. This is the federal science and engineering funding agency. The Surrey Now-Leader reported the grant on November 3, 2026.
What is the program, and who can apply?
The program is a six-credit archaeology field school at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey. It is for First Nations students with field experience or an interest in land-based archaeology. KPU's Indigenous Admissions Committee created entry paths that do not require the standard academic records many programs ask for.
Is the program free to attend?
Yes. The Surrey Now-Leader reported the field school is tuition-free for participants. It launched in spring 2026. The tuition-free structure is funded through the three-year NSERC grant that KPU received. Students pay no tuition for the six-credit program.
What do students learn?
Students learn GPS data collection, landscape history, how to identify cultural materials in the field, and how to work as Land Guardians. The program combines online instruction with community-based fieldwork, according to the Surrey Now-Leader.
Why does this program exist?
BC has a shortage of trained archaeologists. Many First Nations people already do archaeology work in their communities but have no formal credentials. The KPU program gives those people a path to formal recognition and trains new people to fill the gap.
Who leads the program at KPU?
Brian Pegg, an anthropology instructor and field school lead at KPU, runs the program, according to the Surrey Now-Leader. Pegg's role combines teaching and leading the fieldwork component of the six-credit school, which trains students in GPS data collection and land stewardship.
How long does the grant run?
The grant runs for three years from when KPU received it. The program launched in spring 2026 and is funded through that three-year period. The Surrey Now-Leader did not say what happens to the program after the NSERC funding ends.
How can a First Nations student in Surrey apply to this program?
The Surrey Now-Leader article from November 3, 2026, did not include an application link or a contact at KPU. First Nations students interested in the program can go to KPU's website at kpu.ca to find enrollment information or contact the anthropology department directly.
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