The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology has created a new position as part of an effort to increase the number of Aboriginal students and to improve their chances of success.
Jason Seright is the new director of Aboriginal strategy for the post-secondary institution.
Seright knows first hand the challenges Aboriginal students face.
He comes from a small northern community and overcame many hurdles on his way to obtaining a masters degree in education, with minors in Native studies and northern education.
Seright has been on the front lines as a principal in a number of school divisions.
He is also a consultant on First Nations education for the Saskatoon Catholic School Division and the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
Seright says he looks forward to his latest challenge.
“You know, I see myself as coming from a small northern community and being brought up in the city and having graduated with my bachelor of education and my masters of education and I was able to accomplish those things by overcoming some of those hurdles,” he says.
He adds he likes the new direction SIAST is taking.
The institution has developed a 21-point plan to improve the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students.
Seright says encouragement and a sense of belonging can make a difference for students and he is happy to be part of the process.
“Hang on to your goals and if there is something you really want to do you can achieve it. There may be little hurdles and bumps along the way but don’t be discouraged by that. Hold on to your goals and keep focused on what it takes to achieve them.”
About one in five students enrolled at SIAST self-identify as Aboriginal.
This represents 3,000 students or about 18 per cent of those attending the institution.
It is the highest Aboriginal participation rate of any post-secondary institution in the province.
Seright says he wants to see this number grow even higher.