University of Regina president Vianne Timmons says she’s encouraged by the growing number of Aboriginal students at the university, and is moving forward with initiatives to support them.
With a 10% Aboriginal student population, Timmons says an Aboriginal Advisory Circle has been established to help with the initiatives.
She says it’s important for the university to reflect Aboriginal communities and inspire a younger generation — adding the institution needs to make sure that a four-year-old girl from Sandy Bay walking the university’s halls “sees herself as a student here”.
Timmons says funding is also being set up for Aboriginal students to access in emergency situations, for the hiring of an Aboriginal advocate and for departments to increase Indigenous content in classes.