The 2015-2016 provincial budget earmarks $210.5 million dollars towards Aboriginal initiatives — up from just under $190 million last year.
One of the big winners is the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, which is getting 24 per cent more in operational funds from the province.
Other post-secondary institutions such as the First Nations University, GDI, DTI and NORTEP/NORPAC are getting between one and two per cent more this year.
But there is less money devoted to First Nations Gaming Agreement transfers — 3.4 per cent less.
Finance Minister Ken Krawetz says it’s because gaming revenues are also down and the transfers are tied to the revenues.
The Ministry of Environment is also seeing cuts — including a 31 per cent reduction to the Environmental Protection Program and a 38 per cent cut to the reforestation budget.
The province is devoting funds to upgrades to the Stony Rapids and Buffalo Narrows airports as part of a $56.3-million budget for the northern transportation system.
Northern municipalities are getting $19.8 million in municipal revenue sharing, up slightly from last year.
The budget also contains a 3.2 per cent increase for Adult Basic Education and Provincial Training Allowance programs geared specifically at the Aboriginal population.