A reconciliation forum at the University of Saskatchewan will consider progress that has been made and work that still needs to be done to support Indigenous students.
More than 300 faculty, staff and students will meet at the Building Reconciliation one-day forum in Saskatoon on Tuesday.
Presentations at the forum will examine teaching and learning, university structure, anti-racist research and enhancing the Indigenous student experience to achieve reconciliation.
U of S president Peter Stoicheff said it is part of a wider effort to increase Indigenous student enrolment, graduation and retention rates.
‘It’s going to take a generation to make the kinds of changes that we really want to make.’ – Peter Stoicheff, University of Saskatchewan president
“We’re looking for Aboriginal students and their communities to believe that this university is their home, that it is the best place that it can possibly be for them,” he said.
He said the number of Indigenous students leaving their courses between their first and second years has decreased, and Indigenous graduation rates are increasing.
He said there will still be challenges ahead, and some of those would be discussed at Tuesday’s forum.
“It’s going to take a generation to make the kinds of changes that we really want to make, but we are looking for more Indigenous content in courses,” he said.