New student centre part of university plan to increase Aboriginal enrolment

The announcement has finally come that the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre will be built on University of Saskatchewan campus.

 “This idea has been discussed for many years, so it is exciting for Aboriginal students that this will become a reality,” said Ryan Moccasin, president of the Indigenous Student Council.

The student centre was designed by Douglas Cardinal, who has also created the designs for the First Nations University of Canada, Leighton Artists’ Colony at the Banff Centre, and the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau among others.

The construction of the building is to take place in 2012 and is to be located between the Murray Library and the Arts and Science building.

 “The centre is located on prime real estate, very noticeable, welcoming and a high profile location for Aboriginal students,” said Moccasin.

The Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre, which was named after the late First Nation political and spiritual leader, Gordon Oakes, will provide Aboriginal students on campus with a sense of belonging and essentially act as a “home away from home” as Moccasin put it.

The centre will provide a meeting place for students and offer student services and supports. Elders will be housed in the new centre and available to meet with students, offering necessary cultural guidance.

The student centre will also act as a cultural centre for visitors, students at the U of S and faculty. Conference rooms will be accessible, lectures will be offered and the student centre will be the central hub for the nearly 1,900 self-identified Aboriginal students, nine per cent the student population at the U of S.

“This is extremely important for Aboriginal students because when I arrived in 2005 to study engineering, there was no sense of community for Aboriginal people, especially in my field,” said Moccasin.  “I ended up leaving university for a while, but with this centre being a welcoming symbol on campus, many Aboriginal students will benefit from having a central meeting place.”

This $15 million project is a commitment by the U of S to offer a vibrant inclusive campus and to increasing Aboriginal enrolment to 15 per cent by 2020.

 “We’re committed to providing support and services to our growing population of Aboriginal students at the U of S.  We look forward to creating an even more welcoming environment for our entire student population, as our enrolment continues to grow,” said university president Peter MacKinnon.

This centre is a symbol of the commitment by the U of S to ensure that access and success of Aboriginal students in post-secondary education in Saskatchewan is a top priority.

“Aboriginal people are vital to the future of the Saskatchewan economy, so it is important to have a place on campus to belong, be supported and feel at home,” said Moccasin.