Science funding increased

Page 5

More experimenting will be done by Aboriginal scientists as the government has provided $705,000 for a five year Aboriginal Science Fund project.

The project will encourage an increase of Aboriginal graduates with degrees in science from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC).

"Lets face it, the population of Aboriginal people is going up. If you talk about Saskatchewan itself we have approximately 15 per cent Aboriginal. According to Canada statistics or the census itself, it is predicted that the number will by the year 2050 jump to 50 percent," said SIFC head professor of chemistry, Dr. Nazih Noureldin. "If you are seeking self government for Aboriginal people, well you have to have a balance here."

The funding for the project is allowing for student recruitment, curriculum development, and is providing required faculty to manage the increase for students.

"Our science department had worked with some representatives from the federal government for quite a while under a concept for this proposal," said SIFC president, Dr. Eber Hampton. "One of the lead agencies was the Department of Agriculture. They had seen the difficulties that they had hiring and recruiting Aboriginal scientists. They worked with other federal departments to put together a group of departments that would develop that."

To generate interest in the sciences the college holds week long summer science camps and has hired a full time liaison person who travels to the Saskatchewan First Nations to speak to high school students.

"We seen a significant increase recently in the last year of Aboriginal students," said Hampton.

The college currently requires more laboratory space to accommodate the students enrolled.

"Our major need right now will be for science laboratory space because we are currently borrowing space from the University of Regina," said Hampton. "But we are working very hard and are close to having our own facilities and to have our own laboratory space in the next couple of years."

The college now has 30 Aboriginal students enrolled in the science programs and expects to see a combined 50 percent increase in students.

Last month the college graduated three Aboriginal students from the sciences.

"Two in computer science and one in biology," said Noureldin. "We made lots of contacts and they had extremely good jobs, very well paid jobs. If I tell you the number I would get depressed because I am 60 years old and they are making more than I do."

The college is also ensuring that funding is utilized in working with secondary schools and universities in terms of requirements for university level science education.

"According to my personal contacts in all the scientific sectors they are seeking Aboriginal people, so there are lots of jobs waiting for them," said Noureldon. "But we have to have some students."