President Vianne Timmons visits northern communities

Posted: October 16, 2013 3:40 p.m.

Judy White, david Gregory, Juliano Tupone, James McNinch, Vianne Timmons (l-r) visit students at Ben McIntyre School in Uranium City, Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy of the President's Office

University of Regina President, Vianne Timmons, along with Acting President of First Nations University of Canada, Juliano Tupone and the Deans of the Faculties of Education, Nursing and Social Work, visited four northern communities as part of the President's Northern Tour on October 8 and 9.

The tour provided opportunities for University of Regina leaders to listen and learn about First Nations and Métis needs from school administrators, students and community leaders in Fond du Lac, La Ronge, Stony Rapids and Uranium City.

One of the goals in the University's strategic plan, mâmawohkamâtowin: Our Work, Our People, Our Communities, is to build relationships with First Nations communities. The University also strives to respond to the needs and aspirations of its First Nations and Métis students.

As the University campus continues to grow, so does the number of self-declared undergraduate Aboriginal students at the University of Regina - an increase by 15 per cent over the past year. Students of Aboriginal descent now represent approximately 11 per cent of the total undergraduate student body.

In recent years, a number of important initiatives have been implemented to help Indigenize the University of Regina and support the success of Aboriginal students, faculty and staff on campus. The Aboriginal Student Centre has been expanded to provide a culturally appropriate studying and gathering place for students and an Aboriginal Advisory Circle has been created to regularly advise President Timmons on measures that must be taken to ensure that the campus remains dedicated to and focused on meeting the needs of Aboriginal students, faculty and staff.

For more information about the continuing efforts of University of Regina to Indigenize the campus and to see a list of events, visit: www.uregina.ca/president/indigenization.html.