Aboriginal programs and services directory
Start your search today by browsing the directory below to learn more about programs and services to help you pursue a postsecondary education.
University of Saskatchewan
General statistics
| Students who identify as Aboriginal | 5 to 10% |
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| Academic staff who identify as Aboriginal | 3% |
Aboriginal languages
| Courses offered | Cree |
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| Considered for second language credit requirements | Yes |
Financial support
| • Scholarships |
| • Repayable Loans |
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+ Graduate fellowship
Currently 4.5% of graduate students self-identity as Aboriginal. These students have access to all of the scholarships and fellowships available to graduate students generally. In addition, there are two targeted scholarships for Aboriginal graduate students. |
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+ Other
Bursaries; Emergency Loans for Students Program offers interest-free loans to qualifying students in crisis situations. This program provides gift cards to local grocery stores for students in need. Two targeted scholarships for Aboriginal graduate students. |
Financial guidance
Awards and Financial Aid staff provide student loans information and assistance to students through the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.
Services
| • On-campus housing/student residences |
| • Academic counselling |
| • General counselling |
| • Peer-to-peer mentoring |
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+ Other
- The Aboriginal Students’ Centre (ASC) Cultural Coordinator |
Activities
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+ Social or cultural events
Graduation Pow Wow |
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+ Gathering space
- The Aboriginal Student Centre provides a safe, welcoming environment for all Aboriginal students |
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+ Elder visits
The traditional Elders host weekly soup and bannock from September to April during which time they are available to meet with students, staff and faculty. |
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+ Linkages to local Aboriginal communities
The staff of the Aboriginal Student’s Centre facilitate communication between Aboriginal (First Nation) students and their funding agencies (First Nation/Band) in a number of ways. |
General information
The College of Medicine is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal physicians in Canada and has developed programs to encourage and support students:
- Ten percent of first-year spaces are reserved for persons of Canadian Aboriginal descent
- Aboriginal Student Mentorship Program
- Pre-Medicine Awards
Manager, Aboriginal Student Centre
Kathleen.makela@usask.ca
(306) 966-5790
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A2
Telephone: 306-966-4343
Programs for Aboriginal students
Transition
| Programs | On Campus | Off Campus |
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Native Access Program to Nursing and Medicine (NAPN/M)
The NAPN/M is a support and retention service for Aboriginal Nursing students enrolled in the Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (N.E.P.S.). NAPN/M provides support at the College of Nursing, on the UofS campus, as well as at the Nursing Division at SIAST Kelsey and SIAST Wascana. Support is also available for Aboriginal students enrolled in the Post-Registration Program and the Master's Program at the College of Nursing.
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The Royal West Campus
The Royal West Campus is a transition program that provides a supportive and close-knit learning environment that helps students make the jump from high school to university. This program is open to all students.
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Northern Health Science Access Program/College of Nursing
A ten-month program designed to help Aboriginal students enter and succeed in a variety of health programs offered by several postsecondary institutions, including the University of Saskatchewan. The program is offered in La Ronge, Ile-a-la-Crosse and Creighton.
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Aboriginal Business Administration Certificate (ABAC)
ABAC is designed to provide pathway programming for those Aboriginal students who do not meet the admission criteria for direct admission or transfer admission to the undergraduate program and for those Aboriginal students who wish to obtain a certificate in business but do not want to study in a four-year degree program.
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Additional information
- The Aboriginal Students’ Centre (ASC) has a Transition Coordinator to assist first-year Aboriginal students in dealing with issues they may face when coming to university for the first time. The Transition Coordinator organizes the ASC's Student Welcome during the first week of September. This event complements the university’s main orientations but includes culture and connects Aboriginal students with peers and support services and personnel. As well, during the first six to eight weeks in the fall term, the Transition Coordinator hosts, in partnership with several campus resources, skills-based workshops and “show and tell” information sessions to familiarize students with support programs and services. The coordinator is available to meet one-on-one with Aboriginal students to provide them ongoing assistance/support during their initial year on campus.
- The College of Arts and Science has an Assistant Dean of Aboriginal Affairs who oversees the Aboriginal Student Achievement Office. ASAO’s main goals are to increase the participation and retention of students of Aboriginal ancestry in the College of Arts and Science and to establish support services for students of Aboriginal ancestry within the College. Services for Aboriginal students include: academic counselling; program advising; career exploration; funding agency information and liaison with First Nations/Tribal Council Post-Secondary Programs across Canada; learning communities; academic requirements; referral and liaison to support programs; and networking. ASAO also works in partnership with other groups to establish methods to promote the successful completion of academic programs by Aboriginal students.
- The Edwards School of Business – Aboriginal Initiatives offers Aboriginal students at the UofS opportunities to overcome math deficiencies in their prerequisites. The Greater Catholic Saskatoon Schools and the Edwards School of Business offer a Grade 12 math program on campus (online) available to all students of Aboriginal ancestry (Math B30 in Term 1 and Math C30 in Term 2).
Undergraduate
| Programs | On Campus | Off Campus |
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Teacher Education Programs (TEPS)
The TEPs are educational programs to help students of Aboriginal ancestry become certified teachers. The College of Education (sometimes in conjunction with other institutions) offers a number of different programs designed to meet the needs of students and the communities in which they will teach. These include: the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), including students from the Aurora College Teacher Education Program (ACTEP) in the Northwest Territories; the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP); and the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP).
- SUNTEP is offered in Prince Albert, SK - ITEP is offered in North Battleford, Big River First Nation, Makwa Sagaihican First Nation, Onion Lake First Nation, Canoe Lake First Nation and at the Aurora College, NWT -NORTEP is offered in La Ronge, SK |
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Aboriginal Business Administration Certificate
The Edwards School of Business recently began offering a Business Administration Certificate program especially for Aboriginal people. ABAC is designed to provide pathway programming for those Aboriginal students who do not meet the admission criteria for direct admission or transfer admission to the undergraduate program and for those Aboriginal students who wish to obtain a certificate in business but do not want to study in a four-year degree program.
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The Indigenous Peoples Resource Management Program (IPRM)
Offered in partnership between the University of Saskatchewan, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and National Aboriginal Land Managers Association to First Nations land managers from across Canada.
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The Aboriginal Justice and Criminology Program
For Aboriginal students concerned with issues of social justice and criminology.
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The Aboriginal Public Administration Program
Designed to prepare Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students for careers in the governmental and non-governmental spheres of the Aboriginal sector.
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Program of Legal Studies for Native People
Offered through the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan and open to Aboriginal students from across Canada. It offers a Property Law course and full academic support to prepare Aboriginal students for success in law school. It is also designed to provide an alternative means for Aboriginal students to be admitted to law school; to increase the number of Aboriginal professionals in the legal community; and to study Aboriginal issues in legal education
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Additional information
The College of Medicine and the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition have been very successful in incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into their curricula.
Graduate
| Programs | On Campus | Off Campus |
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Postgraduate Diploma in Aboriginal Agriculture and Land Management
The Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Aboriginal Agriculture and Land Management. This program is specifically designed for Aboriginal students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and provides a laddering opportunity for Aboriginal students into other graduate programs at the University of Saskatchewan.
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LL.M. with a focus on Aboriginal Law
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Postgraduate Diploma in Aboriginal Agriculture and Land Management
This program is specifically designed for Aboriginal students from a wide-range of academic backgrounds, and provides a laddering opportunity for Aboriginal students into other graduate programs at the UofS.
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Additional information
The Aboriginal Education Research Centre (AERC) is a unique initiative within the College of Education. It coordinates research activity on Aboriginal education and contributes to the College’s integrated Master’s program in the Department of Educational Foundations.