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The university is engaging more aboriginal students to attend, stay and graduate, he said.

Fiddler points to colleges that are reaching out to surrounding First Nations, more university scholarships, a daycare for students and the Aboriginal Student Achievement Program, which matches first year students with upper year student mentors to provide academic support and social and cultural connection.

The university’s efforts at reconciliation that will attract and retain students is needed now more than ever, he said.

“First Nations, Metis and Inuit are the fastest growing demographic in the province, so if we don’t act now, like the university is doing, we are going to face repercussions and problems in the future.”

Saskatchewan society is already seeing the negative social effects of failing to address native students’ needs, from high drop out rates to high unemployment and over representation in jails

“I guess they’re learning in a very difficult way now. They see the decision that they made in the past is effecting the society we live in today,” Fiddler said.

Underfunding for science and math at federally funded on-reserve schools is affecting student success at university, resulting in pressure on the university to teach content high school graduates should have already learned, Fiddler said.

The Engineering college is responding by reaching out to communities to create a program that will help prepare youth for their program, he said.

“There’s not a better time to do what our institution is doing now.”

Indigenous people are projected to make up 50 per cent of the Saskatchewan population by 2050, he noted.

“We don’t want to be dealing with the same issues and the same problems we’re facing now … To non-indigenous folks who are reluctant to see this change, it’s going to happen whether they like it or not. We can work together at building a province that’s going to benefit both of us, or be left behind.”

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