U of S Opens Aboriginal Research Centre

U of S Opens Aboriginal Research Centre

Monday, May 01, 2006 at 14:45

 

 

The University of Saskatchewan unveiled a new learning center today devoted entirely to promoting and sharpening Aboriginal education.

 

Around 50 people showed up for today’s opening ceremony, many of them are academics in the First Nations and Metis community.

 

The new school is called the Aboriginal Education Research Centre. It will partner with a similar school in Calgary to offer Aboriginal educators the latest knowledge and information.

 

Academic Director Dr. Marie Battiste says it will provide assistance in a number of ways.

 

She says the centre will house databases of Indigenous research from around the world, theses and other material for anyone interested.

 

It will also assist academics in developing proposals and grants that call for more Aboriginal components in education.

 

As well, the centre will be a hub of activity — hosting conferences, lectures and roundtable discussions on a regular basis.

 

Right now, the new school consists of a few offices on the second floor of the College of Education building, but some First Nations and Métis leaders attending today’s ceremony say they already like what they see.