“I’ve decided to come to the FNUniv to further my education. I’ve always wanted to be a writer since grade 6 so I thought of journalism,” says Hutchinson.

She was surprised when she heard about the increased enrolment of Aboriginal students. “It’s really good because it shows a lot of us First Nations and Aboriginals want to be here,” she says.

According to Lynn Wells, the First Nations University of Canada Vice-President Academic, all three campuses have increased by 5 percent this fall semester.

“Our registered student numbers are sitting about 710. Historically our student population has been over 90 percent…in all three campuses,” says Wells from the Regina campus. “This is a phenomenon that’s striking in all institutions in the province you’re seeing higher Aboriginal student enrolment. I think post-secondary institutions are doing a better job of recruiting and retaining Aboriginal students.”

Christian-Lee Masuskapoe from Ahtahkakoop First Nation, a returning U of S second-year student says it’s great to see the increase enrolment of Aboriginal students in post-secondary institutions including at the U of S.

“I think it’s really awesome because as a community we’re growing together,” says Masuskapoe who is working towards a nursing degree. “It’s a positive move because more people can look up to us and think to themselves ‘if they can do it, I can do it too,’” she says. “It is hard work but it is doable.”

Her first year in university was a great experience and had made a lot of friends with similar priorities and goals.

She says there are tough times as a student especially in your first year but says there are resources available to help students to adapt easily to help them feel comfortable.

“There are a lot of people in the Aboriginal Student Centre that are there when you need to talk. If you want to smudge, you can go smudge in there or you can go there to bead and relax. There are a lot of resources on campus,” says Masuskapoe.

That’s similar to some of the resources available to students at Regina’s FNUniv campus. The students are able to utilize the glass tipi to smudge with sweetgrass and sage that allows students to retain that ceremonial tradition.

Hutchinson attended orientation before classes kicked off to get a feel of what to expect in university. One of the topics that were discussed is support programs and resources that are available to students to make the transition to university life and to incorporate the First Nations culture ceremonies such as smudging.

“My fears are falling behind and failing which is my biggest fear. I’d the support programs on campus such as the elder’s office to smudge. That’s one of things that I would rely on,” says Hutchinson.

FNUniv’s enrollment has increased by 30 percent since 2012 and at the U of S aboriginal students enrollment increased to 12.4 percent this fall. The U of R will release the numbers of Aboriginal student enrollment in October.