U of W boasts higher indigenous enrolment

The University of Winnipeg says it has one of the highest proportions of First Nations, Metis and Inuit students in Canada.

For the fall 2015 semester, the proportion of self-identifying indigenous students enrolled at the school rose to 12 per cent, up from 10 per cent the year before. The total number of students enrolled at the universitystands at 9,487.

"We are honoured to be attracting a rich diversity of students and talent which is one of our primary goals as Winnipeg's downtown university, located on Treaty One land, in the heart of the Metis homeland," saidAnnetteTrimbee, president and vice-chancellor in a news release.

A spokesperson for the universitycited the Opportunity Fundas one of the specific programs helpingattract indigenous students to the school.

The fundoffersa range of financial incentives,including tuition credits and bursaries, to indigenous students as well as tonew Canadians and refugees. To date, more than 250 students have taken advantage of the program and graduated, according to U of W's website.

The rise in indigenous participation inWinnipegis part of a national trend.

A June 2015 report from the Environics Institute found "education attainment" of indigenous peoples is increasing; however, higher education participationis also on the rise for non-indigenous students, and so the achievement gap between the two groups continues to widen.

According to the same report, 10 per cent of aboriginal people in Canada have a university degree, compared to 27 per cent for non-aboriginal Canadians.