U OF S RECEIVES FUNDING FOR URBAN ABORIGINAL DATABASE

An urban Aboriginal database at the University of Saskatchewan is receiving a provincial investment of $50,000.

The funding toward this $125,000 project will result in more detailed information on one of the most rapidly growing populations in the province. By better analysing population growth and demographic change, socio-economic structure and economic participation, governments and other institutions can design better programs for urban Aboriginals.

Provincial support comes from the Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) and matches the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) contribution under a program to help new faculty members acquire the infrastructure needed to conduct world-class research.

"We are committed to providing Métis and First Nations people access to meaningful opportunities and programs," Industry and Resources Minister Eldon Lautermilch said. "Aboriginal economic development is extremely important to our province's long-term health. It makes sense that we need to understand the demographics of a growing urban Aboriginal population in order to serve them successfully."

The dramatic increase in Aboriginal urbanization in recent decades, and projections of rapid growth in this population, create a need for more detailed information not met by current published data. The database will be created from new cross tabulations of existing census data.

"This state-of-the-art database will provide some of Saskatchewan's researchers with new analysis capabilities," President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation David Strangway said. "It will enable them to push the limits of their research and produce results that may one day have a true impact on policy decisions."

"This research will support important timely research projects on urban Aboriginal peoples planned by one of Canada's foremost social geographers, Evelyn Peters, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Geography," Acting U of S Vice-President of Research Bryan Harvey said. "For the first time, data will exist that shows the changing location and population characteristics of Aboriginal people in major cities, information that will be useful for programming and policy-making."


The Innovation and Science Fund provides support to Saskatchewan universities, colleges, and research institutes on projects receiving approval and funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada Research Chairs, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian universities and research institutions.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis INdustry and Resources Rgina Phone: (306)787-8277 Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca	Suzanne Quinn Canada Foundation for Innovation Ottawa Phone: (613) 996-3160
Kathryn Warden University of Saskatchewan Research Communications Saskatoon Phone: (306)966-2506