CIC EXPANDS ABORIGINAL BURSARY PROGRAM

Eligible Aboriginal students at three additional Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions will soon qualify for Crown Investments Corporation's (CIC) Aboriginal Bursary Program.

Students at the University of Saskatchewan (Edwards School of Business), SIAST and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) may now be eligible to receive a bursary, in addition to students at the University of Regina. Each institution will receive 20 bursaries per year, up to $100,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $500,000 over five years.

"I'm pleased we're making this successful program more accessible by offering it to students at several post-secondary institutions in our province," Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "It's a mutually beneficial program. We're supporting Saskatchewan students and encouraging them to build a career in the province. We're also developing a pool of educated young people to help replace the ranks of retiring workers, and a workforce that reflects this province's diverse population."

"Extending this bursary program is one more way that our government can help open doors for First Nations and Métis students who are stepping up to take their rightful place in our thriving Saskatchewan job market," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister June Draude said. "Education provides a direct path to jobs and generates a beneficial ripple effect by helping people enrich their lives; strengthen their families, communities and our entire province."

"The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) is very pleased to have our students eligible for accessing more funding through a bursary program from CIC," SIIT President Randell Morris said. "Students are always faced with financial concerns, and any time there are ways to increase their income levels it only increases their chance for success. The CIC Aboriginal Bursary Program speaks to this opportunity to be successful."

"As a student, there is no better feeling than financial security while in school, and it is this type of support that helps students achieve their goals," SIAST President and CEO Dr. Robert McCulloch said. "Ultimately, at SIAST everything we do is focused on students and their success. CIC's Aboriginal Bursary Program speaks to a general consensus that if Aboriginal students are successful, then so will be the economic well-being of our province."

The bursary focus at SIAST and SIIT will be in the areas of business, trades and technology. U of S bursaries will be available to business students. U of R bursaries will be open to all academic disciplines. Students will receive of $2,500 per semester or $5,000 per academic year for a full bursary.

To be eligible for the Aboriginal Bursary Program, undergraduate students must be Status Indian, non-status Indian, Métis, or Inuit, and be registered at one of the four participating institutions. They must be residents of Saskatchewan for at least the past 12 months, and they must have satisfactory academic standing. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need, leadership and/or community service.

Since the program began in 2004 through the end of 2008, 414 bursaries have been awarded with a total value of about $1.2 million.

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For more information, contact:

Debbie Clark
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5451
Email: dclark@cicorp,sk.ca

Jocelyne Wasacase-Merasty
SIAST
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-659-3857
Email: j.wasacase-merasty@siast.sk.ca

Robert Daniels
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-370-8198
Email: danielsr@siit.ca

Leanne Bellegarde
Edwards School of Business
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-291-9509

Dale Johnson
University of Regina
Regina
Phone: 306-585-5439
Email: dale.johnson@uregina.ca