Aboriginal teens live and learn at UVic

Aboriginal high school students from across coastal B.C. got a taste of university life this summer at UVic's inaugural "aboriginal student mini-university summer camp."

During their five-day stay, 29 students—from Grades 8-11—lived on campus and took part in a variety of activities including a writing workshop with celebrated Sencoten (Saanich) aboriginal poet and UVic writing instructor Kevin Paul. They also met other aboriginal faculty and attended workshops on a range of subjects including robotics, computer animation, visual arts, and law. The week culminated with a grad ceremony and traditional feast.

"We're trying to encourage more aboriginal youth to consider a broader range of careers" says Bruno Rocca, UVic's manager of student recruitment. "UVic is already training aboriginal students in education, child and youth care, law and indigenous governance, and now we also want to heighten the profile of the sciences, humanities and engineering."

The university is committed to increasing the number of aboriginal students graduating from all of its faculties and building on its unique relationships with First Nations communities.