b'INDIGENOUS SPACESINDIGENOUSBy Gavin JohnBUILDS ON CAMPUSU n i v e r s i t i e s a r eThe Red Oakes Redbear Student Centre, opened m o v i n g f o r w a r d w i t hin 2016, has become n o v e l c o n s t r u c t i o na popular Indigenous gathering space on p l a n s f o r d e d i c a t e dthe University of I n d i g e n o u s s p a c e sSaskatchewan campusT o succeed in the job market today, access to higher education is critical, if not essential. Yet Indigenous people across the country have often been left behind, with their enrolment rates at universities less than half the national average. If Indigenous people are to achieve economic independence and prosperity, equal access to post-secondary education is paramount. There are several Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action that seek to highlight this concerning gap. Call to Action 7, in particular, seeks to eliminate the educational and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indig-enous Canadians. But encouraging Indigenous youth to enter higher learning institutions goes beyond just stream-lining entry requirementsit calls for stronger decoloniza-tion efforts. Constructing dedicated university buildings for Indigenous students is part of thispush.Given the systemic barriers that have discouraged young Indigenous people from attending university, building dedi-cated cultural hubs, gathering spaces and study centres is an important part of the solution. Universities across the country have heard the call, with many embarking on major construction projects to provide the support, access and physical space Indigenous students need on campus to thrive and succeed. In late 2022, representatives of the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) and Universit Laval in Quebec signed an agreement to begin planning the provinces first Indigenous educational hub. The decision was part of a holistic approach to educating the provinces Indigenous students. The centreMaison des savoirswill support the educational develop-ment of Indigenous students and include a dedicated pavilion offering courses on Indigenous language and culture, as well as an Elders lodge. 22A CCAB PUBLICATION2023'