It's something we see, absolutely.
I should tell you we partnered with Dr. Yale Belanger from the University of Lethbridge on a number of projects, so we work with your community. We're familiar with some of the challenges you have in your own community as well.
Across the country the rate of native dropouts, once they get to university, is a tremendous issue. I think there are two reasons for that dropout rate. I think some students have been pushed along through their academic career, and while they may have a diploma, they become assessed at a quite lower level and they're simply not prepared academically for what awaits them when they go to universities at an academic level. Also at the small-c cultural level of an institution, the game that universities can be makes the need for native student supports all the more important. There is a need for tutors, for after-class programs, for tea and bannock, for someone to speak your language, for somebody to talk with about the powwows and what's going on back home, and there's all the social isolation that occurs. The more of those barriers you can break down, the better.
It's been our experience that these students, when they're provided with the right supports, can take care of themselves, graduate, and be very successful. Our focus has always been putting a blanket of supports around them to resolve all those other issues they're dealing with and help them focus on their studies. Native student support programs are one of those things that help do that successfully.