The University of Prince Edward Island is looking for ways to attract aboriginal students to the campus, where only one per cent of the 4,500 students are of aboriginal descent.

Island artist Levi Cannon is working on seven carved poles to raise awareness of aboriginal culture.

The poles, which will be installed outdoors on campus, are a mix of Algonquin and Mi'kmaq traditions, he said. Each bears the face of an elder with traditional symbols and sayings.

"I want them to inspire," Cannon said of the project, part of the university's outreach to aboriginal students. "I want people to come and to read what these say — what the grandfathers, what our ancestors have left us, their words of wisdom, and enact them in your everyday life.

"It'll be a great place to live and we'll all be happy."

The poles will be unveiled March 24, one of the highlights of a two-day celebration of aboriginal culture on campus.

In addition to regular cultural events on campus, the university has organized aboriginal career fairs and is sending aboriginal students and staff to public schools to encourage aboriginal young people to aim for a university education.

Kim Critchley, dean of nursing, heads up the aboriginal support program at the university.

"Only one per cent of Prince Edward Island's citizens are aboriginal, and here on campus, interestingly enough, we have one per cent aboriginal [students]," Critchely said. "So, I think we can do a whole lot more in bringing more aboriginal students on campus. One of our goals is to look outside of Prince Edward Island at aboriginal students who may want to attend UPEI."