Federal government eliminates funding for First Nations University of Canada

I understand that they have stated that governance and accountability were the reasons but this seems extreme. The Sask. government already cut provincial funding a couple days ago.

This school (Attached to the University of Regina) provides many programs particularly in health and education- including a nursing school. Given the health crisis in First Nations communities, I am shocked by this decision. As well this is an institution with not only a functional purpose but also an extremely valuable symbolic one. In addition Aboriginal communities are younger than the national average and an extremely important part of Canada's national future.

I am not familiar with the debate about the governance of the university although given the community it serves I gather it is, of necessity, complicated and collaborative. I would assume that the governance of such a unique school ought to be expected to be more expensive than other similar sized institutions. I find the financial accountability argument thin if it is based on comparison with other universities. If there is a real problem the funders ought to be able to force a change rather than a closure-- or are the expectations unrealistic? I am blown away by how short-sighted this seems to me.

Is there anyone here with some background information who can shed some more light on this?

I understand my response is not very well informed-- but if it is correct and this is one of the most short-sighted moves this government has ever done-- is there anything that can be done to fight it?

Is there any chance that another province could help? After all this is not just of interest to Saskatchewan. Manitoba? Ontario?

What can ordinary Canadians do about this-- facebook page protest? -- can we do more?

Comments

Submitted by Sean in Ottawa on February 8, 2010 - 5:26pm.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/02/08/sk-fnuc-cut-1002....

Submitted by Timebandit on February 8, 2010 - 5:48pm.

Being discussed here: http://rabble.ca/babble/western-provinces/sask-cuts-funding-first-nations-university

It wasn't the expense of the governance. It had more to do with the political appointments to the board, the lack of academic freedom of the instructors, among other administrative issues. And enrollment is rapidly falling in the wake of these other issues.

I think there were a lot of high hopes for the institution - it's a desperately needed one - but it doesn't appear to be working.

Submitted by Charter Rights on February 9, 2010 - 11:35pm.

There certainly has been some controversy around it.

However, this is in the string of cuts and diversions the Harper government has been giving First Nations in general. Strahl is on the attack on First Nation institutions.

Submitted by Machjo on February 10, 2010 - 12:01am.

Why are we defending a First Nations University?

Imagine for a moment that history had occurred differently. The Mohawk Nation had colonized most of Europe, though the Innu Nation had colonized the Spanish region. Eventually the Mohawk Nation had defeated the Innu in Spain and ended up taking all of Europe. As years go by, sultural genocide is committed on the nations of Europe, and then to show our 'goodwill, we decide to create a First Nations University in central Europe. Do you honestly think the German, French, English, Irish, Scottish, Swedish, Russian, Italian, Polish, Hungarian, and other Nations would accept being thrown together and presented as one homogeneous mass?

Certainly we can recognize that each of these nations is distinct not only from ours, but from each other's too. And each of these nations' languages and cultures has a right to be nurtured and developed. To just throw them all in one big pile under the auspices of the First Nations University is a real insult obviously concocted by the Feds to gain a few brownie points with the FN having no real option but to acquiesce.

Instead, why not require each university in Canada to develop a department for local indigenous studies. This would mean for example that the universities in Ottawa and Gatineau would have to devote themselves to the teaching of the Algonquin Nation's language and culture. Not like the First Nations Univeristy where it's like some kind of international gathering of nations with English language and culture serving as the common language of course and blocking many of Quebec's First Nations who might not know English from access (unless it has a French-language department I don't know about for those who don't know English? But then, why not have that department in Quebec?). The whole thing is just a facade. Why support such an obvious propaganda tool?

Submitted by Machjo on February 10, 2010 - 12:03am.

One possibility I could see would be to require all university student in Canada to study the local First Language for the first three years of university. this way the local language and culture could spread among the general community and not be isolated in some kind of United Nations Univeristy of First Nations

Submitted by lonewolfbunn on February 10, 2010 - 4:02am.

I'm Cree and Ojibwa but raised on a Dakota reserve.

I know of Cree communities up north living one hundred kilometres apart that cannot understand each other.

Unless one were willing to look further into the future they could not see the benefit of humanity fulfilling the ancient prophecy of "one day all speaking one tongue".

Submitted by G. Muffin on February 10, 2010 - 4:55am.

http://www.helendagner.com/viewtopic.php?t=7275

Submitted by G. Muffin on February 10, 2010 - 5:04am.

http://www.helendagner.com/viewtopic.php?t=7275

Submitted by Le T on February 10, 2010 - 11:19am.

Quote:

I thought that FNUC came from the specific treaty obligations in what is now Saskatchewan, treaties made with some of the Cree, Asinaboine, Nishnab and Blackfoot communities?

I see your point though. Indigenous studies has a lot of potential but is often a ghetto for all Indigenous Knowledges that should be in every department. While these programs mostly reflect the local communities (in my limited experience) they also build towards some pan-inidgenous thought (not unlike "Continental philosphy" in a European context).

G. Muffin - I read your link and can only say that if as much effort and interest went into rebuilding relationships that goes into "who was here first" speculation we would be in a better place. Also, there are Anishnaabe and Haudenasaunee stories about Asian and Middle-Eastern people being here way before Europeans.

Submitted by sknguy II on February 10, 2010 - 12:52pm.

Machjo: For my part, the financial and political turmiol is simply an immediate issue. The deeper issue of how Indigenous studies programs should function is different. FNUC will not go away anytime soon because there will always be a need for Indigenous control of Indigenous cirriculum. Non-Indigenous academic institutions haven't done the best job at presenting Indigenous studies in the past. Primarily because of the cultural disparities. I'm not implying that there aren't really great programs out there already. Whether it's the UofVic or UofM, or whereever, there are good programs out there. But, being in control of one's own education is important. Unfortunately this controversy is relating First Nations control to political control, which it shouldn't. The need for First Ntions control of First Nations ed will remain a fundamental necessity. Simply for the survival of the "uniqueness" of Indigenous cultures and self expression.

Here's FNUC's missioon statement:

The mission of the First Nations University of Canada is to enhance the quality of life, and to preserve, protect, and interpret the history, language, culture, and artistic heritage of First Nations. The University will acquire and expand its base of knowledge and understanding in the best interests of First Nations and for the benefit of society by providing opportunities of quality bi-lingual and bi-cultural education under the mandate and control of the First Nations of Saskatchewan. The First Nations University of Canada is a First Nations' controlled university-college which provides educational opportunities to both First-Nations' and non-First-Nations' university students selected from a provincial, national, and international base.

lonewolfunn: That's a good prophecy. I take it to mean that someday all cultures would share a respectful understanding for one another. And I have no doubt that it would come true some day.

Submitted by Machjo on February 10, 2010 - 1:12pm.

sknguy II wrote:

Here's FNUC's missioon statement:

lonewolfunn: That's a good prophecy. I take it to mean that someday all cultures would share a respectful understanding for one another. And I have no doubt that it would come true some day.

And again, I don't get the impression that this was written by the First Nations. First off, the First Nations are not limited to French-English bilingualism. That's a European Canadian concept. Secondly, how would you develop, let's say, Asian culture in some Asian University of Canada where you've got people learning every language and culture from Japanese to Hebrew, and from Russian to Sinhala? Obviously, the dominant language and culture of such a university is going to be the dominant local one. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that that Asian Studies University were situate in Montreal. Chances are the dominant language and culture of that university would be French or English, not some Asian language.

The same applies here. The concept of a homogeneous First Nations Univeristy is essentially a sneaky way of ensuring that First Nations studies are conducted through the dominant language and culture. If we were sincere about developing First Nations cultures, we we not lump them together like that. Instead, we'd have separate study centres for each of these Nations. For example, in Ottawa we might have an Algonquin University. If that's too expensive, then at least a separate Algonquin studies department, autonomous from the rest of the univerity it finds itself in.

Then again, if we were really serious about promoting First languages and cultures, it would not be done through the universities where only a percentage of the population study, but in compulsory education. For example, the gradual introduction of the local indigenous language to be obligatorily offered by each school to, let's say ten year olds for a duration of no less than 4 years. Seeing that we would not have enough teachers for it initially, we might say, for example, that this would apply to all children born after the law is passed and who attend private school. That would be manageable since it would give schools plenty of time to prepare and there are not that many private schools. Once implanted there, then it could be introduced to public schools too.

Again, the idea of introducing this at the university level is a sneaky way to marginalize it and ghettoize it by not allowing it to become accessible to the general population that might not have the chance to attend university.