Facepainting for the kids from 4:30 – 5:30.

Musical Showcase provided by T.A.L.ENT, the Aboriginal Lounge Entertainment and MC’d by Tessa Desnomie, FNUniv Alumnus.

Between 5 and 5:30 pm, speeches and presentations will begin. The FNUnivSA will thank all those who donated to the FNUniv Live-in. There will also be special presentations to Dr. Lloyd Barber, and the family of the Late David Ahenakew.

Everyone who lent camping supplies to the Live-in is asked to drop by and claim their belongings tomorrow from 4-8 as well.

Come have some food, and celebrate our achievements for the Future of FNUniv … the fight for permanent funding far from over, but it’s time to stop and celebrate a big victory.

See you there!

Diane Adams
President
FNUNivSA

A handful of student activists were on hand at Halifax MP Megan Leslie’s NDP constituency office yesterday, urging the federal government to provide permanent funding to the First Nations University in Saskatchewan.

Seven members of the Canadian Federation of Students presented a letter, addressed to Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, to Leslie’s constituency assistant.

“First Nations University plays an important role in encouraging aboriginal students to pursue post-secondary studies,” said Elise Graham, CFS Nova Scotia chairwoman.

Read more at metronews.ca.

Diane Adams of the First Nations University Students’ Association writes:

As Many of you know, after 71 days living in the First Nations University, students have moved out after the announcement of 4 milllion dollars, ensuring the school remains open this September.

A HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO THE LIVE-IN. YOUR GENEROSITY MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

Although the fight for long-term sustained funding for the FNUniv is far from over, the live-in has come to a close. So, we invite EVERYONE from the community to come join us for our FNUniv Victory Celebration:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
4 – 7 pm
FNUniv Regina Campus

There will be food, speeches and entertainment. FNUniv Live-In students will share their favorite stories from the FNUniv fight and live-in. This is a family friendly event.

THOSE WHO LENT US CAMPING GEAR: This is also the Move-Out– so if you lent us camping gear and supplies, please come by and claim them on the 23rd.

So come by and celebrate the future of FNUniv with us. We couldn’t have done it without you.

No one acted more admirably than Cadmus Delorme and the other students, who immediately took the fight to the assembly of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

Along with dedicated FNUC teachers such as Randy Lundy, they didn’t quit until the funding was restored this week.

The entire First Nations community should be proud them. We all should.

But absolutely no one deserves more praise than FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild.

Read more in the Leader-Post.

Atleo says the university is vital to the future of the First Nations people.

“If we are able to close the education gap in a 10 year time frame, it would mean more than 70 billion contributions by First Nations to the Canadian economy.”

Read more on the News Talk 650 CKOM web site.

As Many of you know, after 71 days living in the First Nations University, students have moved out after the announcement of 4 milllion dollars, ensuring the school remains open this September.

A HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO THE LIVE-IN. YOUR GENEROSITY MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

Although the fight for long-term sustained funding for the FNUniv is far from over, the live-in has come to a close. So, we invite EVERYONE from the community to come join us for our FNUniv Victory Celebration:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
4 – 7 pm
FNUniv Regina Campus

There will be food, speeches and entertainment. FNUniv Live-In students will share their favorite stories from the FNUniv fight and live-in. This is a family friendly event.

THOSE WHO LENT US CAMPING GEAR: This is also the Move-Out– so if you lent us camping gear and supplies, please come by and claim them on the 23rd.

So come by and celebrate the future of FNUniv with us. We couldn’t have done it without you.

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2010

FSIN Chiefs in Assembly Approve First Nations University Amendments

(Saskatoon SK): The Chiefs in Assembly of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) has approved a series of amendments to the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) Act last Thursday, June 10, 2010.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild said, “This legislative amendment is a very significant step forward for First Nations University. It represents tremendous commitment on the part of the partners in the process and the culmination of months of intense work by all of them. In my role as FSIN Chief, I applaud those efforts. Success has been achieved because all of us, as partners, did precisely what we committed to accomplish.”

The amendments to the First Nations University (FNUniv) Act of Canada approved by the Chiefs in Assembly last week include the following: reducing the Board of Governors from twenty-one members to nine, appointing Board members based on skills and experience, thereby depoliticizing it, implementing best practices in Board governance, and allowing for national representation.

“Throughout the past few months, FSIN has been completely supportive of the efforts of all the partners to achieve significant improvements in governance, accountability and financial stewardship for First Nations University,” said Chief Lonechild.

In February 2010, an FSIN resolution established an Interim Board of Governors for First Nations University. The Interim Board’s mandate was to increase the level of financial stability and address governance issues as outlined in the All Chiefs Task Force and the Dr. Manley Begay Report. Later that month, FSIN assisted in the establishment of a technical working group that was mandated to develop a series of working agreements for the partners. A Memorandum of Understanding between the partners was finalized in March, at which time provincial funding was reinstated.

In March and April, the First Nations University Interim Board of Governors submitted an Indian Studies Support Program (ISSP) proposal as well as a business plan. As a result of those applications, the Government of Canada reinstated a total of up to $7 Million under the ISSP envelope.

“Throughout those months, our role, as FSIN leadership, has been to continuously communicate to the federal Minister and Members of Parliament the pivotal role of First Nations University. Above all, we conveyed the overriding need to address the long term interests of First Nations University students,” stated Chief Lonechild.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of Treaty, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.

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For More Information Visit www.fsin.com

Mervin Brass, Executive Director of Communications
Direct: 306.956.1026
Cellular: 306.220.7187
Email BlackBerry: mervin.brass@fsin.com

The FSIN would like to issue the following Media Advisory:

Where: First Nations University of Canada, 1 First Nations Way, Regina SK

When: 1:45 pm, June 15, 2010

FSIN Spokesperson: FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo

Issue: Chief Lonechild and National Chief Atleo will be available to discuss their meetings with FNUniv and UofR officials.

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For More Information Please Contact:

Mervin Brass, FSIN Communications
Direct: 306.956-1026
Facsimile: 306.665-0115
Email: mervin.brass@fsin.com

AFN National Chief Sean Atleo will be at the FNUniv Regina to meet and greet with students tomorrow, June 15. If you are available please feel free to come by…. It will be a short meet-and-greet from 11:00 – 11:30 am, so be on time!! Location exec boardroom.

See you there!

Diane

Joely BigEagle, chairwoman of the FNUniv board of govenors said it’s been a long and difficult process to keep the doors of the university open. She reminded everyone that the fight is not over.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us and I know we’re working on tight timeframes,” said BigEagle. “We’re still going through restructuring. We’re still going through downsizing. We have deficits for this year.”

She said last year’s projected deficit is much higher than anticipated because of the funding was pulled during the semester and restructuring the institute has been costly.

Read the full article in the Leader-Post.