Credits galore on FNUC file

From an opinion piece by Murray Mandryk in the Regina Leader-Post of June 5, 2010.

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.

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Federal $4 million grant pulls First Nations University back from brink

From an article by Tim Switzer in the Vancouver Sun of Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

On Wednesday, staff and students at FNUniv breathed a collective sigh of relief when Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl announced the federal government would provide the embattled school with $4 million to cover costs from Sept. 1 to March 31.

“I really hold the First Nations University dear to my heart,” said soon-to-be-third-year business student Rebecca Sangwais while sitting behind the counter at Kohkum Bea’s convenience store at FNUniv. “I didn’t realize at first how awesome this university is and the support system it offers. I was worried that it would be shutting down.

“I’m really overjoyed to know we’re going to be here for another year and hopefully for the future.”

The next step is for the university to secure long-term, sustainable funding. The $4-million offer, like the $3 million provided by the federal government to see students through the end of August, comes from the Indian Studies Support Program and comes with conditions that FNUniv meets milestones for governance and accountability changes.

FNUniv president Shauneen Pete was not made available to speak to the media Wednesday, but said in a news release that the “board of governors has committed an extraordinary effort to restore governance and accountability structures.”

She also noted that, while funding is back near the level it was in February when over $12 million was pulled from the university by the federal and provincial governments following years of allegations of financial mismanagement and political interference, there are still dollars that can be saved.

Liberal Ralph Goodale, the local MP, cautiously applauded the move.

“It’s a good sign, but it’s not a guarantee and that’s what’s really required here,” said Goodale. “Hopefully, all of the partners here will use the time that’s available here to put into place an arrangement that will last a long time on a sound and credible financial basis.”

Read the full article in the Vancouver Sun.

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Troubled First Nations University gets $4-million lifeline from Ottawa

From an article by Jennifer Graham in the Globe and Mail of Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

The minister [Chuck Strahl] said he’s encouraged by the university’s progress so far and looks forward to seeing it become increasingly stable, both in its finances and in its governance. The funding depends on continued reform.

“I reinforced that in a letter to them today to say that those milestones must be reached. We can’t slide back, because this has happened before, unfortunately,” he said.

There is hope for the university beyond next spring, he added.

“We wouldn’t be putting $7 million into it if we didn’t think it had a long-term future,” Mr. Strahl said.

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, who represents the Regina riding where First Nations University is located, said the new money is a step in the right direction, but added that the school needs long-term, sustainable financing. It can’t depend on “hand-to-mouth funding,” Mr. Goodale said.

Read the full article in the Globe and Mail.

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Goodale Calls for Long-Term Support of First Nations University of Canada

For immediate release
Date: June 2, 2010

Goodale Calls for Long-Term Support of First Nations University of Canada

OTTAWA – Following the announcement earlier today of a federal commitment to invest up to a maximum of $4 million in transitional funding to First Nations University of Canada, Wascana Member of Parliament Ralph Goodale renewed calls on the government for long-term, sustainable funding of this important institution.

“Today the government acknowledged the hard work of FNUC’s new administration and the community support surrounding this unique university,” said Mr. Goodale. “Though this commitment is a step in the right direction, the future of this institution will depend on more than hand-to-mouth funding. We need to keep the pressure on the government until FNUC receives long-term financial security.”

-30-

Video of Mr. Goodale’s question available upon request.

Official Transcript from the House of Commons:

Hon. Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, after about a dozen inquires from this side of the House and a tremendous amount of effort on the part of First Nations University, the government is now offering some financial certainty for one coming year. That is welcome, but it is not sufficient.

First Nations University has corrected its situation and has earned the support of the provincial government, the University of Regina, the Regina and Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce, the Canadian Association of University Teachers and others.

When does the minister expect to be in a position to make a long-term financial commitment to First Nations University?

Daniel Lauzon
Office of the Honourable Ralph Goodale, M.P., Opposition House Leader
Cabinet de l’honorable Ralph Goodale, député, Leader de l’opposition à la Chambre
Tel: 613-943-4995
Email: lauzoD@parl.gc.ca

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Strahl easing position on aboriginal university: Goodale

From an article by Pamela Roth in the Vancouver Sun of April 15, 2010.

Following a meeting Thursday morning between FNUniv President Shauneen Pete and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, Goodale questioned the minister in the House of Commons about a long-term financial plan to extend funding for the school permanently beyond August.

Goodale said for the minister to even sit down and look at the sustainable business plan, along with details on time frames, structures and dollar figures, appears to be a step toward finding solutions, rather than just saying “no.”

“I’ve asked the question about the future of FNUniv five or six times. Most often, the answer coming back is quite flippant and dismissive. I detected a distinct shift in the government’s position — I think a shift for the better,” said Goodale.

“It isn’t over until it’s over, but this is certainly better that where it was a month or six weeks ago. What I am sensing from the government now is ‘let’s work on solutions rather than just walk away.’ ”

Read the full article in the Vancouver Sun.

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Letter #74: Native American and Indigenous Studies Association

March 30, 2010

Dear Mr. Strahl and Mr. Harper:

I write on behalf of the Council of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, a scholarly organization with over 700 members from scores of countries and Indigenous nations, to express concern over what is happening to the faculty, staff, and students of the First Nations University of Canada. We are a governing council of Indigenous scholars from North America, Hawai’i, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Australia. We represent a membership that includes upwards of 200 Canadian citizens. We unanimously regard the planned closing of First Nations University, the only Aboriginal university in Canada, as a threat to Indigenous higher education everywhere.

The problems at First Nations University are real, of course, but so is the commitment of those dedicated to turning around this situation. Because we are convinced of the seriousness of that commitment, we support the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations in its good faith initiation of the changes required to bring the governance structures at First Nations University into conformity with those of other Canadian universities. As you know, a working group with representation from all stakeholder groups is currently developing a revised funding and governance model for First Nations University. You are certainly also aware that the University of Regina has expressed its willingness to support First Nations University. We also want you to know that our association is willing to provide appropriate support, including help in identifying from among the dozens of program and department administrators and university officials in our membership those who might be of assistance.

We join concerned scholars and students around the world who are following the crisis at First Nations University. We hope that our letter and the many others you are receiving will convince you that your government’s current course of action will in the long run be detrimental to all Aboriginal people, to the province of Saskatchewan, and to Canada’s international reputation. A university represents some of the best hopes and highest ideals for a brighter Indigenous future. We ask that you recognize those hopes as you proceed.

We thus urge you, in the strongest terms, to support the continued operation of First Nations University.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please contact me at 217-418-8879 or rwarrior@illinois.edu if you would like to follow up directly.

Very truly yours,
Robert Warrior
President
Native American and Indigenous Studies Association
Professor of American Indian Studies, History, and English
Director, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

C: Todd Russell; Rob Clarke; Jean Crowder; Randy Hoback; Ralph Goodale; Ed Komarnicki; Lillian Dyck; Tom Lukiwski; Rob Norris; Gerry Ritz; Brad Wall; Andrew Scheer; Cam Broten; Brad Trost; Kelly Block; Maurice Vellacott; Ray Boughen; Lynne Yelich; Garry Breitkreuz; Edward Doolittle; David Anderson; Maggie Walter

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Students will not settle for less than $7.2 million in federal funding

From an article by Kerry Benjoe in the Leader-Post of March 27, 2010.

“We have language, business, (education), nursing, science and, with $7.2 million, we were already running under budget, so we need all the money flowing to this institution,” [said Cadmus Delorme, vice-president of communications for the FNUniv student association].

Delorme is calling on Strahl to hold true to his word, that the federal government would act only after the province did.

“It’s time for the federal government to follow suit,” he said.

Delorme said the students heard rumours that Strahl would be in Regina to attend the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, held at the Conexus Arts Centre Friday evening.

In anticipation of that possible visit Delorme and the students created their own cheque made out to the FNUniv for $7.2 million.

“All we’re missing is his signature,” said Delorme.

Read the full article in the Leader-Post.

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First Nations University of Canada fires vice-president of Finance and Administration Al Ducharme

From a story by Jana G. Pruden and Pamela Cowan in the Leader-Post of March 22, 2010.

The Saskatchewan government has said it won’t renew $5.1 million in annual provincial funding to the school, which in recent years has faced allegations of financial mismanagement and concerns about university governance.

The Conservative government is also standing firm on its refusal to reinstate more than $7-million in annual federal funding that will expire March 31.

But in a statement released to the media on Sunday, Wascana Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said there may be a “sliver of hope” in recent comments by the prime minister.

Read the full story in the Leader-Post.

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Reason #20: Chuck Strahl can’t give us a good reason not to fund First Nations University

According to Matthew Little of the Epoch Times of March 18, 2010, when Chuck Strahl was asked what First Nations University should do to get its funding back, Strahl did not have a specific reason why it shouldn’t.

“It is just a myriad of things, there is no one specific incident,” said Strahl when asked if there was some fundamental issue the government was waiting to see addressed.

The truth is, we have addressed all of the federal government’s stated concerns about the governance and administration of our institution. There is no longer any reason for the federal government to withhold its funding.

In the same article, Matthew Little writes,

Many problems at FNUC have stemmed from political intervention by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) which owns the university. Recently elected to helm the federation, Guy Lonechild has worked to correct those problems and told reporters last week he doesn’t know what else the government wants him to do so that funding can be reinstated.

The federal and Saskatchewan governments both announced they were cutting their funding of the institution last month, though Rob Norris, Saskatchewan’s minister of advanced education, recently put the province’s $5.1 million in funding back on the table and hoped Ottawa would do the same with its $7.2 million.

But Strahl said it was just too little too late.

Chuck Strahl has nothing to offer but tired cliches. If there are specific actions we need to take to get our funding back, we need to know now what those are. On the other hand, if there is no specific reason why Strahl is not reinstating our funding, other than his personal whim, we need to know that too, so that all the people who have been working 18 hour days this past month to put together a deal realize that their work was in vain because the federal government has been bargaining in bad faith.

If you are as appalled with the minister’s statements as we are, please write a letter to the minister and copy it to the opposition critics and the newspapers.

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Message to friends and supporters of First Nations University by Ralph Goodale

As you know, I continue to follow the situation at FNuniv very carefully.

I have met with Chief Lonechild, U of R President Timmons, local and national faculty representatives, student leaders and others. I have also repeatedly raised FNUniv concerns in the media and in Question Period in the House of Commons.

I have called upon all parties to be focused on fixing the governance and administrative issues in order to save and revitalize this unique institution for the future. It would be tragic to see the baby get thrown out with the bathwater. As a said to Minister Strahl in Parliament – do not visit the past sins of others on innocent young students now or in the future.

Chief Lonechild, the FSIN, the Interim Board and the Acting CEO have been faced with some tough decisions, and are doing their very best to find workable remedies for past troubles. President Timmons and her colleagues at the University of Regina are sparing no effort to be helpful. The provincial government has shown a willingness to participate in solutions. Only the federal government remains intransigent.

The vague notion that, if FNUniv disappears, the $7.5 million in federal funding would somehow be retained for Aboriginal education in Saskatchewan is a pipe-dream. That money would immediately disappear into the black-hole of federal budget cuts – never to be seen again in Saskatchewan or for Aboriginal purposes.

While there is still time left before the end of March, I think it’s important for everyone to give particular attention to the quality of FNUniv’s students and faculty, to the high calibre learning, research and outreach that is done at and from this institution, to the uniqueness of its educational environment and its course offerings, and to the success stories that are now evident in the lives of FNUniv’s alumni and the role models they have become.

These are the positive messages the broader community needs to hear if they are to rally to the cause of saving FNUniv at this critical hour.

Yours sincerely.

Ralph Goodale, M.P.
Wascana

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