Letter to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs
March 21, 2010
My name is Angelina Weenie. I am Plains Cree from Sweetgrass First Nation. I am a fluent Cree speaker. My language, my culture, and my identity as a Nehiyaw Iskwew (Cree woman) mark the most important aspects of my place and being. I am a mother, grandmother, teacher, and academic.
I started at First Nations University of Canada, formerly SIFC, in August 1997. I have been the Department Head of Indigenous Education for the past eight years. I was hired as a lecturer on the basis of nineteen years elementary teaching experience and a Post-Graduate Diploma. I completed my Master of Education degree in 2002. I started my PhD program at the University of Regina in 2005. I submitted my doctoral thesis on December 21, 2009, and I am now moving to my thesis defense. I refer to this timeline as I would not have pursued doctoral studies had I not been at the First Nations University of Canada. It is the support, encouragement, and mentorship of colleagues at the First Nations University of Canada that has helped me to where I am in my educational journey.
I am committed to the First Nations University of Canada as we all work to uphold First Nations languages, cultures, traditional values and customs. Our university is truly unique and other mainstream institutions can try to emulate what we have but the work that we do here cannot be replicated so easily. All of the programs and courses that we offer reflect the evolution of First Nations education in Saskatchewan. For thirty four years, this university has existed to support the needs and interests of First Nations communities.
I am committed to the Indigenous Education program. I am proud of our program and of our students. They are our leaders of tomorrow and we work hard to create a nurturing environment wherein they will grow and develop as First Nations professionals. A testament to our work was given by one of the Indigenous Education students when she was interviewed in the Leader Post. She stated “this is home” (Janice Friesen, March 16, 2010). First Nations University of Canada is truly home to us. First Nations University of Canada is a place where I feel valued and respected as a First Nations person. In turn I have worked hard to make the vision of our Elders, our grandmothers and grandfathers, a reality.
My youngest son is currently a first year student at Northern Campus. My grandsons have participated in the Health Science Camp for the past two summers and they are looking forward to participating again this summer. I had hoped that they would continue on with their education at the First Nations University of Canada.
The Elders, faculty, staff, and students that I work with on a daily basis are special in my heart. We are all dedicated to this university and it truly breaks my heart that the federal government will close the doors to an institution that we have put our heart and our souls into.
Angelina Weenie
Department Head
Indigenous Education
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