Aboriginal education programs living on the edge

Page 6

Members of the Aboriginal community are bracing themselves for news that could prove to be a hard pill to swallow. After 25 years of the Native Communications Program and 22 years of the Native Women's Career Preparation Program at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, word is circulating that both may be phased out.

Although there has not been any official word from the departments involved, the fears and rumblings are escalating.

Also threatened is the six-year-old Aboriginal Education Centre, the hub of Aboriginal student life on the campus, and the Ben Calf Robe Adult Education program, which is three years old.

Lewis Cardinal, who graduated from the communications program in 1987, expressed shock and dismay when he got wind of the possibility the programs may disappear. If that happens, he contends, "it would take away a wonderful program that has been the starting point for many Aboriginal students on the road to higher education and professional occupations." He further stated that it would "remove the only learning place for communications in the city for Aboriginals."

Cardinal presently serves as the co-ordinator of the University of Alberta's Native Student Services and is no stranger when it comes to Aboriginal students' needs. If all the programs go, "where will we turn to in the future?" he asked.

As for Doug Longmore, a past graduate of the college's social work program, the news is no surprise.

"We saw that coming a long time ago because the word was out that the women's career program, the Ben Calf one were going down."

He thinks part of the problem is the money in that the programs generate very little revenue for the college. He was critical that the college is able to find all kinds of dollars for expansion programs, but when it comes to Aboriginal matters, there's nothing available. Further to that, he states that while the programs may go, they'll likely continue the annual Dreamcatcher conference because it's a money maker.

Longmore feels it's time anyway for Aboriginal people to have their own institution at the college level, similar to Blue Quills at St. Paul, and the Indian Federated College and Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatchewan.

"Even these could be expanded to fill the need created by the void that would occur if and when the college phases out Aboriginal programming," he added.

A staff member who did not wish to disclose his identity shook his head at what appears to be the end of Aboriginal programs.

"It's too bad it's come to this," he said.

Another said an official memo from the college was received stating, "they'll not receive any new intake in September 2000."

That message, according to the staff person, "effectively ends 25 years of the [Native Communications Program]" which originated with the Alberta Native Communications Society, the forerunner of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society in the mid-70s. The program has turned out a number of successes, achievers and role models, including actress Tantoo Cardinal, actor Jimmy Herman, university administrator and PhD candidate Lewis Cardinal, artist Dale Auger, singer Art Napoleon, and filmmaker Dorothy Schrieber.

A former Aboriginal music student at the college, Kathy Sewell, was astounded by the news. She feels the programs helped "ease Aboriginals into the post-secondary stream." She claims it helps rural students wanting to enter and adjust to mainstream systems without having to go directly to university, which is so imposing for many. It provides a buffer to culture shock, she explained.

With projections that Edmonton's Aboriginal population is destined to mushroom, where will Aboriginal people go for education, especially in communications and career preparation?

To Maggie Deranger, a former student and past director of the Aboriginal Education Centre, options are necessary.

"If the college is going to discontinue developmental programs, then they should look at meeting the needs of science and technology,leadership training and social sciences for Aboriginal people," she said. "Aboriginal people have cultural needs that are distinct from mainstream society that aren't going to change. If the college tries to mainstream us, it won't work. It hasn't in the past, it won't in the future," she charged.

The women's career program, co-ordinated by Lynda Ferguson, was designed to educate in career planning, job searching, computer skills, self-development, balancing work and personal life, and providing work experience, explained Luella Massey. She and co-worker Josie Oltrop say it "gives women support and hope that they can go on and do something with their lives."

Hundreds and hundreds have gone through the program explained Oltrop. Many went on to post-secondary education, she added. "We're creating independence, empowerment and pride."

One of the wonderful aspects of those who go through the program, she added, is that the majority return to their community. There, they are highly valued for their understanding of the people, community and issues.

Following numerous phone calls to the college, Sweetgrass finally tracked down the dean for community education, Peggy Quinney. In a telephone conversation, she admitted that the Aboriginal programs "played an important role," are unique, successful and filling very definite needs at the community level. She also confirmed that, "the college has developed a new vision and mission statement." The mission, she said, "focuses on career studies, certificate/diploma programs and our university studies program." The college is undertaking a review of how this mission will affect programming right across the college, she explained. The board of governors, she added, "supported these directions of emphasis on career studies."

Apart from Native Communications not receiving any new intakes in September 2000, the Ben Calf Robe program may not either. When questioned about it, Quinney refused to answer Sweetgrass' question regarding this

Melanie Busby, the college's Director of Marketing and Communications, tried to paint a somewhat brighter picture. She said, even if the Aboriginal programs were phased out, "it would be over a transition period . . . perhaps over a five-year period."

She challenges the prevailing rumor mill that spells the probable demise of Aboriginal programs, she maintains," I don't think anybody has said yet these programs will not be offered."

She's also not saying that they will.

There are no guarantees. There are also no guarantees that the Aboriginal programs at the college would be picked up by any other institution. Busby explained Grant MacEwan would be working with other organizations, like NorQuest (previously Alberta Vocational College), to address the matter.