Welcome to AMMSA.COM, the news archive website for our family of Indigenous news publications.

Gala raises awareness and funds for new resource centre

Article Origin

Author

By Roy Pogorzelski Sweetgrass Writer BLOOD FIRST NATION

Volume

19

Issue

5

Year

2012

The second gala event hosted by the Mikai’sto Foundation wasn’t only about raising money for the new Learner’s Resource Centre/Campus Facility planned for Red Crow Community College, on the Blood First Nation.

“Galas really do not raise a lot of money, but they create awareness, allow for opportunities to network and to meet with potential investors,” said Francis First Charger, CEO of Mikai’sto Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the college.

The second gala was held on March 16 in Lethbridge and showcased local First Nations entertainers. The first gala took place in November 2008 in Calgary and featured well known environmentalist David Suzuki.

The resource centre is currently located in a former Residential School building from 1925.

“The building is quite old and the repairs alone would cost a lot of money, so it is best to construct a new building that could house the growing collection in the Learner’s Resource Centre,” said First Charger.

“The students are very proud to be studying at RCCC. The enrollment is constantly growing, but there is just not enough space to keep up with this demand,” said First Charger. “That is why expansion of a Learner’s Resource Centre is extremely important.”

The project is an expensive undertaking, but First Charger has been busy meeting with individuals and corporations for monetary support. He is hopeful that some of that support will come from the neighbouring city of Lethbridge. Eventually, the larger challenge of acquiring provincial and federal funding will be looked into, with the hopes that the governments can match the money raised through donations and fundraising.

“The gala was held in Lethbridge because of the close association between RCCC and the community of Lethbridge. The hope is to raise awareness of the resource centre and gain much needed monetary support,” said First Charger.

RCCC has two campuses, one on the Blood Reserve and a satellite campus in Lethbridge, and approximately 300 students.

The University of Lethbridge has offered its in-kind partnership support of the Learner’s Resource Centre.  The Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the Galt Museum in Lethbridge have assisted the Red Crow library in properly handling artifacts that join the resource centre.

The library system has been digitalized, so the students have access to much needed resources, but the space has been problematic.

“Another difficult aspect is educating Chief and Council on the necessity to create a space for learning that could continue to expand the growing collection of resources for the students,” said First Charger.

Site location and design of the building still need to be determined.

“There are many challenges, but we are headed in the right direction,” said First Charger.

He is hopeful that the new Learner’s Resource Centre can be completed in the next three to five years.