Native involvement at Keyano grows

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FORT MCMURRAY - In the past 18 months, the Native enrollment has increased and the Native drop-out rate has decreased dramatically at Keyano College here, Balvir, Joshi, head of Keyano's counselling department, reports.

He noted the credit goes to Mariella Sneddon, Native counsellor on loan from Syncrude Canada's Northern Development Services. In 1983 there were 92 Native students, and in 1985 there were 182 students attending the college. The figure was determined through the last name of the students and does not give an accurate count of Native enrollment Joshi stated. The college does not ask the nationality of the students due to a clause in the Human Rights Act.

Sneddon has been on loan from Syncrude since 1984, and was originally on loan for a one-year term, with the wages, benefits and travelling expenses being paid by Syncrude. At Keyano's request, Sneddon's term was extended another year, with the college paying for the travel expense. However, with the term expiring in August, the college is concerned that they may lose the valuable services of Sneddon.

An extension of Sneddon's term is being negotiated with Syncrude, Joshi said. For funding the college has approached Native Outreach, the Indian Affairs Department, and the local friendship centre, and has sent a proposal to the Secretary of State with the help of MP Jack Shields, and the minister of advanced education.

Joshi would like to see the Native counselling job become a three-year project, thus giving it more stability. He said the cost is estimated at $150,000.

Sneddon not only counsels the Native students of the college but travels to communities such as Janvier, Fort Chipewyan, Fort MacKay and Anzac.

In these communities, Sneddon is able to counsel prospective students who may want to further their education. Students attending the Basic Education Programs in their home communities also receive counselling from Sneddon, as well as inservice training on job search techniques and career counselling.

Sneddon has worked to improve relations with Natives attending the college. Not only has she provided better liaison between the college and the Native students, but also with Native Outreach, Indian Affairs, and Indian bands in the outlying regions of Fort McMurray, stated Joshi.

Willis Lane, senior counsellor for Native Outreach, stated he met with other friendship centres to see how funding could be obtained to help keep the much-needed services of the Native counsellor.

"Not only is she Native, so that the clients I refer to her feel more comfortable with her, but it's the fact that here is a Native person who has worked hard and succeeded," Lane said.

Joshi said there is no increase in the college budget for an extra counsellor. If there is an increase, it's for new programs and cost of living. The college has two full-time and two half-time counsellors (one being Joshi himself) on salary at the present time.

With the positive results a Native counsellor at the college has been able to achieve, it is a shame to see the Native counselling service in jeopardy.