First Aboriginal masters U of A law

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Sharon Venne was the first Aboriginal ever to graduate with a Masters of Law degree from the University of Alberta. She graduated this past May, she's travelled to every major country in the world, except Mongolia, working with the United Nations, and she's done it all as a single mom.

It's easy to see that Venne's recently completed thesis, Our Elders Understand Our Rights: Evolving International Law Regarding Indigenous Peoples, isn't just an interesting choice of topic, it's her entire way of life.

"I began by studying history and in the process I got disillusioned with [it] because the elders' version was very different from colonial history. The elders' oral history has been forgotten in recorded history," explained Venne, 46, about her fight to protect the rights of Aboriginal people. "It made me realize there are a lot of things that need to be done, both historically and legally. I wanted to work on correcting the picture, even though I didn't expect it to be done in my life. Most of my work is to try and change the system, to make my people feel more comfortable in a colonial society."

Venne began her education in 1974 in Nanaimo, B.C., with an arts certificate from Malaspinia College. She followed the certificate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) from the University of Victoria. From there, Venne went on to study Native law at the University of Saskatchewan. She then went back to the University of Victoria for her Bachelor of Law Degree in 1979. Venne, originally from the Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, went back for her masters degree after an eight- year hiatus from school.

The break may have done her good. She modestly admits that her thesis was accepted without revisions or amendments - for the first time ever at the U of A.

"She's worked very hard, both here [at the university], nationally, and internationally. Sharon is an example of hard work paying off," said Art Beaver, director of Native Student Services at the University of Alberta. "I think the message is starting to become apparent that other Aboriginal students can come here and succeed, under difficult circumstances. Sharon is definitely a very strong role model."

According to statistics provided by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Venne is indeed a role model, in a class of a select few.

Only seven Aboriginal students in Alberta earned graduate degrees in 1996. Alberta and British Columbia share the lowest rates in Canada of graduate studies by Aboriginals.

"I never thought about myself as a role model. If I can help, I do. I guess people think going back to school was surprising. It never entered my mind that I shouldn't so I just did it."

Venne has been actively involved with the United Nations since 1981. She has served as a delegate to the Commission on Human Rights for 13 years, attended conferences on the implementation of the International Year for Indigenous People, and the sat on the Commission on Sustainable Development, just to name a few.

But while Venne's United Nations work and educational accomplishments are impressive, she freely admits that there is something she cherishes more than all that, her son, Adam Manyfingers.

Venne even dedicated her thesis to him in part for sharing his computer time and "making me aware of the future.

"He is an interesting child, fascinating really," she says thoughtfully, remarking on how he seems to understand the importance of her work, even though he's only 14.

"He is my biggest accomplishment because I can see that there's going to be something that carries on in the future and he knows that I never gave up or compromised our people."

Venne is currently teaching in the Native Law Program at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon . She is there over the summer months. She plans to continue her education this fall at the University of Alberta, working towards her doctorate.