AVC dispute: Grouard Nativeness stressed

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GROUARD - A community forum here October 4, strongly made the point that the local community considers the Alberta Vocational Centre (AVC) Grouard "is education for Native people, by Native people - and it always has been."

The forum was organized as part of research by a joint working committee composed of government officials, Grouard community members, and Indian and Metis representatives. The joint working committee was established as the result of a protest last May that saw the blockading of the AVC facility at Grouard.

The joint committee is co-chaired by Ron Ford, assistant deputy minister of municipal affairs, and Jeff Chalifoux, Metis Association of Alberta zone director. Other members are Grouard Band Chief Frank Halcrow for the lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, Victor Prinz of East Prairie for the Western Metis Settlements, Pauline Prahm and Glenna Anderson of the Grouard Community Council, Henry Goulet of the Grouard Metis Local, and Andy Henry, Brent Pickard, and Fred Dumont of Alberta Advanced Education.

Deputy premier and minister of advanced education, Dave Russell, minister of municipal affairs, Neil Crawford, and minister of economic development and trade and local MLA, Larry Shaben, made a number of commitments:

- That the government will participate in a joint committee to look at the programs, staffing and capital requirements for AVCs Grouard and other locations presently serviced by Grouard to ensure that they are adequate to meet the future educational needs of the area;

- That in the review process particular attention will be given to the educational needs of Native people and the involvement of staff and students in the operation of the centre;

- That pending receipt of the report of the joint working group, the decision to construct housing units in High Prairie will be deferred (and) the education program at AVC Grouard will not be downgraded;

- That the staff and students involved in the recent protest will not be disciplined;

The terms of reference and work program for the joint working committee are to:

- Review the original mandate of AVC Grouard;

- Review the programs of AVC Grouard to ensure that they meet the educational needs of Native people in the region;

- Review staffing requirements and in particular the decision on the location of housing;

- Examined ways in which Native people (students, staff, communities) can be involved in the operation of AVC Grouard;

- Prepare recommendations on the above for consideration by and agreement with the three ministers.

Co-chairman Robin Ford told Windspeaker in Grouard that the joint working committee expects to make its recommendations before the end of 1986.

"We're all here," said Ford, "to listen what the people in the community feel the Native impact on the administration (of AVC Grouard) should be. This forum relieved the tensions that resulted from last summer's blockade. We're all after a solution."

Co-chairman Jeff Chalifoux said the committee was in Grouard "to try to get input and views from the people of the area how AVC Grouard can better serve Native people with programs and administration."

AVC Grouard serves a student population three-quarters of whom are Native. People participating in the October 4 forum at Grouard repeatedly made the point that historically, since the first settlers - Grouard has been the location of facilities for Native education. At the same time, it was generally accepted that AVC Grouard is not an exclusively Indian school, but rather a meeting ground of cultures.

As Robin Ford put it: "AVC Grouard is not solely for Natives. We're not living in South Africa."

The people at the forum considered a number of aspects of the local Alberta Vocational Centre.

The location of the centre, it was felt, should be kept in Grouard and even expanded. Shifting student housing and certain programs from Grouard, it was noted, would be to the detrimental of the local community and theinstitution.

While there was general agreement that AVC Grouard is not exclusively for Native people, it was also felt that more Cree speaking Natives should be prepared for instructional positions.

Special needs of Native adults should be addressed by staff able to speak Native languages, and the attitude of instructors should be adjusted to take into account the measure of culture shock experienced by Natives who come to the institution from the outlying communities.

Programs should assist Natives in the process toward self-government, it was felt. As well, there should be strong links with the work force. More emphasis needs to be placed on Native culture, history, and language.

The operation of AVC Grouard is closely tied to its location. It was noted that Natives from outlying communities feel comfortable in Grouard. However, staff must appreciate Native culture, more Native counsellors should be employed, and there ought to be more native involvement in liaison and outreach work to Native communities.

It was suggested that the governance of AVC Grouard could be improved through an advisory council with representation from the Native communities, as well as moving toward college status with a board of governors.

The general perception of people attending the forum at Grouard was positive. Jeff Chalifoux said, "Native people are being heard through the minister of municipal affairs," Chalifoux said he had "very optimistic feelings."

Grouard Community Council president Pauline Prahm also said, "I think it's coming along pretty good." Glenna Anderson of the community council agreed, although she added: "Sometimes I think the government has already made up its mind." But, said Prahm, "at least someone is listening."