NASA elects president

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Blood Indian Andy Crop Eared Wolf, a second year University of Lethbridge student, was recently elected president by acclamation to the Native American Students' Association (NASA).

Crop Eared Wolf's lone opponent, Sherry Chism, withdrew from the presidency race after the death of her grandfather, former Alberta Lieutenant ?Governor, Ralph Steinhauer. Chism is a management student from the Saddle Lake reserve in northern Alberta.

Also elected were Don Chalifoux, a first year Cree student originally from Sucker Creek in northern Alberta and Cheryle Deering, a non-Native education student who defeated Blood student Ruby Many Fingers.

In an interview with Crop Eared Wolf, he said a number of challenges and issues face Native students on campus. Of priority is the on-going battle with Indian Affairs Circular E-12 policy which determines the guidelines in sponsoring treaty students attending post-secondary institutions.

Crop Eared Wolf and his wife, Connie, had successfully lobbied various Native and non-Native politicians during the summer to reinstate their Indian Affairs funding. They had their sponsorship discontinued after the spring semester because DIA contended they had used all their undergraduate weeks. About 48 weeks are allowed by DIA for sponsoring treaty Indians studying for undergraduate degrees. However, some Native students are no as vocal as the Crop Eared Wolfs.

"Some students have sought alternative funding to continue their education. Some have taken out student loans," said Crop Eared Wolf.

"But they have to remember that education is a treaty right ? we gave up so much in return for this right," he added.

He said the newly elected executive hope to encourage NASA members to become more politically strong. "We want to revive the provincial Native student organization that was very strong during the '70s."

But Crop Eared Wolf dismisses a charge that Native students don't want to get involved in many of the NASA's functions in the past years. "A lot of the students have many concerns. There is great potential. All they need is to be motivated," said Crop Eared Wolf.

In order to achieve this goal, the NASA constitution will be revised to allow more participation and planning by Native students. The executive positions will be increased from three spots to five positions. Crop Eared Wolf explains the proposed changes will "allow NASA members to assume more responsibility. Instead of just looking in from the outside, they'll (students) be able to participate more and be part of the decision-making process. The executive will be more or less just figure heads," he said.

This year, memberships in the NASA club was opened to non-Native students and faculty members as well as the 200 Native students on campus.

"In the past, NASA was viewed as a distinct Native group. This year we want to bridge the gap so that non-Natives have a better understanding of us," he said.

Shortly after their election victory, Crop Eared Wolf said they discovered that they have no records. "The outgoing executive has not produced last year's financial statements nor their minutes. All we know is that we've been told that NASA is in a $600 deficit," he said.

The executive will deal with the deficit issue in the next few weeks and help plan a number of social and recreation activities. Crop Eared Wolf said activities will be publically posted and in internal publication on campus.

Crop Eared Wolf was past president of the Lethbridge Community College Native Students' Association and INATSO ? Indian Athletic and Social Organization in Lethbridge.