Speakers discuss programs, policies:Native education theme of U of A forum

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Awareness of education programs directed to Native students in Alberta was the theme of a forum on Native education held at the University of Alberta (U of A) March 5.

Presentations were made by community-based, government and university education programs by several speakers to large audience filling the Kiva Room of the campus Education Building.

Dr. Ralph Sabey, director of the Native Education project of Alberta Education, spoke on the provincial effort to work with the Native community.

The Native Education Project communicates with Native people of Alberta towards improving education services, including the development of school books and materials, reported Sabey.

There are two textbooks on Indians that Alberta Education produced in cooperation with Indian bands.

Books on the Piegan and the Blackfoot were introduced to the Grade 7 social studies classes, and two more will soon be completed, said Sabey.

A policy on Native education is still forthcoming, reported Sabey, however the Native Education Project team has been working to get views on education from the Native community since 1984.

Alberta Education Minister Nancy Betkowski will be announcing the Native education policy of the Alberta government some time after the provincial budget is revealed in March, her office reported when contacted on March 6.

Jane Tuesday of the Alexander Reserve School spoke on that community based education program.

The Kipothakaw Education Centre at Alexander is a band-controlled school, which embodies the cultural philosophy of the Alexander people.

Eva Cardinal of the Sacred Circle education project of the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) spoke on both the Sacred Circle and Awasis programs.

There are about 3,000 Native students in the EPSB system in Edmonton, said Cardinal.

Cardinal is a consultant with Native Home School Liaison, which now has 198 students and 68 parents using their service.

"Rapid urbanization and the increasing migration of Native people to the city prompted the need for these programs," said Cardinal.

"We help facilitate the successful integration of Native people into the city," added Cardinal.

The Awasis program is operated out of the Prince Charles Elementary School and the Sacred Circle program is being integrated into the overall ESPB system.

The liaison department of Sacred Circle is situated at the Oliver Elementary School. Cardinal credited the Native Home School Liaison unit for encouraging the Native Student Services in the Edmonton education system.

Susy Sequin of the Ben Calf Robe School reported that the Native-based school, now at the St. Pius X Catholic School, is looking for a bigger home due to increased demand.

There are now 80 students at Ben Calf Robe School taking a combination of Native curriculum and the regular provincial junior high school courses.

The reason a junior high school was chosen to combat high dropout rates among Native student population, said Sequin.

There are about 1,500 Native students in the Separate School system, reported Sequin.

The rest of the forum time covered university programs created to help Native enter and finish university education.

Dr. Carl Urion, director of Native Student Services (NSS) at the U of A, set aside his chairing of the forum to give an update on Native Student Services program.

NSS began operation in 1975 to ensure that Native students received proper services from the university.

It has since expanded to include: off-campus services to the Native community of Alberta; administration of a coordinated University Transfer program, and community liaison with the university, said Urion, who then introduced his staff.

Doreen Richardson, NSS community liaison officer, explained her work with the Native community.

"The service provides a link from the university to the community schools, colleges, correctional centers and transfer programs," said Richardson.

Marilyn Dumont, NSS academic counsellor gave her imprssions of a Native student profile she has worked on since June 1985.

The average age of a Native university student applicant is 29 years old, with 39 percent of those interviewed not meeting the university entrance requirements, 21 percent being a transfer student, 25 percent entering as non-matriculated adult, 13 percent entering as a matriculated student and two percent going on to graduate studies," reported Dumont.

"There are now a growing number of off-campus programs that help Native people to prepare for university entrance," said Gillian Sanderson, coordinator of the Coordinated University Transfer Program at NSS.

Higher and higher marks are required for entering university, remarked Sanderson. However, she expects to see an increase in Native students at university from off-campus programs.