Symposium held to protest school cutbacks

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A National Education Symposium is being hosted by the Alexander Tribal Government from August 17 to 19, to deal with the issue of education cutbacks.

Cutbacks to post-secondary education and band controlled schools total about $600,000 over a two year period in Alberta.

University student Adele Arcand, of Alexander, said: "Ottawa has been closing its doors. . . The government is refusing to look at input from the Native people. Policies are being introduced so quickly to the Native community that no one has had a chance to study them or understand them fully."

She says school administrators are hardest hit. Schools in Alberta will be $180 per student for administrative positions. In the Alexander band controlled school, where 200 students attend classes, $32,000 will be allocated for administration ? a figure less then the yearly salary of a principle's position, which also falls under administrative costs.

The cuts are being felt nationally as well. For example, Quebec has been cutback by $7 million and will not receive additional funding for the next seven years.

Arcand is the chairperson of the National Education Symposium organizing group, which is pleading with Native and non-Native organizations to join forces and confront the government on a national level.

"We don't want hand outs, we want self-sufficiency. And, education is the only way to get this." she concludes.

For more information about the symposium, call 939-5887.