Meetings Continue Over Future Of FNUC

Meetings Continue Over Future Of FNUC

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 13:19

 

 

A meeting is set to take place this afternoon in Saskatoon between the province and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

 

At issue is the future of the First Nations University of Canada.

 

The school has been embroiled in allegations of financial irregularities over the past several weeks and recently saw both federal and provincial funding withdrawn.

 

However, it appears the province is ready to restore payments if the University of Regina acts as a direct overseer of the institution.

 

Former FSIN chief Perry Bellegarde was one of the key figures in getting the FNUC recognized as a university.

 

He feels bringing in the U of R is a good move, and says he agrees with the decision to remove sitting chiefs from the school’s board of governors.

 

Bellegarde adds the FNUC is the country’s only repository for Indigenous knowledge and it would be a shame for that to disappear.

 

Meanwhile, faculty from the University of Regina expressed their concern for FNUC students at a meeting with their president this morning.

 

U of R president Vianne Timmons says both students and faculty from the First Nations University and the U of R are very stressed over the lack of direction and communication over the past two weeks.

 

Timmons says this situation has caused the students great anxiety, and they are struggling to stay focused on their studies.

 

She says this has also been a very trying and difficult time for FNUC faculty.

 

Timmons says it was reported to her earlier today that they are “at the end of their emotional ropes” — and “they need some solutions”.

 

She says her message to faculty is to inform students and dispel the myths that are circulating about the FNUC situation.

 

Timmons is meeting this afternoon with staff and students at the FNUC’s Regina campus.

 

She will also meet with Lonechild and Norris later today.