Students at the First Nations University of Canada have been staging a live-in since March 23 to protest the decision of the federal and provincial governments to cut funding to the institution.
“We’re demanding the money flow back into the institution,” said Cadmus Delorme, the FNUC student association vice-president. “By participating in this live-in, we want to tell everybody that we are like a family and this is our home.”
In February, the Canadian and Saskatchewan governments cited financial mismanagement and poor governance of the university as the reason for suspending funding.
Since the live-in began, the Saskatchewan government has agreed to reinstate $5.2 million in funding after the University of Regina agreed to handle the FNUC’s finances.
Students are still waiting for the $7 million federal grant to be reinstated.
According to Delorme, provincial funding has been reinstated because the university complied with the requests of the provincial government by dismissing its old board of governors and firing the old vice-president and president of the university.
The university has not had as much luck with re-acquiring federal funding.
“The federal government is not communicating with us at all,” Delorme said. “We’ve been using the media to get our point across.”
About 15 students have moved in, and about 30 others come and go.
“Some of us have been sleeping in teepees outside, but it’s been pretty cold. Last night it was -16 C,” Delmore said.
“We’re not disrupting the administrative hours of the institution, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. We do activities in the evening,” Delorme said.
The live-in has a strict conduct code that makes sure students attend classes and enforces a bedtime at midnight.
“Every evening we do activities, such as singing powwow songs, beading or drumming,” Delmore said. “The other night we played charades in native languages.”
Delmore said people from the community come out to participate in the activities every night.
“It’s great to see non-native people supporting us, and trying to keep up with the drumming during the powwow. It’s all about sharing our culture. That’s what this university does,” Delorme said.
“The support from everyone has been amazing. We’ve received numerous donations of food and money,” Delorme said.
According to the FNUC’s website, the university provides “post-secondary education in a culturally supportive First Nations environment.” The university has about 800 students enrolled in its main campus in Regina and its satellite classrooms in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that combine “First Nation-oriented and standard areas of studies.”
“Keeping the university open is important, because graduating from post-secondary education helps Aboriginals participate in the economy,” Delorme said.
“Growing up on a First Nations Reserve and moving into an urban area is a huge culture shock and many find it difficult to succeed,” Delmore said. “We need to keep this university going so Aboriginal people can continue to contribute to the economy.”