RETAIN conference heads north for 2000

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PRINCE GEORGE - People from across North America will be gathering in Prince George in late April to share ideas about how to keep Aboriginal students in school during the fifth annual RETAIN conference to be held April 27 to 30.

RETAIN - Retention In Education Today For All Indigenous Nations - is the fifth annual conference. The four previous conferences were held in Arizona, hosted by various universities in the state. This year"s conference is hosted by the University of Northern British Columbia.

The "RETAIN 2000" conference is designed to allow participants a chance to discuss ways to improve retention and graduation rates of Aboriginal people in high school and post-secondary education, and to share information about projects and programs that have worked for them.

Yvonne Pierreroy is conference co-ordinator for RETAIN 2000.

Pierreroy said the university put in a bid to host the conference in order to give people in Canada a better opportunity to attend the event.

"Education of First Nations students is always a priority with the First Nations in our region, and we want to meet with educators, and anyone involved in educating our people in higher education and post-secondary, and any strategies or ideas or innovative projects that are working for people. We want [them] brought here to be able to share that information," Pierreroy said.

This year's conference will be exploring five themes: innovative program studies; developing community involvement; organizing for student recruitment and retention; student services; advising, success courses, freshmen, and academic intervention programs. Each of the conference workshops falls under one of the five themes.

The first day of the conference, April 27, is a pre-conference youth day with workshops and presentations aimed at young participants.

Keynote speakers for the conference are Martin Brokenleg, Ivy Goduka, Arohia Durie, Jo-Ann Archibald and Edward John.

Entertainment for conference participants will include a Misty Lake play during the youth day pre-conference, and a concert by Susan Aglukark as part of the main conference.

The registration fee for the conference is $425 in Canadian funds. The youth day pre-conference event is free, but youth attending are responsible for their own accommodation and travel expenses.

For more information about RETAIN 2000, call 250-960-5610, or visit the conference web site at www.res.unbc.ca/Retain2000.