Centre provides a home away from home

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Maggie Deranger, program assistant for the Aboriginal Educational Centre at Grant MacEwan Community College, said at the centre's open house on Oct. 2 that the resource is for the whole First Nations community, not just Grant MacEwan students.

"We don't want to put any walls up," she said.

The centre tries to balance off the impersonal atmosphere that often is associated with big institutions with many programs and hundreds of students.

Deranger belongs to the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and was born in Fort McMurray. She remembers what it was like for her to move to a big city from a smaller community.

"Without places like the centre," she said, "you can get lost. It's hard to make friends, learn what's available."

Deranger is a graduate of the College's Native Communications program and is currently working on a public relations diploma. Under the direction of the centre's director, Jane Woodward, Deranger is responsible for much of the centre's programming.

Though the centre has a "small operating budget," according to Deranger, it has big plans. Some of them, like the AEC Current Events Hotline, are already underway. The hotline number is 497-4657. Those wanting to publicize their events on the hotline should call 497-5382 or fax 497-5383.

The Aboriginal Education Centre is also putting together its own library and resource centre. At present, it needs more funds for books and videos, but there's already a fax machine and telephone that visitors and groups can use. Telus has recently donated four computers.

Fifty to 60 people a week visit the centre, and Deranger anticipates more will come there to work, to study and just to visit, when the resource centre is completed.

While Deranger spoke of the centre's plans for expansion, Erik Christophersen, a student in the college's Native Communications program, poured himself another cup of coffee. Christophersen says he enjoys the centre because of its peacefulness and its welcoming atmosphere.

"The coffee's always on," he said, as he made room for the extra visitors coming for the open house.

That's just what Deranger likes to see and hear.

"We want to make students feel welcome," she said, "and to give them a chance to relax. There's even a place for them to store their lunches."

On this day, students didn't need lunches, since there was a light lunch provided. Deranger was delighted by the attendance. In the first hour, about 60 people had already dropped by to meet other visitors, check out the displays and enjoy bannock and jam and other refreshments.

To set the proper context for the gathering, Violet Stanley led a prayer, in Cree, while Glenn Laboucan was in charge of the sweetgrass ceremony. Another guest for the open house was Muriel Stanley Venne, president of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, who spoke for a few minutes about her organization as well as about the booklet The Rights Path - Alberta. The booklet was published by the Aboriginal Human Rights Commission almost a year ago.

"It works," said Stanley Venne, "but it takes everyone." She told how an Aboriginal mother, when aware of her rights, was able to change her child's school experience and how another woman referred to the book when she was being harassed at work.

Also at the open house was Lyn Whitford, the Aboriginal counsellor on staff at Grant MacEwan. She is available for consultation, by appointment, and qualified to give advice both on career and personal issues.