Two FNTI students win journalism scholarships

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TYENDINAGA-Two journalism diploma program students at First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) have been awarded more than $6,000 between them in scholarships.

Third-year student Jeremy Brascoupe gets $2,500 U.S. this year from the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA). Last year the association gave him $1,500.

"The funds NAJA have provided for my education have helped me to pursue my dreams in journalism," said Brascoupe, who completed internships with Aboriginal Voices Radio and Omni Television in Toronto and a recent placement at The Eastern Door newspaper in Kahnawake.

First-year student Brent Wesley from Thunder Bay has been awarded the $3,000 MuchMusic Aboriginal Youth Scholarship.

"When I found out that I won it came as a shock and surprise ... I know there are a lot of talented people across Canada, so it is really an honour to be chosen."

Wesley said in his funding application that federal cutbacks have made it impossible for his band to fund post-secondary education.

FNTI, is an Aboriginal post-secondary institution on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory east of Belleville. The school currently has 650 students enrolled and has graduated more than 2000 since 1985. The media program, which has print and broadcast journalism streams, was begun in 1997.

"We know a lot about the barriers to improving access to education for Aboriginal people," said FNTI's vice-president Murray Maracle.

"Many people who come to FNTI have had negative experiences in mainstream education. Over the past 19 years, we have taken those negative experiences and turned them into positive education and career paths."

FNTI boasts its current graduation rate is 85 per cent, compared to 73 per cent at Ontario universities.