Comments get FSIN senator suspended

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What started as a dispute at First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) has now become a 'family feud' between one of the most prominent families in southern Saskatchewan Aboriginal circles and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

At a May 30 press conference in Regina, Theresa Stevenson told reporters that she had been suspended from the FSIN's Elders' senate. She is the mother of Dr. Wes Stevenson, the former vice president of FNUC, who was fired from his position with the university on May 12. Her suspension and her son's firing are linked, she said.

Wes Stevenson and two other senior administrative staff at the university were suspended from their jobs on Feb. 17. The three were escorted from the campus, but no information was provided to them about the reason for the suspensions.

FSIN Vice Chief Morley Watson,chair of the FNUC board of governors, changed his story several times during the crisis at FNUC. At first he said the suspensions were done as part of a routine forensic audit, then said information had been disclosed to him alleging financial misconduct, though he refused to name who made the allegation or to further identify the nature of the accusations.

After the results of the audit were turned over to the RCMP Commercial Crimes Section, Watson said in a press release that he would have no further comment.

Theresa Stevenson was the only FSIN official to speak up in defense of Wes Stevenson during the FSIN's winter legislative assembly meeting in Regina, where she accused Watson of having a personal vendetta against her son.

She repeated her charge during the press conference, adding that the ensuing turmoil has helped to destroy the university's credibility.

"I feel like I have become another casualty of what is happening at the university," Theresa Stevenson said at the press conference.

"I am now the fourth suspension because I spoke up and because I'm related to one of the suspended employees.

"Many of the students have suffered ... I've watch my son suffer. When he fell on his knees and cried, I cried along with him," she said.

"People expect me to stand by and not say anything? Not me. I'm not like that. When I see a wrong, I speak up ... this is why I am here today."

On May 26, Theresa Stevenson received a letter from the FSIN senate chairman, Roland Crowe, informing her that she had been relieved of her senatorial duties.

The dispute centres around her defense of her son, she said, and it started the day after she spoke against the suspension of Wes Stevenson and the other senior university staff.

"On Feb. 23, Mr. Crowe and his "working group" took me aside and scolded me for breaking protocol because I voiced my disapproval concerning Mr. Watson's activities," she said.

"I was asked to apologize and admit my wrongdoing. I told them that I would not apologize, because I was not willing to compromise my standards and support the activities of Mr. Watson."

Senator Crowe was unavailable for comment.

At the press conference, Theresa Stevenson said she was surprised that no other chief or Elder would speak up in defense of the university staff members who were suspended.

"I thought that at least one would speak up. I think now that they were caught off guard," she said.

"Now I think they have had time to think about it ... I don't think that all of them agree with what the FSIN is trying to do."

She also repeated statements made by her son at an earlier press conference, saying that the FSIN's political interference in the university's operations was putting the university's operations at risk.

"I am here today to call on the chiefs of Saskatchewan to address the issues at the university," she said.

"There is an upcoming legislative assembly where healthy debate, if allowed to happen, can help determine a stable and long-term future for the institution. This will be for the benefit of all of our present and futurepost-secondary students."

The Elders' senate's function isn't clearly defined, at least from the FSIN's point of view. On its Web site, the FSIN says its role is "to provide specific reports on matters that come within their purview with respect to any political matters relevant to First Nations. This will be done collaboratively with FSIN Executive and Chiefs of Saskatchewan."

Theresa Stevenson tells a different story. At the press conference, she told reporters that the FSIN executive believes the senate's role is to rubber-stamp the executive's decisions.

"They like people to keep quiet," she said.

Theresa Stevenson is one of the most honoured women in Saskatchewan's Aboriginal community. An activist who helped found an urban housing project for Aboriginal people in Regina in the 1970s, she also founded Chili for Children. Now in its 19th year, the program, operated by Regina Indian Community Awareness Inc., provides hot lunches for inner city children in Regina. It has also expanded its role and now offers a community kitchen to allow people to cook for themselves and others, and assists in referrals to other agencies to assist disadvantaged people in Regina's north-central area.

The other senior staff members who were suspended with Wes Stevenson on Feb. 17 are still in limbo. Kim Sinclair, director of finance, and Dr. Leonzo Barrenno, director of international programming, have remained on suspension since that time.

The University of Regina Faculty Association, which is representing Barrenno, has officially filed complaints with the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, alleging that FNUC has failed to hear grievances the union has launched on Barrenno's behalf.