Education cutbacks: Task force formed at symposium

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The Alexander education symposium which began with a rally in Edmonton's William Hawrelack park Sunday, ended with a slate of 21 recommendations which many hope will halt the 'crisis' in Indian education.

An implementation team was selected from each of the provinces. Adele Arcand will serve as coordinator; with Wally Janvier from Alberta; John Kim Bell from Toronto; Daryl Nicholas from New Brunswick; Carol Sanderson, Gilbert White Duck, John Kelly from Saskatchewan; Louis Debassige and Jo-Ann Archibald from Ontario and Amy Gauthier from British Columbia.

One other delegate will be selected from Manitoba at a meeting scheduled to be held in Saskatoon next month.

During the final day, several delegates complained that the symposium was taking a political turn, says public relations consultant Guiou Taylor.

"Many felt there was an introduction of political techniques and the organization should be just a support organization. We should leave the politicking to politicians," he said.

Taylor added that the newly formed organization will be 'democratic' and will not be applying for government funding.

The 27 recommendations include establishing a network system to link bands, and self-produced corriculum materials.

About 800 delegates and Indian leaders came from all over the country to lend support to the symposium. During the first day, Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief, Georges Erasmus, called upon all Indian people to join together to fight the proposed education cutbacks.

"We need to do something that goes beyond the leaders involved ? we must involve the people," he said.

IAA president Gregg Smith, slammed Indian Affairs for its "crazy policies and silly guidelines" which hinder Indians from acquiring an education.

Smith noted that Indians were "virtually kidnapped" and forced into residential schools years ago but now have to fight their way in. Education he says "is a Treaty right."

"There will be many hundreds of students who will not be going back to school . . . we're being told there's not enough money," said Smith.

Percy Potts, Treaty 6 vice-president, told of the need to access education. When the economy is on a downward spiral he said, "it hits the poor people, the Indians."

Vern Bellegarde, from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, said the mandate of his organization is "to protect and uphold the Treaties," all of which refer to education.

"Our forefathers had the foresight to see we had a right to education . . . we have paid the price for that" by surrendering their lands, Bellegarde stated. Indians continue to suffer while Canadians and Albertans reap the benefits and get rich from the resources and revenues of those lands, he added.

"Indians always had an education system. Money and the power to control Indian education, is what Indian people are now after," said Clive Linklater, an educator with the Nayo-Skan Indian Education Project, at Hobbema.

He urged all Indian people in Canada to get actively involved in resolving education issues.

"Treaty rights are being eroded," declared Chief Allan Paul of the Alexander Tribal government, as he condemned the federal government for not consulting Indians on the cutbacks.

Other keynote speakers include Indian composer and conductor John Kim Bell, Clive Linklater from the Nayo-Skan education project in Hobbema and author and educator, Jeanette Armstrong.

A large delegation of elders were on hand to perform ceremonies and provide advice. A sacred fire was kept burning near the tipi village and elders gave special prayers to the Great Spirit for the symposium, and those who had travelled from afar.

The symposium closed with a flag song and thanks from Chief Allan Paul to all delegates and particularly to the elders.

The newly formed implementation team will be meeting with government officials from the Department of Indian Affairs next week.