Protest cutbacks: Native students challenge PM's word

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Native students at the University of Lethbridge are not optimistic about Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's promise to investigate cut-backs in funding by Indian Affairs.

A small group of mature U of L students told the prime minister on May 6 that an Indian Affairs policy, Circular E-12, has discontinued funding for about 16 Native students.

Mulroney was in Lethbridge for the 40th anniversary of the Progressive Conservative Women's Association of Southern Alberta. Lethbridge was one of several Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba stops in a three-day Western tour.

Circular E-12 establishes guidelines to determine the number of weeks a university or college student can be funded. About 172 weeks are allowed to complete a undergraduate degree. After that, funding is cut even if the degree is not completed.

Connie Crop Eared Wolf, a Blood Indian education student, said Mulroney admitted he knew about the Circular E-12 and promised to talk to Indian Affairs Minister Bill McKnight about it.

However, she said talk might not be enough.

"Education is a treaty right and the DIAND should not put a limit on the number of weeks a student can be funded."

Crop Eared Wolf and her husband Andy had their funding discontinued in April, She said most Native students need longer to complete degrees because they are routed through diploma programs in high school instead of the matriculation programs to qualify for university.

"Most Native students go back to college to take the preparatory courses so that they can be ready for university. But that is used against us. Indian Affairs calculates those weeks spent in college towards a university degree. IN the end, Native students are short of weeks when they start university," she explained.

The Crop Eared Wolfs need at least two more years of DIAND funding to graduate from the University of Lethbridge. They said they'll continue to lobby politicians "and anybody else who wants to listen" for continued funding.

Other Native students are also affected by Circular E-12. Since January, the Native American Students' Association at the university has called several meetings to protest Circular E-12, but to no avail.

Roxanne Warrior, a Peigan student of management and secretary-treasurer of NASA, was also cut in April, two years short of finishing her management degree.

"Even though I graduated from the business administration diploma program at the Lethbridge Community College and the Native Management Certificate program, Indian Affairs still used those weeks towards my degree," she said.

"I told them that I felt that my previous business diplomas were not enough. Most employers want their employees to have degrees. That's why I started working towards a management degree."

Some Native students, not as vocal as the Crop Eared Wolfs and Warrior, have taken out student loans to complete their degrees. Some are on welfare and others have moved back to their communities to look for jobs.

Andy Morgan, Indian Affairs superintendent of education in Calgary, has told Windspeaker he must follow Circular E-12 but that students with only one semester to complete their degree may get that additional funding.

The Native university students play a rally at the St. Mary's High School on the Blood Reserve this week. They have the support of the Federation of University Students composed of representatives of all universities across Canada. Andy Crop Eared Wolf will attend a federation conference in Newfoundland next week, and continue the lobby there.