Native students bac to the books and back to our Heritage by Beverly Scow As September draws near Native Students prepare for their classes. Whether they are students at high schools, colleges, vocational institutes or universities the Native Students and their communities share some common anxieties. Will I make it? Am | in the right area of study for me? Will I find employment after education? Do I have enough money to support my children while I attend classes? Will there be funds for me to complete my schooling? Will my friends and family alienate me? Will I fall in love? Will that Native Student return to the community and con- tribute to the development as Nations and as a People? The past years activities of the Inter-Campus Native Student Net- work have clearly indicated the need and potential for Native Student Communications amongst themselves and their communities. All it took was an idea combined with some in- itiative and committment. Because the interest is there the idea is transforming into action and the momentum is increasing. During this past year the Inter-Campus Native Students Network has established communication with Native Students Associations in the lower mainland area. (UBC, SFU, Langara College, Capilano College and the Native Education Centre) as well as establishing contact with Native students from a total of 14 campuses in the lower mainland of B.C. This communication has led to coordinated activities such as Inter- Campus Potluck Socials, Student Dances, Aboriginal Rights Work- shop, Student participation in B.C. Aboriginal Right Week Nov. 1-7, 1988, Campus Native Awareness Days, Post-Secondary Education Policy Cutbacks Strategy Meetings and Student Rally Jan. 12, 1988, B.C. Native Student delegation participa- tion in National Indian Education Symposium II at Kahnawake Survival School, Quebec, August 8, 9 and 10, 1988. The roles and potentials of a Native Student Network is unlimited. Firstly the general mandate is to in- crease the success of Native students e R “is “ 7 in their studies and in career oppor- tunities. Through communication we can identify needs and goals of students and their communities. Through communications we can find common grounds, co-ordinate resources and skills, to fulfill the iden- tified needs and goals. The success of Campus Native Stu- dent Associations and the Inter- Campus Native Student Network depends upon individuals. ‘“‘Once there were four people — Everybody, Somebody, Nobody and Anybody. When there was an impor- tant job to be done, Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Some- body would do it, but Nobody realiz- ed that Nobody would do it. So it ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place.”’ I challenge all Native Students to be a ‘Somebody.’ Take some in- itiative and reach out to students at your campus and throughout B.C. Develop your leadership and organi- zational skills. As our communities strive for Self-