UBC Reports Volume 34 Number 4, February 25, 1988 The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Breaking Natives by Gavin law Auger student children. Being tackling law a "I've beast unique challenge Wilson Renate year face barriers has and a a degree than hands single native probably more her seen most as mother Indian any full a of hasn't third- six made easier. the underbelly law students," of the she admits. Auger enroled to is at attract one of UBC, native about mostly supportive struggles unknown "I've the had mother of pig-headed. I it able so raise given me Beverly and see Union, come ness, says from of a to from opportunities the "The whole good for says. "The special education, for who Arts poor the gift to be Maybe Student on campus remote- education people away classroom. background being are aged student poverty, young of says unusually students sociological people daughters, lndian and many guess," persevere." where conspire and face mothers. to native designed students. I just very future problems drive six Native reserves, alcohol a lndians knit still other third-year the most they I'm courage Scow, president as many the tightly advantages, maybe to 23. A most "But it’s to to native programs group, some 43-year-old seven in students. mutually 150 an here is not achiever," have she Photo by Warren Schmidt broken UBC down a lot of native own family has its pioneers. UBC Beverly Scow, president of the Native and law graduate Judge Alfred Ron Peigan, president adapt a of the Native Law Students the the bar first and native the Grandfather lndian first to William sit in Canada on the Scow was called to bench. thinking, you president are. have to Native was a Brotherhood powerful UBC has voice in for programs the 1950s native in two and law, which when with courses and, in the case of you still the Stevens, to different have to difficult a the native lndian for native students way of remember part," he says enrollment should be put into who perspective. If native lndians university proportion attended says. law instructor who heads law program, says it’s all general uphill at university. in population, Kirkness House faculties, look at like comparing to their numbers in the there would be 1,200 here. is director of the First Nations a three or four mile of at Learning, ways of a campus increasing body native set up to enrollment run native a marathon. They have to try and harder." broadening program and course offerings native Atthough interests Canada rights. encourage aimed of it to students Association of "It's education but That’s Sam the Student Scow, Kirkness was lndian Her "You uncle, students barriers." Union, Scow’s lndian law, flexible law is a popular choice among in other faculties. Medicine, forestry and com- entry native students at UBC — 17 are currently merce are among those which have ex- requirements. enroled The law school has graduated twice natives as any other in the are Atlin MLA Larry there can be a Mike price McDonald, a to be paid. says it’s not Metis adjust to the such easy competitlive as in nursing, anthropology. for students and who native are a native Native education. pressed interest. But computer plans to give more access to post- There are 20 secondary faculty at education for native Indians come about a dozen time when the federal government has capped lndian. funding available for native education environment lndian Teacher Education bursaries. lndian of began in 1974 and has since The Native lndian Student Union is holding a graduated faculty in from Program to are Law The Manitoba, 100 Guno. members student enroled and graduate But than country, science including more as Others many — 100 teachers. a Native Awareness Week law. Despite its success, native educator Verna beginning March 14. on campus,