Inside BoWe: Portrait of the artist p.10-11 THE Native aid grads' threatened Students in UBYSSEY rally government for changes policy Penner said at Wednesday's By Ilona Biro Native graduate meeting that "they (the federal stu- government) admit that they have dents may be denied stu- no dent assistance business in the defining self-governNative students rallied for better education funding on Tuesday fu- ment. But I'm not sure how they're ture because they chose the going to implement this if no one wrong academic subject, if a defines self-government." The new The report makes no comes mention of how policy federal 'self-government' is to be defined. into continued from native students page 1 fect funding living effect. Native student leader Bev Native Canada to students have across joined forces oppose Post-Secondary Scow says arbitrary definitions could be imposed by bureaucrats the new Native institutionalizing the definition of self-government so that Indian Student PhD candidates in Philosophy or not geared nor are away per $621 allowances which are nearest Canadian institution." to they inflation. A from the regional disparities, Penner admits that "comparable tagged to the rate of is defined in a very narrow way," single student living and Scow adds that the system home student under cuts directly afmost comparable program in the previous Assistance Program Canadian (PSSAP), which requires to achieving or in Prince George. Extra costs self- ered "non-essential" for the goal of ances native self-government. that Verna Kirkness, Director of and the UBC First Nations House of flexibility paradox. "The government wants Tuesday a rally was held self-government, yet they don't promote the necessary tools." at Robson Square, and Wednesday night B.C. Indian student leaders of education for policy misses the mark. "The First the B.C. region, to Nations peoples may not know for discuss the new policy. some time what selt-government In that meeting, several con- will be and what types of educa- cerns were brought up by Native tion will be most appropriate." students who are disappointed with the rushed consultation process and the time frame that has "Why is the taking aim government at our right to been set for Native input into the education? In plain lan- policy paper. The consultation guage, with education process began in mid-August and comes knowledge, and is due to end in a few weeks. knowledge The policy goes to the Treas- The ury Board for approval at the end Indians tacking of November and will come into effect as of April 1, 1989. 20 brings the years, been at- government for and have power. they don't like The government states in the it." introduction to the policy changes paper that its main objectives are to improve Another problem with the academic success rates policy is that while the govern- and attendance of native students in ment wants to promote local con- post-secondary programs and to trol of the program, the policies of contribute more directly to the goals of Indian Indian band councils "must be self-government consistent" with that of Indian and economic self-reliance. But under Affairs. The government's invita- the new guidelines, tion to bands to develop their own Native grad students will only be education policies appears to be a supported for 48 student months, contradiction in terms. as opposed to 96 months under the old program. tives grants, The policy has put a fixed And special incenbudget on the PSSAP, forcing which have a maxiIndian leaders to make a choice: mum of $750 for Masters students, should the government fund more and $1500 for doctoral students, students with less money, or less will be more difficult to get, as a students with more money? result of new criteria which re- quire Native Penner says that the govern- graduate students to ment had no choice in the matter, enrol in selected displines. citing growth rates of 28 percent Though the Department of per year in Native post-secondary Indian Affairs has pledged to take enrolment in the past three years. all native input into account in The new policy will put a limit drafting the final policy, students on growth at ten percent. Last are skeptical. Ron Peigan, spokes- year at least 400 B.C. Native stu- person for the National Native Law Students, says the policy suggests educated dents were deferred due to a lack of funds, and under the new policy Indians pose a even more will be. threat to the government. "Why ing aim is at Penner says "that will always the our government takbe the case as long as you have right to education? high demand and a fixed budget", In plain language, with education comes but he notes "the PSSAP is by far knowledge, and knowledge the most successful program run brings power. The Indians have by the Department of Indian Af- been attacking the government for fairs." 20 years, and they don't like it." VOLUME 71, Number see native students page 20 4 living alowance have educated Indian was a legal contradition in terms. Though condi- A native student who is ac- tions have improved greatly since cepted to an elite foreign institu- then, in light of the new PSSAP, tion, will Bev Scow says the proposed met with Ronald Penner, director in allowed for more a Canadian university. To be an been eliminated. self-reliance," if they want Learning, said the policy was a continued federal funding. other contingencies order to accept a B.A. degree from previously government and economic On Until the 1950's, Indians had students to "engage because their studies are considlike daycare, special shelter allow- to surrender their native status in in studies that directly con- tribute policy)), standards. Literature could conwhether they live in costly Toronto ceivably be denied assistance, native will receive $575 seems to penalize native students month (down from who demonstrate high academic as (i.e.Harvard Law School), today's native students are ever only they receive would as much support more committed to protecting the need to attend "the educations of native students. MANDEL NGAN PHOTO