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[Transcript] NATIVE
BROTHERHOOD
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
the
Native Voice
In its 41st year of publication
VOL. 16, No. 4
August/Sept. 1988
Native students back
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 I 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
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-Government we must
take responsibility for ourselves and
our destiny. There are students on
your campus new to student life, new
to the community and new to that
campus. It is our responsibility to ease
that transition.
The Inter-Campus Native Student
Network is enthusiastic about the
potential and the momentum of Stu-
dent Communication. We invite all
students, potential students, past
students, parents, elders, and leaders
to be a part of the education process
and the communication process.
Please write and tell us who you are,
what your concerns are, and how you
can play a role in the process.
INTER-CAMPUS
NATIVE STUDENT NETWORK
c/o Vancouver Indian Center
1607 East Hastings
Vancouver, B.C.
V5L 1S7
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