Representatives from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) faculty and Students' Association (FNUnivSA), along with Aboriginal leaders, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), will be in Ottawa this week to appeal to the federal government to reverse its decision to end funding - at the end of this month - for the only Aboriginal university in Canada.

Randy Lundy, Head of FNUniv's Department of English and Academic Council Chair, and Diane Adams, president of FNUnivSA, will meet with opposition leaders Gilles Duceppe, Michael Ignatieff, and Jack Layton, as well as critics for Aboriginal affairs and post-secondary education.

Guy Lonechild, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, will also attend the meetings.

CAUT is facilitating the visit to Ottawa.

In addition to the leaders, the delegation will meet with the following MPs and critics to discuss the issue of FNUniv funding:

Ralph Goodale, MP for Wascana and House Leader for the Official Opposition; Larry Bagnell, Yukon MP and Official Opposition Critic for Arctic Issues & Northern Development; Michael Savage, MP for Dartmouth - Cole Harbour and Official Opposition Critic for Human Resources & Skills Development; and, Senator Lillian Eva (Quan) Dyck; Jean Crowder, NDP Caucus Chair and Critic for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Affairs, and Niki Ashton, NDP Critic for Post-Secondary Education.

Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Chuck Strahl has yet to respond to a request to meet with the delegation.

At 10:30 am EST on Thursday, March 11, 2010 a Press Conference is scheduled on Parliament Hill.

Comments

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!