Post of the Day

Okay, Obi Wan Kenobi looks a little out of place -- unless, in an obscure way, the author of that blog is suggesting that maybe Eber Hampton is actually Charles I. But his analysis about First Nations University of Canada's predicament, and its roots in band politics, is pretty spot on (Simple Massaging Priest).

The real brave ones

In an earlier post, I congratulated Rob Norris (Government of Saskatchewan) for being willing to bring down the million-pound $hithammer onto First Nations University of Canada's administration and board of governors, who are operating in the netherworld between malevolence and delusion (Leader-Post).

But however Norris looks in this -- and I say he looks pretty good -- it's nothing compared to the bravery the student council at FNUC's Regina campus have exhibited (their facebook page). When some students protested the university takeover in Saskatoon in the summer of 2005, they were told in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS by FSIN staff that if they continued to speak out against the FSIN takeover, there would be repercussions -- their parents or siblings could lose their jobs at the band, band-run schools or band-run businesses, they could lose their housing or welfare, that sort of thing.

By speaking out against the maze of stupidity and bull$shit erected by the FSIN chiefs in order to justify attaching FNUC to their patronage train, the students are putting their careers on the line. They are challenging the power the chiefs have. Pray to God that they win: the chiefs have made a hash of things so badly, and they cannot be relied on to make the changes that FNUC needs in order to survive.

Endgame For FNUC

Yesterday Rob Norris announced that the Saskatchewan government would suspend FNUC'S funding if there wasn't changes made right now, if not sooner, to FNUC's board of governors and management structure (CBC Saskatchewan). FNUC's board of governors pretty much told them to get lost at the Jan. 27 board meeting. (Leader-Post)

Now, the federal government will go along with whatever Rob Norris proposes to do about FNUC, including withholding up to $12 million in total from the two governments (globeandmail.com). Here's something nobody on any side of the Saskatchewan political spectrum would every imagine hearing from a prairie dog reporter: Rob Norris is doing the right thing. It's going to take gonads of titanium to battle the FSIN, but he's willing to do it.

And now, your moment of Zen ...

Courtesy prairie dog/Planet S magazine, 29 July 2005 ...

If one of the stated reasons for firing Wes Stevenson was that he had too much control over spending at the university, which led to corruption, then why would the board (FNUC board of governors) provide even more spending powers to the next guy who comes in?

Still waiting (CBC Sask) for the answer (L-P) ...

Hail To The Chief! (or: Congratulations! It's a Girl!)

Lynn Acoose has been elected Chief of the Sakimay First Nation. For may years Acoose was a cultural mover and shaker on the Regina arts scene as an artist, arts administrator, curator, writer and creator. She is the first woman to become chief of Sakimay.

Yay Lynn!