UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
of the FRASER VALLEY

reac

Volume 13, Nember 2

February 11, 1999

UCFV ee Sto:lo Nation plan
First Nations centre

A proposal by the Sto:lo Nation which
could see the creation of a Centre for
First Nations Studies has been endorsed
by the UCFV Board of Governors.

The centre would serve as a central
focus for aboriginal education projects
and programs in the Fraser Valley. The
proposal was presented to the UCFV
Board at its February meeting with the
unanimous support of the UCFV First
Nations Advisory Council, which
includes representatives of the Sto:lo
Nation and a number of independent
Fraser Valley bands.

UCFV’s Kevin Busswood, an
anthropology/sociology professor who is
steering the project through the proposal
stage, says the centre will provide
coordination and support to projects with
a First Nations focus.

“There have been a number of people
and departments at UCFV involved in
designing and delivering education and
training for First Nations communities
during our 25 years of existence,” notes
Busswood. “What we haven’t had is a

central source of support and information
for these initiatives. This centre would _

function as both an information and
referral service and a place to design and
implement curriculum, working in
partnership with First Nations
communities.”

Busswood says there will be an
enormous need for First Nations-focused
education and training in the near future,
as various treaty processes, and the
general transfer of responsibilities from
the federal government to First Nations
communities, fuels demand for more
trained aboriginal personnel.

“If First Nations communities are
going to succeed at becoming
self-governing and self-sustaining, we

must all help to create opportunities
for healing and education.”

Gwen Point, education manager at
the Sto:lo Nation and chair of the
UCFV First Nations Community
Council, says the idea for a First
Nations centre is “timely”.

“I believe it’s an important step
toward creating awareness about
issues regarding the treaty process. It’s
also important that it be a partnership
between the Sto:lo and UCFV because
the college brings with it strengths in
expertise and technology and of
course students, who are our future
leaders. The Sto:lo involvement is
important because we have the
knowledge of First Nations issues.”

Point agrees that there’s a growing
need for First Nations-focused
education and training.

“We live in an exciting time when
many opportunities are being created.
Currently, we don’t have a large
population of First Nations people
involved in business and trades.
Through this partnership, we can
create opportunities for young people
to take an active role in their future, to
pursue higher education.”

She says that the proposed
partnership is important for all
members of the coming generation,
Sto:lo and non-Sto:lo. “It will help us
to provide information about the
changes taking place due to the treaty
process, and why these changes are
necessary. It will also help us to
educate people about First Nations
culture.”

UCFV President Skip Bassford
also supports the idea enthusiastically.

Please see next page.

Foundation next step for
ongoing fundraising
activities

The creation of a UCFV Foundation has
been approved in principle by the Board
of Governors. The main role of the
UCFV Foundation will be to raise
awareness and build support for the
university college. This will include the
coordination of a wide range of
fundraising activities.

“The Foundation will be an important
way for the community to learn more
about UCFV and help to shape its
future,” said Community Relations and
Development director Bob Warick.

“It will provide ways for individuals
and organizations to help their
university college continue to grow and
develop. It will also enable UCFV to
enlist the support of community leaders
who have the experience and expertise
to help ensure the future success of this
Institution”

A proposal for the UCFV Foundation
prepared by Warick included a number

Please see next page.

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