Fate of FNUniv's governance to be determined in June.

REGINA

The board of governors at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) are now

acting quickly to resolve the current issues they face, including a recent freeze of $200,000 in funds by the province and a censure by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

Both parties want to see First Nations chiefs out of the board and have it reduced to a smaller size than its 26 members.

"We're bringing in a governance expert to put together the piece for a restructured board," said FNUC board chair, Clarence Bellegarde, referring to a review expected to be done by May 11. "That is going to be recommended to the Chiefs-in-Assembly in June."

The government funds are part of a $1.6 million agreement that the province put forward to help FNUniv with operating costs last year, but the final $200,000 was withheld in February with demands that changes be made to the university board.

The province has now released $100,000, and officials are waiting for the outcome of the June FSIN legislative assembly when the new governance model is expected to be approved. Once this is done, the remaining $100,000 will flow and the agreement will be concluded, said Bellegarde, adding that although the funds are needed, they are not crucial to the university's well-being.

As well, the long-awaited meeting between the university board and CAUT was finally held in March to discuss governance issues, with Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief, Lyle Whitefish, also in attendance.

James Turk, CAUT's Executive Director, said his organization has been trying for three years to have this meeting, the wait resulting in an imposed censure last November. The censure means that throughout Canada and internationally, academic staff must refuse appointments and invitations to speak, and not participate in academic conferences at FNUniv.

"We were very pleased that they finally agreed to meet with us because we feel that in order to get a solution here, people have got to be talking," Turk said. "Now the challenge that remains is the only people who can solve the problem is the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations," he explained.

"Because they're the government that passes the First Nations University Act, and the Act is the one that spells out the type of governance."

He added that it is still not clear what kind of recommendations are going to come out of the review. "But the fact that they've taken, they started along the path of yet another review is good news," he said. "So if indeed the review results in recommendations and changes--and if the FSIN makes the changes--then we can lift the censure immediately."

Turk said in the meeting, FNUniv board members explained they want to see the university maintain a relationship with First Nations communities. "And they're absolutely right, that's absolutely correct, but the board isn't the vehicle. The board's responsibility is administrative ... to run the university, to set the (administrative and financial) policies for the running the university," he said.

Turk also pointed out that other Saskatchewan universities have two bodies: a board of governors--which is responsible for financial and administrative matters--and a senate made up of community representatives that helps keep links between the university and the community.

He said the All Chief's Task Force and the commission set up by the government last December, recommended the addition of a senate represented by community leaders.

"So we thought that was a very smart idea and may solve some of the concerns," Turk said. "So we're hopeful that recommendation is going to come out of that review."

From the board's perspective, Bellegarde said the meeting with CAUT allowed board members to have a face-to-face sit down with officials and explain the history of FNUniv, to develop some understanding in that regard.

"How the university developed and how the board structure developed, and how we're moving forward with our university," he said. "We felt that we got our points across, so we're waiting, I guess, for our governance review to at least see how they view that re-structured board."

As for future changes to the board that would possibly have it rid of First Nation chiefs such as himself, Bellegarde said although he holds confidence in the current board, he will accept the changes suggested in the governance review.

"The consultant will, at the end of the day, render a recommendation on board structure ... and it would go to the

Chiefs-in-Assembly (for approval)," he said. "We're moving ahead and we have very good expectations for the future of the university and we want to see our enrollment climb."

One FNU niv student, Angela Severight, is fed up with what she sees as negative media reports about her university and believes the issues are highly over-rated.

She surmises from her own experience as a fourth-year student about to graduate with a degree in Administration--and as a Student Association Representative during the past year--that FNUniv is a great place to be educated.

"Here in the university you don't even feel that (issues in governance)," she said in an interview with Sage. "I have nothing but supportive people, like I have writing clinics, tutoring, it's nothing but a positive experience to me." Severight also works part-time while attending school, and raises her three children.

"I'm actually finishing my degree now and last year I had 13 job interviews and five job offers. So it doesn't affect me in any way," she said, adding that she wants to see the issues finally resolved so future students such as her can concentrate on getting their education.

BY CHRISTINE FIDDLER

Sage Writer