Monday, April 03, 2006

AN EMAIL WITH A QUESTION FROM A NATIVE FROM TOBIQUE FIRST NATIONS


Natives, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I would like you to go over the following and tell me what action
should be taken.

Post-secondary students from the Tobique First Nations were denied public funding, these are funds allocated to the First Nations community on the basis of enrollment into to post secondary institutions.

Students have yet to receive their student allowances which covers their rent, bills, groceries, basic living
expenses.

When the reserve went third party an accountant firm of Teed Doyle Saunders and Co. took over, they informed students that the government namely Indian Affairs and Northern
Development failed to provide the funding for these already allocated
funds.

Getting answers at both ends is a catch 22 one blames the other for each other's mistakes.

Now 100 or so students went without this funding and are being told they will not recieve monies until April 5, 2006.

This is the most stressful time of year
for students as exams are right around the corner and these students are worrying about late rent fees,
NSF charges, which they cannot afford. Despite many attempts to contact officials explaining this unjustly error, it was discovered that those who earn $1000 pay cheques each week, including chief and council managed to get their pay.

What should be done about this unjustly action?

Click her for more info -

target="_blank">Charles
Blog


Does anyone have any answers?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since it's already almost April 5, I don't see what the issue is, as it is clearly too late now. So long as they receive their money on the 5th then the case seems closed.

As for costs rent is no doubt a problem, but universities generally are extremely lenient in such cases. The general attitude is that money must be paid in full before graduation or getting final marks.

It isn't just natives dealing with such issues, those with student loans face this all the time.

Of course that isn't to equate the two. Natives have a whole WORLD of other problems, particularly when under third party management. Ironically, it was the setup of a 'western' administration that led to needing third party management in the first place. Native cultures rarely give a few members so much power, but in 'our' culture that is the norm.

One final point I'd like to make is that the picture above is on the cover of a book I read a long time ago about the women of tobique but I can't remember the name. "Eight women" or something like that. Anybody knows it post it here because it was an EXCELLENT book and should be required reading in schools.

Sorry can't be more helpful. The only other thing I could suggest is the 100 students picketing the accounting firm. It may not be their 'fault' but accountants don't like conflict OR negative publicity. No doubt the firm is getting paid by the government more than the hundred students are owed.

Anonymous said...

Charles,

The name of this book is called Enough is Enough. The women in this picture are from Tobique First Nation. The lady in the front is newly appointed Senator Sandra Lovelace-Nicholas. The book was about native women losing their status when marrying non-native men and their struggle to get it back.

Anonymous said...

Go to www.newtfn.com and see where the money went.