A government announcement is being called premature by members of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Legislative Assembly. On Wednesday, Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris announced the Saskatchewan government was cutting public funding for the First Nations University of Canada beginning in April. That announcement came as FSIN Legislative Members were in the midst of a meeting at the Whitecap First Nation, south of Saskatoon.
"We want to remind the Minister that education is a human right and a treaty right and we're very disappointed in his decision today. But that's his prerogative ." said FNUC Board Chair Chief Clarence Bellegarde .
FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild echoed that sentiment.
"We're disappointed all around I think in terms of not coming to a resolution and having a bit of a premature call from the Province."
Members, including Bellgarde and Lonechild, finally emerged from a boardroom after some seven hours of meeting Wednesday. They were apparently deliberating whether or not to dissolve the University's Board. Bellgarde said they've decided to delay a decision on that until at least next month, when they have information from two third-party reports (being done by Meyers Norris Penny) looking into the allegations of fiscal mismanagement.
"The chiefs passed a resolution mandating that we wait for the two reports and that we have a special assembly dealing with those reports and dealing with any information or recommending coming from those reports." said Bellegarde.
Bellegarde added they were upset the government did not wait for the results from those reports. He said MNP is expected to give them the results of their findings at a governance review scheduled for February 18th. The special assembly of chiefs will take place March 1st.
