Arranged Cognition

Please Email this letter with your name on it to support the FNMI First Nations University to keep its door open.

EMAIL PM:

pm@pm.gc.ca

and

MP FOR LETHBRIDGE DISTRICT:

Strahl.C@parl.gc.ca




The Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 922-9376

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Fax: (613) 941-6900

Dear Mr. Strahl and Mr. Harper,

I am deeply concerned at the seeming indifference the Government of Canada is displaying toward the faculty, staff, and students at First Nations University who will be casualties of your irresponsible decision to close down the only Aboriginal University in Canada.

The closure of First Nations University would be unprecedented in Canada – no other Canadian university has ever been closed. I fear that such a closure could reflect deep-seated racial antipathy toward First Nations people.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has shown good faith in initiating the changes required to bring the governance structures at First Nations University into conformity with those of other universities. A working group with representation from all stakeholder groups is currently developing a revised funding and governance model for First Nations University. The University of Regina has expressed its willingness to support First Nations University.

Therefore I find it incomprehensible that the government continues to pursue a course of action that in the long run will be detrimental to all Aboriginal people, to the province of Saskatchewan and to Canada’s international reputation.

I urge you, in the strongest terms, to support the continued operation of First Nations University.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

YOUR NAME