UNBC Taps Metis Scholar to be First Ever Aboriginal Relations Advisor
Prince George, B.C. – UNBC named its first ever aboriginal relations senior advisor Monday.
She is Metis scholar Rheanna Robinson, and she will report to school president Dr. Daniel Weeks.
Rheanna Robinson – photo submitted
Her appointment follows through on one of the initiatives announced during Weeks speech at the community celebration concluding UNBC’s 25th anniversary last month.
“The conversation around aboriginal issues has shifted dramatically in this country over the past several weeks, and UNBC strives to facilitate and engage in those discussions,” he says. “By naming a dedicated senior advisor, I am signalling the importance I place on aboriginal discussions happening at UNBC and in the communities we serve.”
Robinson will support a number of initiatives in her new role including:
-Helping advance aboriginal programs, services, and roles at UNBC.
-Assist with reporting and planning associated with Aboriginal Services Plan (ASP) activities. UNBC receives funding from the Ministry of Education under the ASP to support initiatives such as experiential learning course offerings, and a First Nations Centre counsellor.
-Help develop standardized aboriginal protocols and policies at UNBC.
-Facilitate institutional initiatives regarding aboriginal student transition to UNBC.
-Work with the Senate Committee on First Nations and Aboriginal People to increase its profile and reinforce its integral institutional role.
-Develop an aboriginal governance and community relations strategic plan.
Robinson says she’s “very excited about this opportunity.”
“It means very much to me, I’m deeply committed to some of these foundational priorities that the university has always had in regards to celebrating indigenous knowledge and communities. I’m just thrilled I can participate.”
Originally from Smithers, Robinson has a long history at UNBC, beginning her studies their in 1995.
“I was very young when I started here and I’ve been involved in the First Nations Program in particular and in various other capacities internally within the institution,” she says. “Sitting on different Senate committees and just volunteering for a lot of other opportunities that are related to aboriginal initiatives.”
Robinson has also been a sessional instructor at UNBC since 2006 and will join the Department of First Nations Studies as an assistant professor in January 2016.
Comments
What’s the pay? If a media scribe at UNBC can get paid $170,000 what is this position and people complain about teachers pay? No wonder she is smiling, just won the lottery.
I am sure Rheanna will do a good job, but one has to wonder if all these First Nations Programs are getting out of control and if there is not a lot of double book keeping going on, including Native Health. Was Down Town this morning and on the corner of 4th and George there was a large group of people mostly white standing around ,then holding hands and some guy holding a feather over their heads , I guess they worked for Native Health , were they doing this on our tax dollar?? If so I could think of better ways to spend my tax dollars.
Congratulations Rheanna, you derserve this appointment, one quarter of Prince George’s population identifies as Aboriginal, you will represent the interests of these people, who aspire to receive post secondary education, well.
Sage lets see a break down of your statement?
More specifically, if we can get a significant portion of the 27.3% of the school district’s student population, who are Aboriginal, to pursue post secondary education, substantial changes can be made to income levels and quality of life for the Aboriginal community.
Go for it Rheanne!
Page 5 for those who are interested:
www. sd57.bc.ca/Programs/DistrictDepts/CandI/DAC/Documents/DAC%20SD57%20June%202014.pdf
Copy and paster the link to your web browser address bar, then delete the space between the www. and the b
Why should there be different standards and protocols for natives at UNBC? If there is then we need a over paid advisor for Caucasian, Mandarin, East Indian etc.. Again the natives are given special treatment over everyone else.
I can answer your question P Val with a question of my own; would you rather have 27.3% of Prince George’s future work population uneducated, unemployed, and on welfare, or educated, employed and being productive members of society?
The Aboriginal population is the fastest growing demograpic in this city, this province, and yes, this country! Glad to see a Post Secondary Insitution with the vision, and collective intelligence, to address a future “growing” need.
FYI Sage.
Actually they should be focusing on K- Grade 7
It is known by educators just by the way kids play and interact.
In these grades.
That they will either be blue collar or white collar workers.
It does not matter what background or race.
Good fundamentals.
Education is one component.
Do you know why it’s the fastest rising demo? Because they are constantly changing the rules to,make people native or Metis.. You can be gifted in as a native if they find you worthy or want you for some reason… Friend of mine…her parents born in Norway is a native…why..the natives wanted her on their baseball team.. My friend uncle is now native, he was born in India.. Being native means less and less everyday they do this..
Btw helping someone in post secondary means they have made it through k-12. How many natives in grade schools actually go on to university? How many native students go to UNBC? How about we just give them any degree they want..the way we are spoon feeding them might as well.
It’s shows that since 2011 natives going to UNBC has been dropping steadily..now there is approx 200 attending..if this rest continues there will be none attending in 4-5 years.. Also sage..there is a rise in natives yet less attending university here…so more with their hand outs ?
Wow P Val, your last comment made the best arguement for having this first ever aboriginal relations senior advisor position… and the amazing thing is… you didn’t even know it!
My god, if only we could have free post secondary education for everyone who wants it, who knows a higher level of informed and reasoned debate might break out on this site?
Rheanna is an excellent person to be chosen for this valuable position.
Unfortunately, UNBC’s senior administrators are paid far more than their worth. I hope that Rheanna is paid fairly but not the gluttonous amounts of many of the others up there.
Sage.. If they aren’t going to high school..they aren’t going to university..lol. So a relations advisor won’t do anything if they can’t get into UNBC… Unless they lower the standards for natives..which has been done before.. Buts it’s okay..once this job shows its just for publicity she will get a useless job with the city like the last guy.
Wow, I guess some people need to piss all over everything, thanks for the ever so uplifting chat P Val.
Comments for this article are closed.