September 25, 2013

Page 1

Current Swell on their way back to the ‘Loops Pg. 7

The Omega Ω

Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper

News

Editorial & Opinion

Pages 1, 2

Volume 23, Issue 4 September 25, 2013

Life & Community

Arts & Entertainment

Sports

Pages 5, 6, 9

Page 7

Page 11

Page 3

Still seeking the truth Truth and Reconciliation event brings Aboriginal awareness to campus Jessica Klymchuk Ω News Editor

Local 15 of the Canadian Federation of Students claims not to know that more than a dozen more schools are trying to leave the organization, despite being told on numerous occasions.

( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)

Union quiet as others jump ship TRUSU plays silent or oblivious as other student unions exit the Canadian Federation of Students Karla Karcioglu Ω Roving Editor Fifteen Canadian universities have decided to leave the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) according to a Sept. 4 news release from an unnamed group speaking for the departing unions. The CFS is a national organization which formed in 1981 to unite students across the country and create a unified voice to express issues in post-secondary education and to provide services to student unions at universities. The news release concludes by calling students to action, saying “It is time to defend the interests of students; it is time to say no to CFS.” According to an article from The Other Press, “Students across the country state that the national organization has become corrupt, operated in a militaristic top-down approach, and does not effectively advocate on students issues. They also claim that CFS’ finances are not properly kept and that use of funding has been questionable.” The press release states that if this group of universities successfully leaves the CFS, it may leave the organization without representation in B.C., Manitoba and Quebec. The release also emphasizes the CFS having a “lack

of representation” in Alberta and the Maritimes. TRUSU is currently a member of CFS. Students pay $8.52 per semester as a part of their student fees for CFS membership. As members, students gain access to a student discount card, Ufile.ca (a tax filing service), the International Student Identity Card, travel discounts and access to the Student Work Abroad Program. Services for TRUSU include a student union directory, handbooks and day planners, access to the National Student Health Network and a student union website. TRUSU president Dylan Robinson said he knows nothing about the recent issues with student unions leaving CFS, despite being asked about the movement by The Omega on at least two occasions over the past three weeks. Leif Douglas, TRUSU VP external and TRUSU’s student representative for CFS, declined to comment. Ashleigh Ingle, a University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union president and spokesperson of the university group leaving CFS, told Canadian University Press that some of the universities involved may not want to express their intentions openly because in the past it has attracted attention from CFS campaigners.

Truth, healing and responsibility were the themes of the Truth and Reconciliation event held at TRU on Wednesday Sept. 18. Around 100 people gathered in the Irving K. Barber Centre to hear the testimonials of those both directly and indirectly affected by the Indian residential schools in Canada. “I’m very proud that this event is happening at our university,” said TRU president Alan Shaver. “It’s very important.” Organizer and TRU graduate Bernard Gilbert said the event’s goal was to bring awareness, not only to non-Aboriginals but also to those who are still in denial about what went on in the schools. First Nations children were separated from their families and forced to attend governmentfunded church-run schools for more than 100 years, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) website. “Seven generations of children went through the residential schools, … they were told that their lives were not as good as the lives of the non-aboriginal people of this country, they were told that

their languages and cultures were irrelevant,” said Murray Sinclair, TRC chair, in a video on the commission’s website. Earlier this year, the TRC revealed research saying that at least 3,000 students had died in the schools, and many more are still affected by abuse they endured during the time they spent there.

consequences of the schools. Young is Anishinabe and came to Kamloops from Bloodvein, Man. In 2010 he walked from Kamloops to Bloodvein on a journey he called “The Walk of Healing” which represented the healing of his past: a life of foster-homes, drugs and alcohol. His story, told with an eagle feather in his hand, prompted tears from himself and the audience.

It doesn’t befit anyone to keep it a secret” —Alexa Manuel,

MC of TRU Truth and Reconciliation event

“It’s unfair to us, to you, to all Canadian people to not know what happened,” said Alexa Manuel, event MC and TRU graduate. “It doesn’t benefit anyone to keep it a secret.” TRU Aboriginal student Justin Young, TRU faculty member Patrick Walton and TRU Elder Jimmy Jack shared stories about the past, present and future

Young has been successful at TRU, but Walton explained that some of the consequences of the residential schools are very apparent in education. He said the drop out rate for Aboriginal students is 50 per cent at TRU.

See TRU EVENT Pg.

2

Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society drummers Rene Narcisse, Jacinta Oyella, Vicki Michaud and Pauline Saxy open TRU’s Truth and Reconciliation event in the Irving K. Barber Centre on Sept. 18.

( Jessica Klymchuk/ The Omega)


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.