Governance and cultural issues at First Nations’ post-secondary educational institutions will be examined at a national symposium in November sponsored by the University of Regina Faculty Association’s aboriginal advisory group, in conjunction with the association and CAUT.

"We will be looking at the relationship between First Nations’ political and educational institutions, as well as between First Nations’ cultural values and academic cultural values," said Randy Lundy, head of English at the First Nations University of Canada and a respected First Nations poet.

Blair Stonechild, head of indigenous studies at FNUC, will open the symposium with a talk on governance issues at First Nations’ institutions. His talk will be followed by a panel on governance featuring Priscilla Settee, director of the indigenous peoples program at the University of Saskatchewan, Harvey McCue, First Nations educator and one of the founders of the Native Studies Department at Trent University, and Eber Hampton, former president of FNUC and currently professor of business administration at the University of Regina.

David Newhouse, chair of native studies at Trent University, will give the keynote address exploring the relationship between cultural values of the academy and those of First Nations. The follow-up panel will include Verna St. Denis, associate professor of education at the University of Saskatchewan, Peter Kulchyski, head of native studies at the University of Manitoba, and Bea Shawanda, First Nations educator and leadership training consultant.

Sessions will be chaired by University of Regina professor Denise Henning, former vice-president academic at the First Nations University of Canada, and Jo-Ann Episkenew, associate professor of English at FNUC.

"We welcome participants from universities and colleges across Canada," Lundy said.

The symposium will take place Nov. 10 at First Nations University in Regina. There is no registration fee.