The Ozurse “Taiko beal

 

 

 

 

 

The percussionists of Uzume Taiko brought their big drum music to the Performing Arts Theatre on January 18 as
part of the Noon at New West concert series. The hour of rhythmic drumming and choreography left the audience

shaken and stirred.

 

 

Native Education continued from page 1

College or proceed directly to SFU’s BA
program in criminology.

Along with the standard criminology
curriculum, students at the NEC take two
native issues courses: IDST 110 (Native
Studies) and Criminology 255 (Native
North Americans and the Administration
of Justice). As part of the first year, they
do a nine-week practicum in an area of
the criminal justice system that they
choose.

“Practicum placements are in policing,
courts, or corrections. For example,
students may work as native court
workers assisting native accused, or work
in victim services,” says program
coordinator and instructor Hannele Jantti.
“Tn corrections, they may work in youth or
adult institutions, in probation or parole
offices, or with youth in the community.
Also, they may go back to their own
communities to do their practicums.”

This year’s class of 24 students come
from diverse backgrounds from across
Canada and throughout the North. “There
is a big variation in terms of their heritage
and their exposure to their heritage,” says
Jantti.

The Douglas College program is
highly regarded in the native and non-
native communities. The graduate best
known to people at the College is Betsy
Bruyere, the First Nations Student
Services Coordinator. She now helps
native students make a successful
transition from the NEC to second year
criminology here.

Bruyere, who was put through the
residential school system, says the Native
Education Centre helped her turn her life
around.

‘When I entered I had very small
dreams. The more I studied at NEC, the
more my understanding broadened of
First Nations cultures and issues. Prior to
that I was a broken person, but there I

14

heard the sound of the drum, and

discovered that I could dance to it.”
Bruyere entered the program in 1990

after deciding that she needed to improve

her living situation. “I realized that my

education was limited. I had experienced
lots of racism over Oka during the
summer of 1990 in my community. I saw
that I had to do some reflection and that
led to the desire for more education. I’m
very glad that I went. Hannele was
always there for us, no matter what it
was.”

Completely native-run, the NEC also
offers adult basic education, college
preparation, and skills training programs
in tourism, public administration, early
childhood education, office
administration, computer training,
community counselling, youth worker
training, and alcohol and drug
counselling.

For more information, call Hannele
Jantti at 873-3772 (voice mailbox 554). I