Teachers group censures First Nations University over independence

JOE FRIESEN AND ELIZABETH CHURCH

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

December 2, 2008 at 4:27 AM EST

Saskatchewan's First Nations University of Canada is facing yet another crisis after the Canadian Association of University Teachers voted unanimously to censure the institution for failing to insulate itself from political interference and safeguard academic freedom.

It's the latest in a string of setbacks that have plagued the university since 2005, and the first time in 29 years the CAUT has issued what it describes as a "measure of last resort."

The censure means Canadian and foreign academics will be asked not to accept jobs or invitations to speak at the university. It's also considered a severe blow to a school's reputation.

"The problem is that it's an institution that does not have any reasonable degree of autonomy from the government that created it, which is the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations," said Jim Turk, executive director of the CAUT, which represents faculty at more than 120 Canadian universities and colleges.

Mr. Turk said every university must be accountable, but must also have "a reasonable insulation" from government, so scholars can work without worry of interference.

He said there has been concern since 2005 about the university's relationship with the FSIN, but many have been "disturbingly silent" about the situation.

One of those affected is Winona Wheeler, now a professor at Athabasca University. She was dean of First Nations University's Saskatoon campus in 2005 when Morley Watson, then an FSIN vice-chief and chairman of the board of governors, launched what she describes as a coup. Mr. Watson, accompanied by security guards, locked out the finance and human resources department. He then suspended five senior administrators and seized the university's computer files, including the private files of professors.

"It was just gross. That doesn't happen anywhere in the modern world," Prof. Wheeler said. "Universities are supposed to be the one place in the world protected from political interference.

"Everybody is scared [to speak out] because this is the only Indian university in Canada and nobody wants to be called a racist."

The school grew bitterly divided over the FSIN intervention, which was motivated by a concern about possible financial mismanagement.

Over the next three years, between 30 and 40 per cent of staff and academics left, including Prof. Wheeler, and enrolment plummeted.

One of the issues, she said, is that the board is made up of political appointees who lack expertise in higher education.

An all-chiefs' task force report in 2005 recommended a smaller board of governors with many fewer political appointees. Critics say those changes were never made. Al Ducharme, the university's vice-president administration, denies that. He says although 12 of the 18 board members are appointed by Saskatchewan's tribal councils, and although they often select chiefs, they aren't obliged to select political candidates.

"If that's who our people wish to have serve them on their university board, that's their free choice," he said.

Last year, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada put the school on probation because of concerns about autonomy. In April, the association restored its full member status, saying it was satisfied the school had made advances in "resolving governance issues."

Lyle Whitefish, FSIN vice-chief education, points to that decision as proof of the university's progress.