Citing a $700,000 shortfall, the operators of a popular Aboriginal student program say they’re shutting their doors for good on June 30.
But, says Biwaase’aa manager Paul Francis, Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon officials will continue to seek ways to keep the program alive, despite the cancellation of funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Biwaase’aa, in operation for eight years in seven Thunder Bay schools, will be sorely missed, a disappointed Francis said.
“It’s a step backward. We should be looking at going to more schools and we should be looking at more supports for the high schools,” Francis said.
“So we’re going backward with the momentum the program that the program’s built on, the relationships and the families and the children, who are the ones who are left out.”
Carlene Spence and Richard Jourdain have four children between 12 and 17, all of whom have been though Biwaase’aa’s head-start program and the after-school program since it started eight years ago.
She’s not sure how they’ll react to news that the program will no longer be available.
“It’s fun for them meeting new friends and learning about their culture. I know it’s really important for them and it’s going to be hard for them. We have to tell our youngest one it’s going to be over for them,” Spence said.
“They go after school. They have activities for them to do there. What do they have to look forward to now, especially in the neighbourhood we live in? I think it’s going to have a big impact for them.”
The cuts will cost at least eight full-time jobs, including seven outreach workers placed in the participating schools.
Jourdain is worried his children will lose a part of their heritage that they aren’t necessarily learning in the classroom.
“Most kids are going to be lost without it and not know who they are and not have a chance to learn about who they are,” he said. “They’ve built their self-esteem and been able to have confidence in themselves.”
According to figures supplied by Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon, it costs about $15 per child per day for the in-school program and about $5 per child per day for the afterschool program. About 500 children take part each day in the program, developed in 2004 in partnership with the Thunder Bay Urban Aboriginal Strategy.
Tammy Bobyk, the executive director of Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon, had to fight back tears as she made the announcement Friday and said they just can’t find the money to keep Biwaase’aa going. They’ve approached the federal and provincial governments, and the local public school board, but to no avail, she said.
The loss will be devastating.
“They will not get any services that we currently offer,” Bobyk said.
“What that would mean is they will not receive any food supplementation, they will not receive any cultural teachings and they won’t receive any help with their academics.”
Francis said Aboriginal students, especially those from northern reserves, already have enough trouble adjusting to the classroom in Thunder Bay. Biwaase’aa helped many vulnerable children succeed. He’s worried of what the program’s closure will mean for those left behind.
“They’ve already started falling through the cracks,” Francis said, acknowledging even with Biwaase’aa in place, not all Aboriginal children reaped the benefits.
Still, he’s disappointed neither the federal nor the provincial government sees enough value in the program to keep it alive.
“More needs to be done to help us. When it’s kids at stake, they should be coming first, not mining and all these other things. Kids should be able to have their basic needs met.”
Francis said the possibility of resuscitating the program for next school year can be found, but it was unfair to its employees to leave them hanging with no guarantees in place.
