A number of Simon Fraser University faculty and students are available to comment on the importance of National Aboriginal Day, Friday, June 21, and share thoughts on Aboriginal issues within their area of expertise.

Judy Smith, SFU Community Education Programs in Lifelong Learning, program director, can discuss the difference between the terms Indigenous and Aboriginal in referencing Canada’s Aboriginal people. Smith can also explain how SFU’s Aboriginal Bridge Programs (Aboriginal Pre-Health Program and Aboriginal University Prep Program), which are within her portfolio, help Aboriginal people enter and succeed in higher education.

Says Smith: “These programs were designed to provide a culturally relevant pathway to SFU for Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples) who experience a disproportionate number of barriers to access and success in universities.

“Students build a solid foundation for success by strengthening study skills and exploring career options, while earning academic credit toward their first year in university and admission into SFU upon successful completion of the program.

“As such, the two bridge programs align with SFU’s Aboriginal strategic plan’s goal to increase the full and equitable participation of Aboriginal people.”

• Judy Smith, 778.782.5201, judy_smith@sfu.ca

Felix Breden, SFU Department of Biology, chair and professor, can expand on how Training of Aboriginal Youth in Biomedical Labs (TAYBL), a program targeting graduates of SFU’s Aboriginal Pre-Health Program, is mentoring Aboriginal students. He describes Janelle Dobson-Kocsis, a TAYBL student, as a great success story. Currently a research assistant of SFU health sciences professor Elliot Goldner’s, Dobson-Kocsis is also a volunteer teacher with SFU’s Math Catcher program.

• Felix Breden, 778.782.5647, breden@sfu.ca
• Elliot Goldner, 778.782.5148, egoldner@sfu.ca
• Janelle Dobson-Kocsis, 778.689.9761, taliamarie088@gmail.com

Marena Brinkhurst, who just completed her master’s in SFU’s School of Resource and Environmental Management, can address on-reserve property rights. “The topic has been of interest lately because of a proposed federal bill that would allow First Nations people to opt out of the Indian Act land tenure system and create their own First Nations Property Ownership Act,” explains Brinkhurst. Using the Penticton Indian Band as a case study, Brinkhurst looked at the history of on-reserve property rights within a national context for her master’s thesis. This now junior community planner with Aboriginal communities is guest co-editing a special issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development that will spotlight reserve land management.

Marena Brinkhurst, 604.809.9915, mbrinkhu@sfu.ca, Skype: marena.brinkhurst1

Richard Smith, SFU School of Communication professor, can talk about challenges and successes First Nations people across Canada are experiencing in building broadband Internet networks to deliver services to their communities. Smith co-creates publicly accessible videos about this digital phenomenon through the First Mile Project, a federally funded research initiative.

Richard Smith, 778.782.5116, smith@sfu.ca

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