KAMLOOPS- The First Nations Student Association (FNSA) on the Kamloops campus has organized a variety of events to celebrate their heritage and promote interaction around the theme Overcoming Barriers to Aboriginal Post- Secondary Education for First Nations Awareness Week at UCC, to be held March 8 to 11.

The week’s activities include a powwow, film presentation, drumming, stick games, workshops and an Elder’s luncheon, which brings together approximately 300 elders from various Aboriginal communities within the Shuswap, Thompson, Chilcotin, and Okanagan Territories who otherwise might not get the chance to interact with students and each other.

A support and advocacy group for aboriginal students on campus, the FNSA now has its own home: Cpl?l’kw’ten, The Gathering Place. Located at the heart of the campus, it contains a social area, kitchen, offices, and study area with computers for student use, and is a resource, information and support centre for UCC’s aboriginal students, and for the entire campus community.

Schedule of Events:

Monday, March 8: 10:00 am Opening Ceremonies, CAC Rotunda Noon to 2:00 pm Film presentation 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Drumming, The Gathering Place

Tuesday, March 9th: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshops, CAC Independent Centre

Wednesday, March 10th: 11:00 am Elder’s Luncheon, Grand Hall. Contact: Bernie Charlie, 318-7908 5:00 pm to Midnight Powwow, CAC Independent Centre. Contact: Zoey Baptiste, 376-4028 Stick Game, CAC Independent Centre. Contact: Lois Paul, 376-5398 Thursday, March 11th: 5:00 pm to Midnight Powwow and Stick Game, CAC Independent Centre Midnight Retiring the flags, Closing Ceremony

For more information, please call the First Nations Student Association at 371-5753.