"Polytechnic gets $1.4 million shot in the arm"

SIX NATIONS - Six Nation Polytechnic received a $1.4-million grant recently from the Conservative party of Canada to help advance its training and language programs. The grant was part of a $15 million for post-secondary partnerships covering 73 projects across the Canada delivering post-secondary institutions through college and university level courses.

The grant was presented to Polytechnic president Rebecca Jamieson by Brant MP Phil McColeman on behalf of Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

Polytech will use the money to rekindle aboriginal language and culture," said Jamieson, while connecting the dots to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Report on the damage done in residential schools.

"The residential school experience and the impacts of unbalanced and unhealthy relationships across cultures has touched us all at Six Nations in some way," she said. "SNP holds a special obligation to the Six Nations community to be the formal post-secondary institute to ensure that our indigenous knowledge and languages do not disappear from the face of this earth."

MP McColeman showed respect and offered congratulations to Polytechnic and the work they have been doing.

"I say kudos to this institution for showing they deserve it," said McColeman. "Since I've been MP these past seven years, I've watched Six Nations Polytechnic has serve as a model for the country. I've been hugely impressed from day one with the professionalism of this institution."

The breakdown is as follows:

• $232,650 for language degree studies;
• $225,500 toward an indigenous sustainability degree;
• $210,100 for indigenous visual arts;
• $144,100 for financial management;
• $117,700 for peace building;
• $114,400 for cultural fluency;
• $100,100 for Mohawk language instruction;
• $100,100 for Cayuga language instruction;
• $62,590 for principal of First Nations schools.