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[Editor's note: On July 3, The Tyee published "Put Aboriginal People at the Top of Education," part of a Tyee Solutions Society series "Call of the Spirit" focusing on Aboriginal academic achievers and their reflections on how higher education could be changed to better accommodate Aboriginal success. In the July 3 article Emily Carr Board of Governors member Debra Hoggan makes some critical remarks about how other board members and administrators saw her role and potential. After the story ran, we received a letter from Evaleen Jaager Roy, chair of Emily Carr's Board of Governors, and we share it with our readers here in its entirety.]
We were very sorry to read Debra Hoggan's commentary in your recent issue of Tyee regarding Aboriginal representation on Boards and we are sad and frankly perplexed that she feels a sense of negativity about Emily Carr University's commitment to Aboriginal participation on our Board of Governors.
I think it is important to provide some facts. Not only has Emily Carr University had a succession of talented Aboriginal representatives who have contributed to the Board over many years prior to Debra, including Susan Point, Doreen Jensen and Connie Watts, Debra herself has a played a very key role, assuming the leadership role of Vice Chair for two years, along with roles on various Board committees. She has made great contributions and as has been our practice for the last 30 years, we will actively continue to recruit Aboriginal representation.
We also do not have 4,000 students as the article suggests, but only 1,800 and our 90 Aboriginal students represent an important stage in the growth of our Aboriginal curriculum and support services.
With respect to our Aboriginal programs, we are very proud of the success of our grads including one of our recent successes, Sonny Assu, whose work has now been bought by the National Gallery in Ottawa. Many Emily Carr alumni have gone on to stellar careers in the arts and while at Emily Carr have made numerous academic contributions. At any time of the day our Aboriginal Gathering Place is full of students, of all backgrounds, working enthusiastically on Aboriginal-focused art. Our faculty in this area, led by the superb Brenda Crabtree, is second to none. Our students continually attest to the positive and welcoming atmosphere at Emily Carr and their ongoing external recognition attests to the mark our Aboriginal students have made.
Further, in an era of budget cuts, Emily Carr has worked hard not just to maintain but to grow our Aboriginal arts area, an attestation to its importance at the university. We recently hired another Professor with an Aboriginal background, Prof. Mimi Gellman who has in one year had a tremendous impact on our university. Many of the great Aboriginal artists of this generation have some connection to Emily Carr University, continuing a long tradition of involvement and participation by the university across B.C.
With students and faculty from over 60 countries, Emily Carr remains one of the most diverse campuses in Canada, of which we are very proud.
Yours sincerely,
Evaleen Jaager Roy
Chair, Board of Governors
[Editor's note: The Tyee Solutions Society acknowledges misstating the number of students who attend Emily Carr. The number we used is from this B.C. government report which is incorrect.] ![[Tyee]](/design-article.thetyee.ca/ui/img/yellowblob.png){kind=small}
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