JANICE BASQUE

CHALLENGE: BARRIERS TO EDUCATION SOLUTION: PROVIDE INCREASED STUDENT SUPPORTS

Janice Basque often delivers a push to students who need it the most.

The enrollment specialist at Cape Breton University (CBU) understands the struggles that some face.

After graduating high school in her home community of We'koqma'q First Nation in Cape Breton, Basque completed two university degrees in Sydney. The busy mother is now completing an MBA in community economic development.

Basque understands that some Indigenous students find it daunting to suddenly leave their tight-knit communities.

To encourage increased enrolment, CBU offers its own Mi’kmaw resource centre, a language lab and two elders-inresidence who assist with emotional and academic support.

“We meet them in their communities or in the high schools before they even come, and then we follow them through right up until they’re finished graduation,” Basque said.

“Students are coming out stronger from high school, they’re coming in stronger to post-secondary, and they have that drive.”

Basque noted that a major barrier for students living in Indigenous communities is often transportation.

In recent years, the Membertou and Eskasoni bands have partnered to offer a busing service to the Sydney campus.

CBU itself also offers some classes through in-community programming.

But a growing concern for the Indigenous population is a stagnation in education funding, which means students are facing greater financial pressures than before.

“I’m seeing more students having to take out student loans, or pay for their own courses and such,” Basque said. “It is getting more common.”

So far, specialized programs to encourage Indigenous students to explore health and science careers are already showing results. Basque said the Indigenous post-secondary graduation rates are also steadily increasing.

“That oppressive state, you don’t see it or it’s not as common,” she said. “And they’re proud, they’re motivated, but they need that push, that extra support.”