(Kelowna, BC) – The BC Métis Federation represents thousand of members throughout British Columbia and this week is celebrating the success of one of our Métis members, Miss Ashley Schwab. Ashley graduated from the degree nursing program from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus this past week after years of hard work.
BC Métis Federation provided one of our new BC Métis Federation design sashes at her graduation ceremony in honour of her work and dedication to achieve this significant personal success. Ashley faced numerous barriers including financial and support from her own Métis community. In fact despite repeated efforts to apply for Métis labour market funding administered by the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), she was denied for years under the veil of a lack of funding. Unfortunately this situation is far from isolated when Métis individuals apply to MNBC for employment and training funding.
BC Métis Federation President Henry stated, “We are extremely proud of Ashley and as an organization we made efforts with letters of support and other advocacy work. She is one of the first in her family to attend and have post secondary success in high demand labour market field. Nurses remain in very high demand in the labour market in British Columbia and throughout Canada.”
BC Métis Federation President Henry added, “It was frustrating for her to be denied by MNBC over the past few years repeatedly without real transparency about why from the MNBC. MNBC wrote letters about no money but was this really the case? How can students ever really know when MNBC has no public accountability about how their employment and training funds are spent each year? What were the regional priorities for MNBC and how many students applied? Ashley was a member of BC Métis Federation for years and was this membership the real reason? It continues to be well known that MNBC will not support individuals who are not supporting their organization and the employment and training funds are being used for political influence. These employment and training dollars should never be allowed to support this politics but each year the Government of Canada, through Service Canada allows this.”
BC Métis Federation President Henry concluded, “We applaud Ashley and are sharing her story today because she wanted the Métis community to know about her frustrations regarding MNBC and the total lack of transparency and support, regardless of membership and politics. She made it in spite of the lack of support from MNBC and we are continuing to find ways to increase support as she considers next steps to advancing her medical studies.”
For more information about the BC Métis Federation also be sure to view our website at www.bcmetis.com.
Media Inquiries:
Keith Henry, President BC Métis Federation #300-3665 KingswayYou can now follow BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry on twitter@keithhenrymetis
You can follow the BC Métis Federation on twitter @bcmetis
[ilink url=”http://bcmetis.com/wp-content/uploads/BCMF-Press-Release-June-9th-2015-Celebrating-Success-Ashley-Schwab.pdf” style=”download”]Click here to download this press release as a PDF[/ilink]
