Indigenous Issues Have Come a Long Way on Campus— but There’S Still Much More to Do Held Back by Limited Resources, Dal Does What It Can

3 Editor’s note October 6–19, 2017 ISSUE 150–03 11 Dealing with your racist Uncle at Thanks- giving dinner 14 Indigenous art Indigenous issues have come a long way on campus— but there’s still much more to do Held back by limited resources, Dal does what it can ALEX ROSE, NEWS EDITOR Geri Musqua-LeBlanc has been an Elder-in-Residence at Dalhousie for less than two years, but already she has seen many changes for the better at the university. “Just from the faculty alone, their willingness to understand what reconcil- iation means and what they can do, how they can Indigenize their curriculum, their program,” she said, “to me, it’s positive.” The Elder-in-Residence program caters to the spiritual and emotional needs of Indigenous students. “However, we welcome students of all nations if they wish to come speak to an Elder,” Musqua-LeBlanc said. “Or a grandma, or a grandpa. Because grandmas and grandpas in Indigenous culture are very, very important. That’s where the young people get a lot of their support and encouragement.” CONT’D PG. 5 NORTH AMERICA’S OLDEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER, EST. 1868 Letter from the editor Kaila Jefferd-Moore, editor-in-chief [email protected] The Gazette office is cozy with six people sitting in it staring at the chalkboard wall. Alex Rose, news editor Staff meetings often start this way: we spend a lot of time staring at our chalkboard— [email protected] it’s the blueprint of The Dalhousie Gazette sketched across our wall. Matt Stickland, opinions editor [email protected] Dates and random keywords we’ll use for SEO later, guide us through each meeting, Jessica Briand, arts & lifestyle editor helping plan out stories weeks in advance. [email protected] In August, the team first walked into room 345 and sat down in front of a blank, black, Josh Young, sports editor [email protected] sheet on the wall and by end-of-day we knew what stories we were putting into the First Jayme Spinks, art director Issue of the Year; we knew when our beloved and begrudged satire would be published, [email protected] and what theme each issue will be. Alexandra Sweny, visual editor I knew this issue would be one focused on Mi’kmaq stories before we’d begun planning. [email protected] Mi’kmaq History Month began October 1, which is also Treaty Day in Nova Scotia. Elyse Creamer, business and advertising manager [email protected] Most Canadians typically take this time of year to count their blessings; I wonder if Contributing to this issue: they will reflect on how these blessings are possible. Chiara Ferrero-Wong, Ally Geist, Laura Hardy, Lianne Xiao, Erin Brown, Piper MacDougall, Lexi Kuo, During that first meeting we all knew this issue would land close to Thanksgiving, and Qi Chen, Rebecca Kingdon, Yanni Wang, Serena Jackson, Michael Greenlaw, Haley MacKenzie when I declared that the issue would be more focused on Mi’kmaq stories our Opinions Cover photo: The Mustang Suite by Dana Claxton is the current Indigenous art exhibit editor, Matt Stickland, piped up: at the Dalhousie Art Gallery. Claxton is a Lakota living in Vancouver, BC and created the fictionalized family portraits on her interpretation of Black Elk’s ideas in contemporary styling. Photo from the Dalhousie Art Gallery. “I have a great story I wanna write: How to deal with your racist Uncle at Thanksgiving dinner.” We regretfully neglected to include the attribution for last week’s cover image—the amazing illustration was done by Emily Sweny. That piece is now within the folds of this paper; the product of a need on Dalhousie ADVERTISING CONTACT US University’s campus for silenced voices to be heard, for the Gazette to dedicate itself Elyse Creamer www.dalgazette.com to a broader scope of diverse reporting on campus, and to remember that expressing Advertising Manager The SUB, Room 345 practiced once-a-year thankfulness isn’t truly gratitude. (905) 870-9610 6136 University Avenue [email protected] Halifax NS, B3H 4J2 I’m grateful each morning I awake; I’m grateful to work with a team who labour effort- lessly each week to produce a 23-page newspaper; I’m grateful we can use our oppor- THE FINE PRINT tunity as the voice of the campus to create a platform for others on to speak their own The Gazette is the official written record of Dalhousie University since 1868. It is published bi-weekly during experiences at Dal. the academic year by the Dalhouse Gazette Publishing Society. The Gazette is a student-run publication. Its primary purpose is to report fairly and objectively on issues of importance and interest to the students of Dalhousie University, to provide an open forum for the free expression and exchange of ideas, and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society This year, I ask not what you are grateful for—why are you grateful? in general. Views expressed in the letters to the editor, the Streeter, and opinions section are solely those of the contributing writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of The Gazette or its staff. Views expressed in the Streeter feature are solely those of the person being quoted, and not the Gazette’s writers or staff. KAILA JEFFERD-MOORE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF This publication is intended for readers 18 years of age or older. The views of our writers are not the explicit views of Dalhousie University. All students of Dalhousie University, as well as any interested parties on or off-campus, are invited to contribute to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor for submission guidelines, or drop by in for our weekly office hours in room 345 of the Dal SUB. The Gazette reserves the right to edit and reprint all submissions, and will not publish material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous. Opinions expressed in submitted letters are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Gazette are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Gazette staff, Editorial Board, publisher, or Dalhousie University. News October 6–19, 2017 The Dalhousie Gazette 5 “Students are able to receive services, obtain medication and DSU Health Plan blackout period leaves submit claims during the blackout period but no reimbursement is made until the blackout period is over,” said Morneau. students without coverage Direct2U Prescriptions is an Ontario-based company that ships prescriptions and is stated as operating as normal during DSU website doesn’t have details of period, but pharmacy says it lasts until Oct. 20 the blackout period. ERIN BROWN If students have their doctor fax Direct2U their prescription and fill-out the online form, the prescription can then be sent For students who chose to opt-in to the DSU Health and Dental 18, leaving 32 days between the opt-out period and the beginning to “any location designated” once the student has submitted plan this year, they may be unaware of the blackout period in of medical coverage for students. to receive a one-month supply of medication delivered free to their medical coverage. A blackout period means that students StudentVIP, the third-party company that sells the plans, campus. Alliance Pharmacy Group is the company respon- are not covered. confirms that students are not covered while the blackout is in sible for getting information from the student and sending The DSU could not be reached for comment on the blackout effect, and will not be able to seek reimbursement from Medavie the prescription. period; the website the DSU refers students to for information Blue Cross or access their member portal until the period ends. The DSU website has not posted dates of the blackout says the blackout period lasts from September until early International Strategist with Student WIP, Samantha period, or that there is a blackout period in effect. To find out October, but the Guardian pharmacy on Coburg Road said the Morneau confirmed in an email that the blackout period starts what students’ options are while they wait for the blackout in blackout lasts until October 20. September first each year and ends when Dal sends them the their medical coverage begin, the DSU Health Plan office can The last day to opt-out of the DSU Health Plan was September final enrollment list. be reached at [email protected]. INDIGENOUS ISSUES CONT’D FROM COVER Aaron Prosper is one of those young people. peoples’ throughout the Dalhousie campus.” more aware. With the TRC (Truth and Recon- structure in place to be able to centre all these He is a fourth-year neuroscience student from Prosper has also noticed positive changes ciliation Committee,) because it’s in the media, voices, make them unified. I think that’s an issue the Eskasoni Nation, located in the middle in his time at the school. there’s more people asking questions, more going forward that should be look at,” he said. of Cape Breton about an hour’s drive off the Among the improvements: a more accessible people wanting to know, you know—what are There’s clearly work to be done; but Musqua- Trans-Canada highway. He’s a member of the and open space for the Indigenous Students these issues in the Indigenous community, and LeBlanc still appreciates the strides the school Dalhousie Indigenous Students Collective, Centre, the Elders-in-Residence program, and how can we be a part of changing it?” he said.

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