Pittman is the speaker of the Indigenous Caucus of the Grenfell Campus Student Union in Corner Brook and was one of around 200 students who took part in a National Day of Student Action rally in the city Wednesday.
She seized the opportunity to address her fellow students, telling them the rally was important for students of every race, gender identity and age, but especially for indigenous students.
Pittman said many indigenous students across Canada do not have access to education that is affordable or logistical for them.
“Students are expected to leave their home, cultures, language and family and travel many kilometres to pursue an education, resulting in a huge cultural burden,” she said.
“They are also burdened with the financial debt that comes with it.”
She said the low education rates among the indigenous population puts its members at high risk for poverty, substance abuse and violence.
“We need to make post-secondary education accessible, affordable and attainable for all.”
Pittman joined the other students in calling for the provincial and federal levels of government to make progress towards lowering or eliminating tuition and other education fees for all students.
Nicole Falle, president of the College of the North Atlantic students council, expressed her concerns about the provincial government possibly making cuts to the college, given the current touch economic times in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“It is absolutely mind-boggling that our government would cut funds for an institution that supplies such a diversity of skilled workers to the province,” she said.
If anything, she said, the province should consider putting more money and resources into the college and the post-secondary education system in general.
“Now is not the time to be putting up barriers to our college system. … Everyone deserves access to the education they need to get a job,” she said.
Thomas Tucker from Lourdes, a first-year chemistry student at Grenfell, went to the rally because he is worried about how much debt he will have when he graduates.
“I don’t know about free education, per se, but something to help get us along wouldn’t go astray.”
Pittman is the speaker of the Indigenous Caucus of the Grenfell Campus Student Union in Corner Brook and was one of around 200 students who took part in a National Day of Student Action rally in the city Wednesday.
She seized the opportunity to address her fellow students, telling them the rally was important for students of every race, gender identity and age, but especially for indigenous students.
Pittman said many indigenous students across Canada do not have access to education that is affordable or logistical for them.
“Students are expected to leave their home, cultures, language and family and travel many kilometres to pursue an education, resulting in a huge cultural burden,” she said.
“They are also burdened with the financial debt that comes with it.”
She said the low education rates among the indigenous population puts its members at high risk for poverty, substance abuse and violence.
“We need to make post-secondary education accessible, affordable and attainable for all.”
Pittman joined the other students in calling for the provincial and federal levels of government to make progress towards lowering or eliminating tuition and other education fees for all students.
Nicole Falle, president of the College of the North Atlantic students council, expressed her concerns about the provincial government possibly making cuts to the college, given the current touch economic times in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“It is absolutely mind-boggling that our government would cut funds for an institution that supplies such a diversity of skilled workers to the province,” she said.
If anything, she said, the province should consider putting more money and resources into the college and the post-secondary education system in general.
“Now is not the time to be putting up barriers to our college system. … Everyone deserves access to the education they need to get a job,” she said.
Thomas Tucker from Lourdes, a first-year chemistry student at Grenfell, went to the rally because he is worried about how much debt he will have when he graduates.
“I don’t know about free education, per se, but something to help get us along wouldn’t go astray.”
