‘It’s hopeless’: Prof who called for U of M leadership overhaul resigns By: Larry Kusch Posted: 7:00 PM CST Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019

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This article was published 04/02/2019 (2153 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A second high-profile Indigenous academic is leaving the University of Manitoba, citing frustrations in dealing with senior administration in attempts to combat systemic racism at the post-secondary institution.

Dr. Barry Lavallee, senior physician and mentor in Ongomiizwin education at the U of M’s school of medicine, is resigning effective Feb. 18.

In December, Lynn Lavallée, vice-provost of Indigenous engagement, quit after only 16 months on the job. She also cited frustrations in dealing with top university brass, who, she said, curbed her ability to get things done.

Asked Tuesday why he was leaving, Barry Lavallee (no relation to Lynn Lavallée) responded: “Because it’s hopeless.”

Lavallee, who has studied chronic disease in First Nations communities and is known internationally for his work in indigenizing the curriculum in medical schools, has worked at the Winnipeg-based university for nine years. He’s been outspoken in calling out racism and promoting equity for Indigenous students.

In a public address in September 2018, he called for a wholesale change in the leadership at the university, including its president, David Barnard, to make it a more welcoming place for Indigenous students.

Lavallee said he’s grown increasingly frustrated with administrative efforts to minimize and conceal issues rather than tackle them head-on. “I’ve got to do something else rather than face a wall that’s seemingly impossible. And the wall has people’s faces on it who smile at you.”

In a brief interview, Barnard said the university is concerned about the issues the two have raised and respects their contributions to the institution.

“We’re committed to Indigenous engagement here. It’s one of the main… priorities in our strategic plan — creating pathways to Indigenous achievement,” he said. “I think as the time goes on for all of us, our expectations are on the rise and what we should be able to accomplish. And our colleagues have been helpful in pointing some things out.”

In an interview this week, Lynn Lavallée, who has since secured a position at Ryerson University in Toronto, said she was frustrated at continually having to explain why certain initiatives were needed rather than focusing on how to get the job done.

When she attempted to organize a meeting of Indigenous faculty, “I was told I was being divisive,” she said.

Particularly frustrating, she said, is a “convoluted” university policy that makes it cumbersome to target awards to specific groups. “Even people who provided programs for Indigenous people are faced with, ‘So why can’t it be open for everybody?'”

In the end, Lavallée said, she wasn’t given the tools or the power to deal effectively with the inequities faced by Indigenous students, and she felt her position was seen as symbolic.

“I don’t want to be the token Indian. And I don’t want to be the Indian agent,” she said, referring to powerful government bureaucrats who once held sway over the lives of First Nations people.

Barnard said he has held two recent meetings — as recent as last week — with Indigenous students to hear their concerns. He called them “tremendously moving conversations.”

“We’ve made some good progress. We’re trying to build trust and confidence and to take steps together,” he said.

Barnard said the university will seek a replacement for Lynn Lavallée. He has asked Dr. Catherine Cook, vice-dean Indigenous at Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, to head a group that will make recommendations about the role of the vice-provost Indigenous engagement.

“When we fill this position, we want to fill it in a way that makes the person successful,” Barnard said.

Barry Lavallee said the vice-provost position needs to be revamped so it has actual power, with the ability to spend money, to properly represent Indigenous communities at the university.

He attended the first meeting Barnard held with Indigenous students, noting it took a considerable effort to arrange.

Lavallee said the students spoke of the racist comments and attitudes they encounter on campus from their peers and professors. They raised several other concerns including the need for the university to teach Indigenous languages.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Larry Kusch
Legislature reporter

Larry Kusch didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life until he attended a high school newspaper editor’s workshop in Regina in the summer of 1969 and listened to a university student speak glowingly about the journalism program at Carleton University in Ottawa.

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