Gurneau takes over Red Lake Nation College

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

At the Regular Tribal Council Meeting of August 12, 2003, the topic of Red Lake’s Tribal College was discussed, whereupon Secretary Judy Roy talked about the organizing of the Wellness Conference held in Red Lake some time ago.

The obligation of Red Lake Nation College was that participants of the two-day conference were to receive continuing education credits which would be recognized at other colleges.

This didn’t happen, and College President Michael Price was responsible for seeing to it that it did happen.

Secretary Roy said staff members needed these types of continuing education credits, as well as there was a definite need for more programs for Red Lake people, which just wasn’t taking place at the Red Lake Nation College..

“This is difficult for me because personally I have nothing against Mr. Michael Price,” Secretary stated to other Council members. “But one of the things that came from this, is that right after Renee’s memo was given to him [Price], he has since gotten four or five memos–we have got more work out of him in the last month than we have in the last two years.”

The memos written by Price were a response to Gurneau’s challenge that somebody else might e able to do it better–the development of Red Lake’s College program.

Roy said that she personally believed that Renee could do it better, and that was her interest in bringing the matter to the table.

Representative Stately said he felt a tribal member should head up the College and made the motion to let Price go and hire Gurneau in his place.

There was further discussions at the table before Price asked to make a comment. He admitted that he did report on a lot of progress of the College in the last three weeks through his memos, but also that he was the only one person who had been given the responsibility of building the college from the ground up.

“I have requested administrative assistance–and I realize the Tribe is not in a position to give me that,” he said. “I have done everything from fund raise; I’ve done everything to shake hands with senators to build relationships in Congress, to mopping the floors, and also to do my own administrative work. I’ve done the job of six people.”

Price said that he had heard his position was going up for a vote by the Council less than 24 hours before he was notified about it. He added that he respected the Council’s decision, that he would humbly respect his termination.

“But I needed to let the Council know that I was given a task that had unrealistic expectations,” he said. “I was by myself and expected to build an institution in one year and ten months.”

He spoke about the classes they have had at the college, the Website that was up and running, and four classes would be open on September 2, 2003, as well as the computer lab that was to be assembled in August. He said he did the job the best he could.

A motion was already on the table by Representative Stately, then seconded by Representative White for the appoint of Renee Gurneau at the Red Lake Tribal College. It carried 5-4 with one abstention.

“I’ll do my best to do a good job,” Gurneau said after the vote. “I think that what needs to happen first is that there needs to be a Board that is put in place. There has never been a Board for the college, and community outreach.”

She added that Sandy King would help her with the fund raising.

“What never has been done is any outreach into the community,” Gureau said. “All of the programs need to be focused in the Anishinabe culture and Red Lake history.”