Mi’kmaq Post-secondary Adult & Career Transit
MPACT
In January 2009, a bus began transporting community college and university Mi’kmaq students from Eskasoni First Nations and Membertou First Nations to and from the campuses of Nova Scotia Community College-Marconi and Cape Breton University.
At an October 2008 meeting, the EPIC Board decided that providing Mi’kmaq young adults with an opportunity for free transportation in order to promote excellent attendance for post-secondary education was well within the mandate of EPIC’s mission statement of helping marginalized students overcome obstacles. Dan Christmas, who sits on both the EPIC and the NSCC-Marconi Boards as well as being Senior Advisor to Membertou Band, arranged for himself and EPIC founder, Barry Waldman to meet with NSCC-Marconi officials. From that meeting came the initial plan. Barry took the lead on coordinating all aspects of this much needed service.
Under EPIC supervision, the project had a stunningly successful run as a pilot from January 2009 – June 2009 with the hope that the shared benefits would lead to a sustained partnership. During this time, a brand new bus dedicated to the post-secondary students was purchased by the Eskasoni School Board. In September 2009, the Eskasoni School Board took over supervision of this joint project with the participation and partnership of NSCC-Marconi, CBU and Membertou.
