"Welcome to First Nations University," Regina Willerby said, and the young woman looked at the dozen or so future students (and their parents) who were following her on a tour of campus. As usual, she began with a brief expose on the school's history, and what life was like at Canada's first school dedicated to the educational advancement of people of Aboriginal/First Nations descent.
Regina talked passionately about First Nations University, a promising school whose history was unfortunately mired in controversy, including unfair staff firings, budget issues, and the like. The Canadian government really doesn't want my people to succeed but we will always find a way, Regina thought bitterly. She then she put a smile on and continued with her erudition on First Nations University and what it meant to her people.
According to recent demographic records, close to a hundred and sixty thousand people who self-identify as First Nations, Aboriginals, Inuit, or Metis, call the province of Saskatchewan their home. Soon the day will come when First Nations people will once again be the majority in places like Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Regina thought, and her heart swelled with pride at that prospect.
Regina Willerby proudly identified as a First Nations woman, and unlike a lot of young First Nations people her age, she was fluent in the tongue of her ancestors. Regina's parents made damn sure she knew who and what she was. She was born in the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, to a First Nations father, Joseph Willerby, of the Ojibway clan, and a Caucasian mother, Kirsten Donnelly, who moved to Saskatchewan from Boston, Massachusetts, ages ago.
Growing up in the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, Regina Willerby was often told by fellow First Nations people that she wasn't a pureblood, a term which she loathed. Her response was to learn as much as she could about her father's people and their unique ways and cultures, and become the very best representative of said cultures that she could be. That's why Regina majored in Nursing and First Nations studies. As First Nations University fell under the umbrella of the University of Regina, they would be the ones to confer her degrees.
"So, in a way, F.N.U. is a lot like the HBCUs of America," said a loud masculine voice, snatching the tour guide out of her train of thought, and Regina paused to look for the interloper. She'd been talking about the history of the school, and didn't like the interruption. The source of the interruption happened to be a tall, well-dressed young black man who stood next to an older, balding black gentleman. Father and son are dressed to the nines, Regina thought.
Volunteering as a tour guide on the First Nations University campus was something that Regina enjoyed. She liked being surrounded by young First Nations men and women, a lot of whom were first-generation students. Some came from cities like Saskatoon and Prince Albert, and others hailed from further down in the Canadian Prairies, like Calgary and Winnipeg. It didn't matter to her, in a way, they were all family...
"Yes, Mr. Adilson, although there are lots of historically black colleges and universities in America, Canada only has one such university to celebrate First Nations cultures," Regina replied, and she narrowed her eyes at Rex Adilson, the international student from the City of Atlanta, Georgia. Rex chuckled softly, as though Regina had just said something immensely funny. The dude had future class clown written all over him...
I must try to be nice to the foreign students, international students bring a lot of revenue to the school, Regina reminded herself. She'd been given a list of names along with the places they hailed from, something which always helped with her tour guide duties. Lately, the international student population at First Nations University had doubled, with an influx of students from places like America, Nigeria, Guyana, China, and Mexico.
"Doug, stop interrupting the young lady," said the elder Adilson, and he playfully cuffed his son on the shoulder. Rex rolled his eyes, and then flashed Regina one of those smiles that must melt many a young lady's heart...back in Atlanta. Regina smiled politely, even though she totally agreed with the elder Adilson, Mr. Antonio, according to her fact sheet, swatting his talkative son.
"Folks, please follow me to the library, it's the hub of campus, next to the student center," Regina said, and her retinue followed her dutifully to the campus library. As to be expected, there were dozens of students seated at computer terminals, doing work, or casually browsing their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. The kind of scene that could be found at any school in the western world...except that most of these students were of First Nations descent.
"Um, ma'am, do you have a minute, it's me, Rex," came the now familiar voice, and Regina, who'd bent over to get a drink at a nearby fountain turned and found herself staring at Rex Adilson, the talkative African American from Atlanta. The young man smiled nervously and seemed contrite, and Regina wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then nodded politely. What does this fool want?
"Hello again, Mr. Adilson, so, how do you like the First Nations University campus?" Regina said, and she looked at the young man, who stroked his goateed chin thoughtfully. Looking past Rex, Regina saw that various members of her party were walking around the campus library, talking among themselves. Just my luck that I am stuck with this one, Regina thought.
"Hmm, well, honestly, I think the school is okay, and if you're any indication, the local girls are hot, I think I am going to like it here," Rex replied, and a wicked smirk creased his face. Regina rolled her eyes, and barely bit down a smart-mouthed reply. Dream on, American dude, I want to marry a handsome and proud First Nations man, not mess around with foreigners, Regina thought icily.
"Well, it's nice to have goals," Regina said at last, and her reply seemed to puzzle Rex. Before he could say something, she excused herself and then hollered at the other tour group members, summoning them to her side. After doing a quick head count, Regina led the rest of the group out of the library. She didn't even bother to make sure that Rex was among them. This fool can go to hell, Regina thought slyly.
Dammit, Miss Native American hottie has one hell of a booty, Rex Adilson thought to himself, and he smiled as he followed the tour group out of the campus library. Regina led them to another part of the First Nations University campus, which was decidedly much bigger than it looked. The school looked like no other place that Rex had ever set foot in...
Sometimes I hate this gig, Regina thought, annoyed by the fact that Rex was checking her out, and not so discretely either. She could swear she felt the American's gaze on her. And she was definitely right. Tall and curvy, with long dark hair and dark bronze skin, Regina looked terrific in a black vest over a red turtleneck shirt and yoga pants. Speaking of pants, Regina's ample derriere was straining the hell out of the ones she had on. This of course gave Rex a great visual to work with...