By Bryan Eneas

Ten years for Muskoday First Nation Community School

Jun 22, 2016 | 7:00 PM

Each day staff at the Muskoday First Nation Community School have worked to teach students more about their culture and heritage, but today marked a milestone.

Members of the school celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

The community school first opened its doors in August of 2005, and over the last decade a number of changes have happened to incorporate language and culture into the traditional education system.

“We see success, not only in the facility… and the maintenance of the facility and the yard, but more importantly from the community and the students who have been here for the past 10 years who have gone on to higher education,” Chief Austin Bear said. “That is our success, that our community makes it a success.”

Bear was the chief in office during the ground-breaking and grand opening of the school. He, along with Muskoday’s education councillor Eldon Crain attended the 10-year anniversary celebrations at the Community School’s gymnasium today, June 22.

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“Having a school in our community gives us a chance to instill our culture and language into these children. I think public schools today have taken steps to implement (culture and language) into the system but I don’t think it is to the extent that you will find in First Nation schools,” Crain said after the ceremony wrapped up. “It helps the children learn who they are, and in the end it will result in them being successful adults when they enter adulthood.”

Muskoday is a kindergarten to Grade 9 school, meaning there is no high school associated with the community yet. When the school was constructed, room for an addition was made on the north side of the building.

“We’ve had those discussions over the years, I think it’s definitely the goal to eventually have a kindergarten to Grade 12 school out in our community here. We’re still a ways away from that goal but definitely the plan and idea is there,” Crain said.

Sharon Meyer said she knew she always wanted to work in a First Nations school through her career. She did all of her teaching and administrative duties with the provincial school system before she made the transition to the First Nation education system. When she found out that Muskoday was opening a school, she says she jumped all over the opportunity to become the first ever principal.

“I wanted to a chance to demonstrate what I thought would be excellent education for indigenous children. I wanted to be part of that thumb-print in that capacity and we did it. We had powerful staff, a very supportive community and a supportive chief and council,” Meyer said.

The first thing that resonates while walking through the halls of Muskoday Community School is the pride people take in the building. Almost all the features look brand new even at the end of a full school year. Careful consideration was taken in the colour choices of the classrooms, according to multiple staff members. Mirrors line the hallways of the school to add more light to the building. Willow branches grace the ceiling of the foyer and the elder room to symbolize the shaping and moulding of strong children, and to remind them of humility and discipline.

With one decade wrapped up, the children of Muskoday First Nation still have much to look forward to in the next 10 years because of their community school. Be it strong language and cultural programming, or the possibility of staying within the community for almost their entire education careers, Muskoday Community School looks forward to a bright future.

Bryan.eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter, @BryanEneas