By Zahir Muslun

Lonechild wants Fishing Lake School replaced

May 15, 2011 | 8:35 AM

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is disgusted at the condition of a school.

Chief Guy Lonechild toured recently flooded Fishing Lake First Nation, where he found a lot of standing water and a flooded cemetary.

He says staff and students alike are becoming ill, just by attending the school there.

“Because of the major amounts of water,” Lonechild explained, “they've had some of their systems breached and cracked and broken, so the smell of raw sewage has made some of the students and teachers sick.”

The chief doesn't want the school fixed, but replaced.

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“The school is just portables right now,” Lonechild described. “They've been told since 2004 that they were going to get a new school and it's (now) 2011.”

Lonechild notes Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made a strong committment to strengthen First Nation education.

“The federal government needs to do its homework in terms of the amount of capital requirements for schools and community infrastructure,” Lonechild said.

“We haven't seen much action in terms of (the) federal government ensuring there is adequate funding for first nations schools and community infrastructures.”

Chief Lonechild said he feels he has a good working relationship with Indian Affairs minister John Duncan, and hopes to see a reappointment when the new cabinet is formed.

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