(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Education

“We made history here today”: new northern education authority celebrates launch

Oct 23, 2019 | 6:31 PM

A first of its kind education authority in Canada was officially launched on Wednesday in downtown Prince Albert.

The creation of the Athabasca Denesuline Education Authority has represented two years of work by community leaders in Fond Du Lac, Black Lake and Hatchet Lake.

In his opening remarks Fond Du Lac Chief Louis Mercredi called it a “historic day”, and congratulated all the people who made it possible.

“One community can’t succeed, we work as a group,” he said. “We made history here today.”

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In addition to being the first Denesuline Authority in Canada, the education authority is also the first to be established in Saskatchewan under a new initiative by the Federal Government to assist First Nations on-reserve schools. Black Lake Chief Coreen Sayazie said she was proud of what they had accomplished in just two years.

“Education is the cornerstone of development,” she said. “What ever your race, age or sex, you have the right to an education.”

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron congratulated all the chiefs on their hard work, and also thanked the Federal Government. Cameron added the progress by the bands, more than showed the need for a northern remote road to connect the three bands to the rest of the province.

“It has to happen and it must happen,” he said.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron hinted the one authority could one day expand to include post secondary education. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

As part of their planning, the communities looked at other existing authorities in Nova Scotia and Alberta. Gerry Guillet, Director of Education and CEO, was asked by paNOW why the communities chose not to join the public school system. He explained the authority represents First Nations control over First Nations education.

“That is deep in their hearts and in their minds and that is what they want,” he said.

Drummers from Fond Du Lac and Black Lake assisted with the opening ceremonies. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

At the present time, four schools will make up the authority and the head office will be located in downtown Prince Albert, across from City Hall. Guillet said Prince Albert was the first choice for all the parties involved.

“They felt Prince Albert is the centre where a lot of the people from the north come to shop or have family and so this appeared to be the best location,” he said.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell