Athabasca school switches boards as northern communities consider establishing own education authority

Athabasca Delta Community School will be joining the Parkland School Division this school year after several years of work from Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis Association. The communities told CBC that they faced an “education crisis,” with few students graduating and issues with staff retention, and that they hope to establish their own educational authority in the near future. Tammy Riel of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation explained that the current switch to a new division was driven by a need to find new hope in the education system. The communities reportedly intend to show PSD how they embed culture in their education system. “We are really excited,” said PSD superintendent Shauna Boyce. “[The board is] making sure that we can have an Indigenous perspective in our education and we’re really looking forward to bringing that perspective to every one of the schools we have.”