The Seven Generations Education Institute recently published a video discussing the history of the institute and its founding by the late Delbert Norton as part of its reflection on 40 years of operations. In the video, the story of the creation and development of the institute is told by SGEI Director Laura Horton, who was Delbert’s wife; Rainy River First Nations Training and Employment Coordinator Tracy Oshie-Horton, Delbert’s daughter; former Nigigoonsiminikaaning Chief Kelvin Morrison; former SGEI VP Dan Bird; and current SGEI CEO Brent Tookenay. Tookenay shared that when he took the lead at SGEI, Delbert Horton urged him to “reinvent” the institute. “I wasn’t sure what he meant by that,” explained Tookenay, “but I think this is what he meant: We needed more language, more culture, more ceremony included in what we do.” The institute will share a second part to the reflection that focuses on the present later this month.
