Three communities plan for, embark on construction of new schools

Three communities have recently embarked on the planning and construction of their new schools. In Ontario, the Sheshegwaning First Nation is preparing to begin construction on the new Samson Edowishkosh Elementary School in May 2023. The number of children in the First Nation has outgrown the existing school, so the new school will have expanded space and include a kindergarten room, four full-size classrooms for Grades 1-8, a small-scale gymnasium, and a lunchroom and cafeteria. In Alberta, the Kainai Board of Education stated that it will be replacing the Aahsaopi Elementary School with a more modern facility. While the school currently has around 200 students enrolled from K-5, the new facility will enable the school to accommodate more than twice the number of students. “We’re building it for longevity and really taking into account the population explosion we’re going to see here,” explained superintendent Cam Shade. The new project is being funded by the Blood Tribe Chief and Council and Indigenous Services Canada. In British Columbia, the Kitsumkalum First Nation has broken ground on their new school. The single-storey ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School building will accommodate 80 students across five classrooms, and will replace the aging school facilities. “It is extremely important for Kitsumkalum youth to be educated in their own language and culture,” said Kitsumkalum Chief Councillor Don Roberts.