This school year all students learning together
After mold was found in the previous Sergeant Tommy Prince School building, students were moved and a community effort to restore the building began. This school year the students were able to come together again in the newly renovated school building and last week the school held a feast to celebrate the efforts of the staff, students, funders, community members, and contractors who all worked together to undertake this project.
The celebration was a community affair with educators, students, drummers, and elders all making it a day to remember. In addition to the celebration of the school, the Sergeant Tommy Prince eagle flagstaff which is held by the Sergeant Tommy Prince Cadet Core was refreshed and the new staff made its first appearance at this event.
The celebration started with a grand entry involving the students, cadets and dignitaries. The Black Kettle Singers performed as the staff made its first appearance.
Principal Wendy McPherson then introduced Joyce Perreault. Perreault is the teacher at the school who leads the Ode Gah Oonge Naagamowad (Those Who Sing from the Heart) student singing group as well as the language teacher. With her expertise, she translated Oh Canada into Ojibway and the students performed the song.
A pipe ceremony then took place to honour the event.
Record Photos by Katelyn Boulanger
Lt. Violet Baptiste came to the podium next to explain the journey of the flagstaff and its rebirthing. She explained a little bit about the Sergeant Tommy Prince Cadet Core and its beginnings. The original flagstaff came to be in the second year of the cadet core and after many years, even with the best possible care, it needed a refresh. With special attention being paid to honour the original staff in the process, the feathers and staff itself were rebirthed.
From there, McPherson came back to deliver her opening remarks about the renovation.
“I would like to say Miigwetch to the families, to the guardians, and to all the members of the community for joining us today and celebrating the renovations of our school. The students have been really excited for this day,” said McPherson.
She explained that when she came to the school a year ago, students were spread out throughout the community. She was unsure whether or not the renovations would be completed for this school year but after hard work on the part of the builders everything came together so that all of the students could be in school last September.
Funding and support for this project was a combined effort from the Brokenhead First Nations Chief and Council as well as the Manitoba First Nations School System and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre.
Chief Gordon Bluesky spoke on behalf of himself and council.
“One thing I will remember about all the children here, the staff and students is how we adapted and we overcame the issue and we continued with school,” he said.
He went on to thank the many people who made this project possible, the staff and students as well as the parents for their patience during this time.
Record Photos by Katelyn Boulanger
Curtis Nepinak, of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, also added a few words.
“To our parents, we thank you for all your patience during the renovations and for accepting the learning environments. Thank you for encouraging and supporting your child in these challenging times when the classroom environments changed. To our teachers, we thank you for your dedication, for nurturing the young minds of our students, creating positive learning environments outside of the school, and continuing to inspire and motivate your students. To our students, we thank you for coming to school doing assignments and accepting the changes to the situation. Moving from the school to other locations during the renovations was overwhelming. You were truly amazing,” he said.
Nepinak then, on behalf of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, presented the school with an Education Perseverance and Resilience Award and all students at the school received gift cards.
The event ended with recognition of Chief Bluesky.
McPherson said that being able to be together again means community. The students are once again celebrating monthly birthday parties and she said that the new environment allows them to more easily celebrate, acknowledge and develop each student’s gifts.
She also said that the students reacted positively to getting back together in one building this year.
“They were excited, they felt they were coming home,”
said McPherson.
She also wanted to send out a thank you message to all of the people who made this renovation project possible.
“I just want to say Chi’ Miigwetch for everybody coming together. It was very heartwarming because when they were meeting, from contractors, Chief and Council, Manitoba First Nation’s School System, everybody coming together, it was all for the kids. That’s what warmed my heart because this is all for the kids,” said McPherson.
