‘THE START OF EVERYTHING’
Four First Nations assume control of Maskwacis school system
Four central Alberta First Nations are celebrating a landmark education agreement with the federal government to create a new education authority that will be grounded in Cree culture.
“This is the start of everything,” said Ermineskin Cree Nation Chief Craig Makinaw at a Friday ceremony in Maskwacis. “This process has taken quite a few years.”
About 200 people gathered at Bear Park to witness the official transfer of authority to the Maskwacis Education Schools Commission (MESC), which will run 11 schools.
Federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott signed the agreement with the Ermineskin Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, Montana First Nation and Samson Cree Nation.
“It’s a historic day,” she told reporters after the ceremony. “What’s happening here in Maskwacis will be looked at by First Nations across the country as a model.”
More than 2,300 students will be taught under the new Cree-based education system in the communities, located about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton.
“The thoughtfulness behind this and the planning has been extraordinary,” Philpott said, adding new programs are set to roll out in the fall. “This is all in the spirit of selfdetermination.
“We believe there will be many more similar arrangements.”
For Audrey Morin, a member of Ermineskin Cree Nation, the move will mean passing on her first language to her 11-year-old son.
“We’ll never forget this event,” she said. “Coming from a traditional family, I feel that it is important for our children to continue speaking our language.”
The new model includes a 10year commitment by the federal government and increases funding to Maskwacis by around 17 per cent, said a news release. The agreement takes effect July 1 and funding numbers are slated to be released in the following weeks.
“We see the treaty right to education being honoured,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde in an interview. “The First Nations here are going to be taking control of their school system ... they ’re looking at curriculum, language-based programs, land-based programs, equitable funding.”
The curriculum balances an Indigenous worldview with math, science and literacy, he said.
“It’s vital to a person’s identity,” he said. “We’re still feeling the inter-generational trauma and effects of the residential school system.”
MESC superintendent Brian Wildcat said it was a communitydriven effort.
“We talked to 1,600 community members, and I think that was our strength,” he said. “We’ve just gotten to the starting line.”
Board chairwoman Nina Makinaw said parts of the Cree-based program have already been rolled out at the Ermineskin Elementary School.
“In the morning, they have assembly and they’re actually doing a drum song,” she said. “In the fall, they’re already practising landbased learning, picking sweetgrass and sage.
“A lot of the students are proud when they realize who they are, that they’re Cree.”
Following Friday’s ceremony, Philpott travelled to the Samson Cree Nation water pump station to turn the first sod for a new wastewater system, which received $32.5 million in federal funds.