N. Battleford School Honours Success With Powwow

N. Battleford School Honours Success With Powwow

Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 12:57

 

 

A North Battleford high school for Aboriginal people has been able to re-instate two key programs because it finally has secure funding, and that’s one reason why Sakewew High School is holding a Thanksgiving powwow today.

 

Jon Sloan, chair of the joint board of education which operates Sakewew, says one of the programs that was cut was a Cree program, while the other one encouraged students to attend school.

 

Sloan says now that they have secure funding, the school was able to bring back both programs.

 

Sloan says the school board’s next job is to look at constructing a new building for the school.

 

He says the current building wasn’t designed as a school — it’s actually the old Battlefords Indian and Metis Friendship Centre.

 

Sakewew cultural co-ordinator Celeste Tootoosis says the event is being held for two reasons: to celebrate a new funding agreement with the provincial government, and to celebrate the school’s success.

 

Tootoosis says the school is proud of the number of students that graduate from Sakewew every year.

 

“Every year, we have an average of 33 students that graduate from this school, and one year we had 67 graduates,” she says.

 

About 450 people are expected to attend the powwow, including representatives of the provincial government and Indian Affairs.

 

Schools from throughout the Battlefords have also been invited.