2-02393

THUNDERCHILD FIRST NATION CELEBRATES OPENING OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL

THUNDERCHILD FIRST NATION, SASKATCHEWAN (October 2, 2003) - The Honourable Robert D. Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, announced the opening of the Piyesiw Awasis Community School. Chief Winston Weekusk and members of the Thunderchild First Nation today marked the opening of the school at a ceremony at Thunderchild First Nation.

"The federal government is committed to investing in a better education for Aboriginal youth, and part of that investment means better schools in First Nations communities," said Minister Nault. "I would like to offer my congratulations to the Thunderchild First Nation on this important occasion."

An investment of $14 million was made in the building of the 4,359-square-metre school, of which INAC contributed $13, 437,300 and Thunderchild contributed $749,000. Construction created about 18,000 hours of employment for the First Nation.

"As our community grows, our school must expand to accommodate more children," said Chief Weekusk. "The Piyesiw Awasis Community School will provide quality education that is culturally relevant to our children and will help them to succeed in the future."

In addition, the facility has special features that reflect Cree culture and traditions. They include a smudge area and sweat lodge for ceremonial purposes, and a walk-in cooler/freezer for traditional hunting. Other prominent features are building tiles depicting the portraits of 59 Elders from the Thunderchild First Nation and a rotunda seating area with symbolic features.

The new school will provide educational instruction to children from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and will accommodate a projected enrolment of about 400 students. It includes two kindergarten classrooms, 13 standard classrooms with tutorial spaces, two special education classrooms, an administration area, computer science labs, industrial arts, home economics, science lab, stage library/resource centre, gymnasium, cultural classroom, weight room, student common area, and outside storage building.

The opening of the new Piyesiw Awasis Community School coincided with a community celebration to recognize the $53-million settlement of the Thunderchild First Nation Specific Claim Agreement.

Thunderchild First Nation is located about 85 kilometres northwest of North Battleford. The First Nation has about 2,000 registered members, with roughly half living off the reserve.

For further information, contact:

Trevor Sutter
Communications Manager
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Saskatchewan Region
(306) 780-6429

Chief Winston Weekusk
Thunderchild First Nation
(306) 845-4300

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