Biigtigong Nishnaabeg celebrate the opening of its new elementary school
By Rick Garrick
BIIGTIGONG NISHNAABEG — Biigtigong Nishnaabeg recently celebrated the opening of its new Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Endzhi-gkinoohmaading elementary school with a march from the old to the new school on Feb. 12.
“The students were led to the new school with a march led with the big Grandfather Drum with our singers,” says Lisa Michano-Courchene, education director at Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. “They followed the drum and the project team over to their new school. On both sides of the road, the community watched them and were basically giving out cheers. [It was] very emotional and they were full of excitement to see the kids marching down the road to their new school.”
Michano-Courchene says the new school was smudged by seven Grandmothers before the students explored their new classrooms and the rest of the school along with their teachers, adding that their parents joined them at lunch.
“It was beyond words trying to describe their expressions on their faces, their reactions,” Michano-Courchene says. “The realization that that building was theirs and that was their school and that was their gym was extremely exciting and brought tears to many eyes.”
Michano-Courchene says the new school is almost three times the size of the old school and has space for 175 students.
“We’re presently at 75 so it’s built to include an increasing population,” Michano-Courchene says. “The biggest feature is probably the gym because prior to that in the history of education in the community, there’s never been a gym for the students exclusively, it’s always been a shared community hall to do indoor programming. There’s also a land-based and cultural classroom where a lot of traditional activities can take place.”
Michano-Courchene says there have been a lot of emotions expressed by people in the community about the opening of the new school, which also features a library, stage, and main cafeteria area with a serving kitchen.
“It just was overall an emotional good feeling to see the students finally get an adequate facility that they deserve,” Michano-Courchene says.
Michano-Courchene says it was a long process to get the new school built, noting that it was supported and pushed by numerous elected leaders in addition to the current Chief and Council.
“It’s been that long, six, maybe eight years, where feasibility studies started,” Michano-Courchene says. “We had community engagement visioning sessions with students and parents asking what do they see, what do they want to see in the school reflective of our community.”
Michano-Courchene says some of the features of the new school are the use of natural wood and natural lighting in the hallway. The new school also has its own below-ground water reservoir and fire pump system for sprinkler protection.
“There are still a few things yet to be done, landscaping on the outside, the play structures, it will encompass a lit ball field, a soccer field, some natural play areas, a fire pit, walking trails and some of the design on front,” Michano-Courchene says. “We have a floral design that will be added to the front of the building that was done by a local artist as well as inside we will see a life-sized birch tree that was created by a private company.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Chief Duncan Michano says the children and people of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg have waited a long time for the new school in a previous news release. The old school was built in the 1950s.
“We would like to thank the federal government for their assistance and to Minister [Patty] Hajdu for her advocacy on this important project,” Chief Michano says in a previous news release. “The new school will allow our students and staff to learn and work in an environment that is culturally appropriate and is something that they can be proud of. I also want to thank the planning team for all their hard work to make this happen. Miigwech.”