The brand new Frontier Mosakahiken School officially opened Sept. 25.
The school, located on Martin Road in the Mosakahiken Cree Nation at Moose Lake, replaces the old Rod Martin School, which was destroyed in a fire on Feb. 12, 2005.
The bill to build the new school rang in at $34 million, $21.4 million of which was provided by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. The remaining cost was covered by the province as well as the insurance provider of the Frontier School Division, which oversees the school.
The new school, which will serve students from kindergarten through Grade 12, includes 24 classrooms, 34 teacherages, and a gymnasium facility, as well as a baseball diamond, soccer pitch, and outdoor hockey rink. There is also space allotted for an indoor hockey rink to be built adjacent to the school in the future.
The new school will be able to accommodate up to 650 students, whereas the old school only had 381 at the time of the fire.
"Our government recognizes that education plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life of First Nations," said Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan, also an MP from British Columbia. "We are committed to making the investments that will ensure aboriginal peoples enjoy the same education opportunities as other Canadians."
"The new school will provide more education and recreation opportunities for students living in the Mosakahiken Cree Nation," said Vic Toews, minister of public safety. "Today's celebrations demonstrate our dedication to working with our partners to provide First Nations with the tools they need to build a brighter future for our children."
