A local First Nation community’s long-awaited school is closer to becoming a reality.
Members of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation in Antigonish Co. have broken ground and laid the foundation for their P-3 education centre.
Tma Francis, the band’s interim chief, tells The Hawk it gives them a place to immerse their children in their culture.
“(It will) give them pride,” he says. “Our culture’s been ripped apart from us- ripped from us.”
Francis says they’ll use trained teachers from the community when possible, while bringing in elders and community members to share their experiences and knowledge.
He says they’ll also add Mi’kmaw language and culture to the regular school curriculum.
“(We’ll) give them an education of the western world, but also of our world (and) our culture- our culture is very important to us, especially the language,” he says. “It’s good for the kids, the parents (and) the community- it gives us some of our identity back.”
Francis says they plan to start accepting students for their first academic year in September.
