Clearwater River Dene School posts support for La Loche after shooting
School fills its halls and windows with messages of support
The walls, hallways and lockers of the Clearwater River Dene School are covered in notes with messages such as "You Are Loved" and "Beautiful, Precious, Young People."
The school is on the Clearwater River Dene First Nation, located beside the village of La Loche, Sask., where a shooting at two locations, including a school, left four people dead on Friday.
Adam Wood, a teacher, and Marie Janvier, an educational assistant, were gunned down at La Loche Community School, where seven people were also wounded. Brothers Dayne and Drayden Fontaine, aged 17 and 13 respectively, were killed at a separate residence.
A 17-year-old male has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
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"Being in a northern setting, nothing like this has ever happened," teacher Brien Morgan said.
Clearwater River Dene School was also put on lockdown by the RCMP while the tragic events unfolded. Morgan said that as information started to get through their classrooms, it was hard for teachers and students.
In the days following, both communities were reeling from the tragedy.
"You are not two places, you are definitely one community," Morgan said.
Clearwater River Dene School has about 250 students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Morgan said the students come from both the First Nation and the neighbouring village.
Over the weekend, teachers, students and community members gathered in Clearwater River Dene School to try to comprehend what had happened. Morgan said they cooked moose stew and held healing sessions.
The participants also wrote hundreds of notes to post throughout the school.
The notes are a way to support the Clearwater School students, staff and community, but also a message of hope for those at La Loche Community School.
"As a community, people are coming together. They really are and that's really important," Morgan said.
Morgan and his family moved to the community about 13 years ago.
"The Dene are a close people and they are a welcoming people," Morgan said. "There's a lot of positives here. These are good people, with struggles, but there are lots of efforts being made."
