Wapekeka First Nation to find way to save school year following fire
"They do see a value in education so I know the parents are very concerned about that."
The chief and council of Wapekeka First Nation will meet with federal government officials on Tuesday today to figure out their next steps, following a fire which destroyed the community's elementary school.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno said they'll discuss how to make sure students can complete the school year, now that they no longer have their regular classrooms.
"That's gonna be a challenge. I mean there's community facilities there that could be used temporarily you know as classrooms and that," he said. "They're already beginning to address that."
The Ontario group Books With No Bounds has offered to send an emergency shipment of books, tablets and resource material to the community.
The First Nation has also requested mental health counselors to help students and parents cope with last week's fire, which destroyed Wapekeka's only school, leaving about 150 students with nowhere to study.
"This is one of the communities that you know when we're working on the education program, they do see a value in education so I know the parents are very concerned about that," said Yesno.
Along with officials from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Kenora MP Greg Rickford also plans to tour the site of the fire Tuesday.