First Nations and Métis association in northern Alberta hope to establish their own education authority

The Athabasca Delta Community School is getting a new school board, after years of community leaders saying they have an education crisis on their hands.

The Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Fort Chipewyan Métis Association came together to get the school to switch from the Northland School Division to the Parkland School Division.

The nations will work in the meantime to establish their own education authority and eventually take over the school. The hope is that the nations take over the school within about a year and a half. 

Tammy Riel, executive director of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, said there were few graduates and issues with staff retention. 

She said switching divisions was seen as a way for the community to find a new hope in the education system.

Six school districts were in the running to work with the community. Parkland stood out because of their interest in having a reciprocal relationship with the community, Riel said. 

"They were coming in because they saw the potential that they could learn and participate in this really neat experience," she said. "They were coming in as an equal partner." 

The communities intend to show the board how they embed culture in the education system. 

While the Parkland head office is almost 765 kilometres away, the distance isn't a concern to leadership.

The head office of the previous school board, Northland, was in Peace River. Riel said it's actually harder to get to Fort Chipewyan from Peace River than from Edmonton. 

"The community really expects the same quality and quantity of student supports that are being offered to other Parkland schools," said Riel. 

This isn't the first school the nations have operated. They've been running the Fort Chipewyan Community High School and seeing success with graduates for a few years now. 

Shauna Boyce, superintendent with Parkland School Division, has gone to the community several times, and the board will have regular in-person and virtual visits with the school. 

Parkland is hiring eight to 10 teaching staff, including the principal.