George Gordon’s school celebrates 20 years
- Lynea George | June 26, 2018
It’s been 20 years since staff and students walked the halls of Canada’s last residential school and it was something to celebrate.
Bryan McNabb, the Principal of George Gordon Education Centre (GGEC) on the George Gordon First Nation, reflected on the past, as he looks ahead to the future.
In 1992, he began his teaching career and became principal before moving into the new school.
“It was really difficult being the principal in the old building because of so much deficiency and being in separate buildings … because the kids would have to walk across to the gym and library,” he said.
The GGEC replaced the Gordon Day School that was part of Gordon Indian Residential School.
The residential school was opened on reserve in 1886 and was used as an education facility until 1996.
McNabb said the old building was immediately demolished once the new school was opened.
He said the reason for that was to move away from the whole stigma the building represented.
The First Nation requested a new school in 1995 and was approved in 1996, but it was not completed until 1998.
“It was a fresh start and new beginning,” Mcnabb said, adding it became something that instilled pride in the community.
The celebration could not have come at a better time, the reserve has been rocked by several tragedies, including the loss of their chief. Teacher Tammy McNabb suggested to host a 20th anniversary celebration of GGEC and everyone jumped on board. McNabb was an intern at the old school in the fall of 1997 and remembers taking tours of the new school while it was being built.
“It was an exciting time,” she said.
Her enthusiasm has not worn off, as she has hope for the future of the school. She would like to see more culture activities to take place for the community.
“I want to initiate to start a smudge walk,” Mcnab said.
The 20th celebration was important to Mcnab because “education is our buffalo,” she said. Mcnab wanted current students to know there is a whole other world out there.
“I am on my second generation of teaching kids,” she said.
Initially, Sheila Kinequon, a former teacher, had mixed feelings when leaving the old school. But she’s now pleased to see how things have changed.
“We will continue to grow and develop our youth to be good strong people who will be successful and live good lives,” McNabb said.