Blood tribe starts from scratch with old school

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The Blood Reserve's newest housing complex is almost 75 years old. The St. Paul Anglican Church Residential School, derelict and empty for more than a decade, has been given a new lease on life, as a student residence for Red C row Community College.

Built in 1924, the school was in extremely bad condition. The roof leaked in more places than it didn't. Floors were warped and weakened, stairways dangerous. Pigeons had come through the numerous broken windows, fouling almost every corner of the building.

"Essentially, we had to gut the structure and just start from scratch," said Marcel Portier, with Ledcor Industries and the construction superintendent for the project. "Except for the basic frame and brick work, it's like a new building now."

Portier, a 30-year veteran of construction work, said the building was given a new roof and dormers, new plumbing and electrical systems, new flooring, a new heating system, and new windows.

"Everything was done to commercial standards in terms of safety and security, but we also tried to keep the costs low. I think the design work is excellent."

One of the 39 apartments has four bedrooms. The rest range from one- to three-bedroom units, each with a kitchen and bath. Interesting room angles and thoughtful, functional design should make the units comfortable, despite their generally small size.

Project manager Geraldine Manyfingers said the total cost of the work was about $2.4 million, but funds still have to be raised for computers landscaping and fencing, playground equipment, and furniture.

"Negotiations for the project funding started in September 1995 and we started the work exactly a year later. There was incredible support for the project," she adds.

Manyfingers said she credits former Chief Roy Fox and his council, especially Narcisse Blood and Kirby Manyfingers, with negotiating the original funding agreements. But she adds that the current chief and council have also been very supportive.

"We've had help and support from everyone in the community, and from Blood Tribe Public Works, all the social services departments, and the Anglican Church. They were just so happy to see the building saved and put to good use."

About $1.52 million of the total funding came form the National Housing Pilot Project, funded by Indian Affairs. A CMHC-guaranteed loan from the Bank of Nova Scotia to the tribe is supplying the rest. The plan is for the residence to run on a cost-recovery basis. Students will pay between $400 and $600 rent a month, including power, heat and water. The multipurpose and common rooms will also be rented out on a daily basis, for community functions, as well as social, educational and cultural programs.

In addition to supplying much needed student housing, the project has also supplied jobs and training opportunities for many residents. Portier said he employed almost 170 laborers form the tribe, most with no previous construction skills.

We had to train most of them, but I'm pleased to say some have gone on to get other construction work, with our company and with others. Woodwork Goodstriker, in particular, did a tremendous job and will be an asset to the continuing operation of the building," he added.

Manyfingers, also a member of the tribe, has previously worked as project manager for the Calgary Native Women's Shelter, and was instrumental In starting Canada's first Head Start programs, in Calgary and Lethbridge. There are now 57 similar programs across the country. (The innovative educational programs, modeled after similar operations in the United States, give pre-school training for four-year-olds.)

She says she'll stay on till the project is fully operational and a business plan for the facility is completed.

"But after that, I'm not sure, I may be doing similar work elsewhere for a planned AIDS Hospice Centre and a center for brain injured Native people."