School construction funding on hold for review

Will it or won't it be built? That is the question facing a First Nation in Alberta that has made significant movement toward the construction of a school in their community. Confusion over funding commitments from the federal government has leadership concerned.
One of two on-reserve schools slated for construction in the province is for the Kiska Waptan First Nation, a community of about 300 people on the Big Horn Reserve, where a sod turning ceremony was held last October for the school and site clearing was in process to prepare for construction. In early June, a press release issued by the Ta Otha School, the only existing school, consisting of six portables for students K to 12, said the new building, which had been in the planning stage for more than five years, was cancelled because the money was deferred to new Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) priorities, such as water and sewage.
Elected councillor Robert Crawler said he discovered third hand that the funding was being delayed by two to three years, meaning that 2010 would be the earliest date for the new school opening instead of the planned 2007. Crawler said his community had been lobbying for a permanent stable school for about five decades and it was only in the last few years that it felt the school would become a reality. Although told the project was only delayed, Crawler had his doubts. What would stop INAC from identifying other priorities and re-allocated the money again?
Assembly of First Nation National Chief Phil Fontaine weighed into the debate on Aug. 2, during the second day of a weekend powwow at Sunchild. He had been invited to the community by Chief Stanley Lagrelle and council. Fontaine said he had personally talked to INAC Minister Jim Prentice and was assured the funding was still allocated to school construction.
"I spoke directly with the minister and he told me a mistake had been made." Fontaine said. "Minister Prentice said he was going to instruct his officials to reverse that decision because there is sufficient funding for the new schools to be built." Fontaine said the minister personally assured him that the money for the new schools had not been used for water and sewer projects as Crawler was first told.
Bill Rodgers, director of communication for Prentice's office confirmed Fontaine's understanding of the situation.
"We want to clear this up. There is a water and sewer budget and there is a capital school budget. We want to make it clear that the funds for the water budget are not being taken from the school envelope so to speak," said Rodgers. He said the minister's office is committed to improving educational opportunities for First Nations students and the capital school spending envelope had not been touched.
Rodgers was unable to give a clear idea when construction on the schools might start. He said the minister's office is in the process of reviewing the projects and new construction dates are a part of that review. Rodgers said the information would be sent out as soon as the review process was finished and construction dates set.
The theme of the Sunchild powwow was "A Community Celebrating Life," which was also the motto for the Rocky Mountain House and area suicide prevention initiative.
"The theme expresses the very big challenges we face as First Nations communities," Phil Fontaine said. "There are 630 First Nations from one end of this country to the other and none of us are immune to the issues. All of us face the same challenges." He said that communities across the country "all have to do what is in our power to support our young people and give them the kind of life they deserve."