Saskatchewan Indian Federated College opens new campus in Prince Albert

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Approximately 100 people gathered to celebrate the opening of the Saskatchewan Indian federated College's new northern campus. The ceremony was held in the gymnasium of the student residence on Sept. 19.

Many dignitaries were on hand for the even, including Blaine Favel, chief of the FSIN, Dr. Ebar Hampton, president of the SIFC, Leonard Hardlotte, vice-chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council, Arne Lindberg, deputy mayor of the City of Prince Albert and representatives from Indian Affairs. Lawrence Joseph, the first Aboriginal ever to be elected to a city council in Saskatchewan was in attendance, along with several students from Central America who are studying at the SIFC. Wes Stevenson, executive director of finance and administration for SIFC, was the master of ceremonies. Esther Sanderson is the dean of the new campus.

Iron Swing, from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, sang the Honor and Flag songs.

"We have to look back to the time when Indian people were not allowed to educate themselves (and) when the Indian act forbade Indian people from going to university," said Favel during his address.

Native people had to "force open the doors" to access and control their education, Favel said. The opening of the new campus was "opening the doors further." "Prince Albert was given the choice between the university and the maximum security prison and chose the prison for the short term economic boom it would create," said Hardlotte. As a former student of the Prince Albert Student Residence, it was a source of pride that "Native people are the first to bring a post-secondary institution to Prince Albert," continued Hardlotte.

The new campus will enhance acc3ess to post-secondary education for First Nations students in northern Saskatchewan. This new campus will be the third for SIFC, which also has campuses in Regina and Saskatoon. The National School of Dental therapy is currently operating in Prince Albert.