Northern Cree students leave dangerous Ft. Albany school

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For two weeks Cree students in this remote northern community have been unable to attend classes because their school has been declared "a threat to life and property."

The school was closed by the Department of Indian Affairs following an architecture's report which called the school "totally inadequate" and cited fire safety as a major concern.

Chairman of the tribal council Norman F. Wesley says, "The fire alarm system is not functional, there are no emergency exits . . . there isn't enough water pressure to make use of the sprinklers."

Other schools inspected were also found to be equally dangerous, but Winnipeg architect Donald Courtnage said the Fort Albany school was "the most glaring example."

Fort Albany is located 1,300 km north of Toronto.