School named after deceased councillor

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With the beginning of a new school year just a week away, Chief Old Sun school on the Blackfoot reserve near Gleichen opened its doors to an admiring crowd of more than 300 people Aug. 28.

"Today is a very memorable occasion for the Blackfoot people," said Blackfoot education portfolio holder Ann McMaster in her welcoming remarks.

"Today we have seen many years of work become a reality."

The school was a joint project between the Blackfoot band and Indian and Northern Affairs. Falling below its estimated budget cost of 3.6 million, the nine classroom school is an example of modern architecture and technology. The building is a brick structure with a red metal roof. Numerous windows and curved walls remove the traditional institutional look of many modern schools. And a unique feature of the school is its indirect lighting. The lighting fixtures shine upwards and reflect off the ceilings.

"We visited many schools in the Calgary area when we were planning Old Sun," explained Robert Breaker Jr., master of ceremonies for the day. "This is one of the ideas we saw and liked."

While the actual plans for the school began several years ago following the burning down of the previous elementary school, construction only began in Sept. 1985.

Construction manager Paul Hussey recorded the school's gradual building and presented the story in the form of a slide show to a packed gymnasium.

The gymnasium was filled not only with adults but with many children who would be among the estimated 175 students who will utilize the classrooms, gymnasium and resource centre.

A teaching staff of nine, headed by principal Janet Campbell, will teach from kindergarten to Grade 6 as well as early childhood studies.

"It is really up to all of us," said Chief Leo Young Man, addressing the crowd. "Parents must work together with the children as a unit to make this school work. That is the avenue we should take." The day's ceremonies began with an opening prayer and blessing by Blackfoot Elder Mark Wolfleg Sr. There was then a flag raising ceremony followed by the dedication of the school. The school was dedicated to Hubert Low Horn, a past member o the education committee recently deceased. A plaque and two evergreen trees flank an east wall of the school in his dedication. Vice-principal Freda White was responsible for the naming of the school.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by Chief Leo Young Man, Ann McMaster, Dennis Wallice of Indian Affairs and three elementary school students.

Surrounding the school are playgrounds, baseball diamonds and a football field. And because of additional funding from Indian Affairs, the school received major landscaping. A tour of the school followed the day's ceremonies.