Peaceful sit-in gets response

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A Manitoba band will get funding for a new school following their peaceful occupation of a federal government office.

The Peguis Band will receive between $400,000 and $500,000 to repair a 35-year-old school building damaged during spring flooding. As well, the band has assurances the federal government will co-operate in the building of a new facility, to be built in 1998.

"We didn't agree on any actual figures," cautioned band advisor Lloyde Stevenson. The band will be sharing part of the cost. "We find that fairly reasonable," he said.

Members of the Peguis Band went to the Winnipeg offices of the Department of Indian Affairs (DIAND) Aug. 30 demanding an agreement be settled regarding funding to repair their existing school and build a new one. The group of approximately 30 people, including the Chief and Council, school board members, teachers and residents refused to leave until they were satisfied the funding process was in order. They were escorted out of the office city police in the early evening.

DIAND officials met with Chief Stevenson the next day after almost 200 band members occupied the office.

The issue facing the band was not only finding money to repair flood damage in the school, said the band advisor. The reserve has been waiting since 1977 for DIAND

to come through with promises toward funding a new school, said Stevenson.

The present structure was built in the mid 1950's for Grades 6 to 9. At that time, many students went to residential school for high school education, while Grades 1 to 5 were taught in one classroom at a separate site.

When the band regained local control over their school system in 1977, the federal government suggested Peguis build temporary classrooms for their students until a new structure was built.

Today the siltation is compounded for the reserves' 700 students because the temporary classrooms are now 16 years old and falling apart.

There are approximately 14 temporary units adjacent to the original school building.