On Friday, May 31, 2019, the Frontier School Division Board of Trustees and the Berens River First Nation Chief and Council renewed their education agreement.
(Standing): Area 3 Trustee Marg Imrie, Chief Superintendent Reg Klassen, Secretary-Treasurer Gerald Cattani, Berens River First Nation Councillors Steven Berens, Gerald Kemp, and Suzanne McKay, and the First Nation's legal counsel Norman Boudreau. (Sitting): Frontier School Division Board Chairperson Linda Ballantyne, Berens River First Nation Chief Hartley Everett.
The signing marks the continuation of a fifty-plus year relationship between the school division and the First Nation community.
Situated on Treaty 5 territory, the community is located approximately 362 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Berens River First Nation is an Ojibway community with a total First Nation population of about 3,500 people.
The revised agreement places emphasis on programming for academics, Indigenous way of life, wellness.
Chief Hartley Everett expressed his thanks to the long-standing partnership and is looking forward to the future, and the importance Frontier School Division has in supporting the youth of the Berens River First Nation. He also expressed his gratitude to the opportunities the Division has provided over the years and is excited for the future.
Frontier School Division Board Chairperson Linda Ballantyne stated, "by working together we will strengthen the relationship and partnership, and the end result will be increased student achievement and success now and into the future".
Chief Superintendent Reg Klassen added, "this long and storied relationship survived the test of time, and we look forward to another fifty years of educational partnership".
