A vision come true for Kenjgewin Teg.

M'Chigeeng First Nation 

An innovative First Nations educational institute on Manitoulin Island is poised to fulfill a long standing dream. After seventeen years of struggle and setbacks, Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute (KTEI) has officially launched a $2.8 million capital building campaign that will see a modern new facility built by the fall of 2009.

KTEI is an Anishnaabe controlled and directed organization formed to provide a cultural and holistic approach to First Nations based education and training.

The fledgling organization was known as Nda-Gkenjge-Gamig in 1991. It later merged with the Waubetek Training Institute in 1994. The board of directors is made up of representatives from community partners including M'Chigeeng, Whitefish River, Zhiibaahaasing, Constance Lake, Sheshegwaning, Aundeck Omni Kaning, Sheguiandah and the Anishnawbek of Sagamok.

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The institute offers a secondary school geared to the needs of First Nations students as well as adult education programs providing college and university accredited courses. Other services include professional development for teachers, school evaluations, consultation on school improvement and customized training programs.

Executive director, Stephanie Roy, welcomes the prospect of expanding the organization and moving beyond the confining quarters that have served as home since 1994. Now in her third year at the helm of KTEI, Roy brings a varied background in education and administration to the position.

"The vision for the new building has been in the works for seventeen years," she said. "In the past services have been piecemeal and housed in nine portables. We have aggressively pursued this new facility because we are looking at the long term viability of our programs. And these portables have certainly outlived their usefulness."

A feasibility plan completed in 2004 laid the groundwork for the full scale capital building plan launched in spring 2008, according to Roy. The conceptual drawings for the envisioned educational and business centre were presented to federal and provincial funding agencies as well as private and corporate donors.

"At a cost of $2.8 million this institute will continue to play a big role among our First Nation communities," she said. "We have an ambitious schedule to have it constructed by fall 2009. Once built, we will certainly be able to offer more educational programs and training services because the facility will accommodate our post secondary and secondary programs as well as conferences and professional development."

In her view, education is an important tool in the ongoing battle against poverty and social ills in the partner communities. All KTEI programs focus on employment plus they incorporate a strong cultural component into the courses.

"We aim to increase our students' knowledge level and skill level," she said.

"We want to give them employment opportunities so they can improve their quality of life, like all Canadians. Education remains an essential component in the collective well-being of our communities," said Stephanie Roy.

In April 2008, the KTEI capital networking team kicked off the building campaign at Science North in Sudbury. The project received a boost with contributions from Sudbury's nickel giant Vale Inco, the Royal Bank of Canada and KPMG. Anishnaabe artist James Simon Mishibinijima of Wikwemikong has presented the corporate sponsors with framed prints of his work entitled "New Pathways." Since education has always been a passion for Mishibinijima, he has worked closely with KETI over the years developing First Nations based curriculum materials. He takes his role as a teacher and role model very seriously and is proud to share the culture's "humanitarian teachings" with others.

He has thrown his support behind the capital building campaign and remains very optimistic that the new building will materialize as envisioned.

"People are going to make something happen here," he said. "They are going through labour pains at the moment, but the birth has started."

A project manager for the new facility will be announced shortly.

By Margo Little

Windspeaker Writer