Blockage closes school

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Students from Atikameg School were back in class Oct. 5 after being barred from entering the school Oct. 3-4 following a peaceful protest by fired staff and their supporters. Tommy Orr, spokesman for the protesters, says the matter was settled at about 11 a.m. on Oct. 4 after speaking to Darren Crocker from Edmonton. Crocker is senior vice- president of Browning Crocker Inc., the company directed to look after Whitefish Lake First Nation after the court placed them in receivership June 27. Orr says Crocker faxed him a “commitment letter” promising that the nine staff members would receive fair compensation. Fired staff included six teacher’s assistants, a cook’s helper, librarian and janitor. The school’s population from kindergarten to Grade 9 is estimated at 170 students. Orr says the fired workers decided to stage the protest against the current band administrator, Bob Sword, vice-president of Browning Crocker Inc., not the band itself. Sword fired nine staff members without notice Sept. 26. The nine received only two day’s extra pay although at least one worked for over 10 years at the school. Orr says they were told that cutbacks had to be made. In addition to the loss of jobs, Orr and his protesters were concerned that the quality of education would suffer. “We felt that this was the only way to get the attention of the people who were appointed ... to represent Whitefish Lake First Nation," says Orr. The group demanded a meeting as soon as possible. Orr and several others began meeting at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 3 to set up blockades at the school’s two entrances. They did, however, let a caretaker through to look after the school. “We’ll be here until its settled,” said Orr. Teachers began arriving shortly after 8 a.m. and did not cross the blockade. One teacher yelled to the group from her vehicle that she supported their fight for justice. One bus arrived just after 8 a.m. and slowed down. After seeing the blockade, the driver did not attempt to cross and took the students home. Fired teacher’s assistant Bertha Orr says they had no choice but to protest. “Our concern is the students’ education,” she says. “Without the extra help it puts their education in jeopardy.” Not all Whitefish Lake band members liked the idea of a blockade. South Peace News received three phone calls Oct. 3 regarding the matter. All three said they supported the nine fired staff members in their fight for a proper severance package but not the blockade. “I’m a band member,” says Lisa V. Cunningham. “Instead of taking away their education keep (the children) in school. They’ll be out their stealing and break and entering.” Efforts to contact the band were unsuccessful.

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