Principal hopes national attention will improve safety for students

A local high school principal hopes recent national media attention surrounding the deaths of six students over the past decade will help change the system they’re caught in.

Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School principal Jonathan Kakegamic said a recent Toronto Star story highlighting the disappearance of 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse, who was attending the Matawa Learning Centre, and six DFC students over the past 10 years will help address the problems with First Nations education in the country.

"It’s about time," Kakegamic said of the attention. "It took seven students to finally show that there is a major tragic problem going on in Canada. Canadian citizens are suffering through the system that is put upon us to work with.

"We’re citizens of Canada. Canada is my country. Thunder Bay is my home and we need to address this."

Kakegamic said he’s not sure why the recent attention, which included chastisement from MPP Howard Hampton (NDP, Kenora) against the provincial government Monday in Queen’s Park, is happening now.

"It’s sad. I was kind of angry yesterday when I heard finally Howard Hampton talking. Where’s he been since the first student? But I’m glad it’s happening. Now let’s move forward and let's get things done for our youth."

The first priority for Kakegamic is to get onsite accommodations at the school for youth coming in from far away First Nations communities. DFC is fundraising for the estimated $3 million to $5 million facility, which was turned down by the federal government as not viable.

Kakegamic said he has yet to hear reaction from the federal government, which is monetarily responsible for First Nation education.

Right now, students rely on public transportation to get to the school, from neighbourhoods like Current River, where they are billeted.

"That’s difficult for any teenager, let alone being alone here without their mom and dad for support," he said.

Kakegamic added that the school does its best, but he’s always worried about the students when a new school year starts in September. The hope is that through national attention someone will finally listen.

"I look to these students that died as martyrs," Kakegamic said tearing up in the hallway of DFC Tuesday afternoon. "We can’t let their deaths go for naught. We need to remember them."