Tour of the new awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School with Derek Kindrachuk of Kindrachuk Agrey Architects and Ashley L. Petite, Manager of Community and Resource Development from Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. This is a guided tour of the finished school, no PPE required, come as you are!

Pronounced a-wah-sih-suk gha-knee-meet-oh-chik, the name means “children who dance”. The patron and namesake is St. Francis of Assisi, . Read here more about the name.

Located at 2010 7th Street East (the former location of St. Charles School, then Sion Middle School), the new school brings together students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 9 who previously learned in two different locations (McPherson Avenue and Bateman Crescent) to accommodate growth of the Cree language and cultural program.

The exterior of the building features Cree syllabics to encourage language learning and to serve as a form of outreach to, and teaching for, the broader community. Prefabricated modular panels give the “curved” look of the building that is meant to represent the dancing movement of the northern lights.

Extensive consultation with Elders, knowledge keepers, students, families and staff means all aspects of the school are culturally aware. Classroom signs in English and Cree, colour schemes on each of the three floors that represent different natural elements (1st floor: Rock; 2nd floor: Earth; 3rd floor: Human), a bulkhead installation that that depicts the constellations of the night sky during the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876 at Fort Pitt, and artwork throughout the building—including a portrait of the school’s namesake St. Francis of Assisi—demonstrate commitment to treaty education, reclamation of Cree language and culture, and the Catholic faith.

Hard Hat Tour - awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School