Photo description:

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press Students from left: Elissa Guimond, Logan Harvey, Erica Guimond, Orlando Harper, and Kirklynn Harper get their photo taken by Alana Ollinger community organizer at CEDA, during the opening ceremony for Niiwin Minisiwiwag school, located at 383 Selkrik Avenue. The Indigenous Education Caring Society is unveiling a new alternative school campus for First Nations, Metis and Inuit learners who've become disengaged with school in a bid to re-capture their attention, re-engage them and support them to graduate. The special North End site called, Niiwin Minisiwiwag, located at 383 Selkrik Avenue, is run via MOU/partnership with WSD, will support teens to complete their high school education. The aim is to find 'inactive students' (students that WSD receives funding for, but who have become lost in the system and don't currently attend classes). It's no secret COVID has worsened attendance in recent years. This project is a grassroots effort to make a dent in the issue of chronic absenteeism. The society is an initiative between Ma Mawi Wi Chitata Centre, Ndinawemaaganag Endawaad and the Community Education Development Association (CEDA). The newly-finished building was funded by a $500K grant from the Winnipeg Foundation, and grants from an anonymous donor and Sill Foundation, City of Winnipeg donated the land. We are getting an exclusive preview because of our ed coverage. See Maggie story 230530 - Tuesday, May 30, 2023.