Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools has received its second of five $20,000 payments from the Saskatoon Nutana Rotary Club. The funding comes after Nutana Rotary entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools in 2021 and will go towards the new St. Frances Cree Bilingual School.

The new school is intended to open in 2024, and the money is designated to fund several initiatives, such as enhancing Indigenous performing arts programming, and revitalize Indigenous culture and language.

GSCS Board Chair Diane Boyko says there are many aspects of art that assist students in celebrating their culture. They include dance, song, music, and visual art.  Programming planning for the new school got underway last week so specific uses for the money will be designated once the new school is open.

Right now, students participate in drumming, beading, leather work, creating ribbon skirts, cultural dancing, and singing. She adds that the specific uses of the money will be decided once the school is open, and programming is being arranged.

Boyko says children at St. Frances all want to feel a sense of belonging and to be themselves. The money will allow future generations to celebrate their culture, and she says that is one of the greatest forms of reconciliation in action.