Completion of Indigenous Library Project at Migisi Sahgaigan School
We are excited to announce the completion of the Indigenous library project at Migisi Sahgaigan school in Eagle Lake First Nation, Ontario!
SchoolBOX partnered with the Migisi Sahgaigan school to install mini libraries in the classrooms as well as update a section of their beautiful main library. The nearest public library for the residents of Eagle Lake First Nation is located outside their community, 24 kilometers away and the school library was in need of new books. The staff, principals and students were thrilled to work with SchoolBOX sharing their excitement of having new reading material! Principal and Education Director Drew Kivell shared, “We are very excited to have resources that students can access easily in their classrooms. The culturally relevant materials will support teachers in their daily instruction too. We have been in need of fresh reading materials and this program is helping to bridge this gap.”
Margie Graff, SchoolBOX board member, played a huge role in the success of this project. Having ordered and organized all the book orders for the school, she said, “As the books rolled into the Eagle Lake library, I couldn’t help but think of the educators and students who would be empowered and inspired by the words and illustrations of so many Indigenous authors and artists. What a privilege to be one of the ‘helping hands’ bringing this project to life.”
To make this possible, the SchoolBOX staff team and volunteers came to the school to set up the books and furniture over the course of three days, with lots of encouragement from even the youngest of readers!
Terri Meekis and Marshall Moore, played an integral role in delivering all the furniture to the school, setting it up, and unboxing and organizing the books. SchoolBOX wants to thank them for their time, energy and love poured into this project!
Since the install, Principal Kivell shares, “our older students were thrilled to have new books to read, and the collections have them totally engaged.”
At SchoolBOX, we are driven by the mission to make education possible for all, by supporting First Nations youth and children in their educational journeys. Margie Graff believes this passionately, and reflecting on the project she shares, “Being a part of the Migisi Sahgaigan School Library installation has been such a joy. Working with the book requests from staff and the identified areas of need, we were able to provide much needed Indigenous texts and educational resources. Now students will have books that reflect themselves, their community, their language and their dreams.”
New books and shelves!
Thank you to Margie Graff and Lisa Jackson for the many hours spent organizing and placing book orders for this project! This is always a crucial part of our process, and we rely on committed and passionate individuals who believe in our mission!
Partnering with Migisi School was a joy and we want to say, thank you, Miigwech, to our supporters for helping us equip the students and educators at the Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation school in Eagle Lake First Nation, Ontario, allowing us to complete our first project of 2023!
