Attawapiskat names long-awaited school 'Kattawapiskak'

After 14 years of holding classes in draftyportables, theAttawapiskatFirst Nation is celebrating the opening ofKattawapiskak Elementary School

In 2000 the reserves elementary school was closed due to toxic contaminationafter a fuel pipe under the building ruptured and spilled diesel fuel. The contamination from that spill is believed to date back to 1979.

The history of the troubled reserve includessewage flooding and a severe lack of infrastructure which in the winter of 2011 resulted in the issuing of states of emergency by Chief Teresa Spence.

Children and community leaders rallied for years to have thenew school built and after about 10 years the Harper government eventually agreed to the project.

"If you look at the contamination of the school grounds that have existed, it's been pretty much 30 years since the children have been educated in a safe environment, so it's going to be an enormous milestone forAttawapiskatand the James Bay region, saidTimmins-JamesBay MP Charlie Angus.

In 2012,Attawapiskatand the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs announced acontract to build the new 5,808-square-metre school at a cost of about $31 million.

The school will accommodate 540 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8, according to theAANDCgovernment website.

There is a great sense of excitement within the community, said Wayne Turner, Attawapiskats executive director. This has been a project that's been a decade-long in the making."

CindyBlackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, said the decision by the Harper government was a turning point in the ongoing First Nation education debate.

"I just hope that the federal government finds its way to do this for every First Nations child,"Blackstocksaid.

Classes are expected to start at the new school in the coming days.The Attawapiskat First Nation plans to hold official opening celebrationsinmid-September.

The community held a referendum Wednesdayto choose a name for theschool.