students and staff gather in the gymnasium for the announcement of the official name for their new school. (photo supplied)

By NC Raine - Eagle Feather News

New name

Canada’s largest Cree-bilingual reflects on the legacy of Indian Residential Schools with its new name

Dec 13, 2024 | 9:51 AM

After 10 months and 135 possible name suggestions, St. Frances Cree Bilingual School in Saskatoon will dawn a new name and that’s reason to celebrate.

The name selected is awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik– St. Francis School, the Cree portion of the name means ‘children who dance.’

“The name is not only about those current students, but for us to think about those who came before us, and especially about those who went to residential school and never came home,” said Elder Mary Lee.

An artist rendition of the front entrance for the new Cree bilingual school, which is set to open next September. (Photo supplied)

The new school, currently under construction at 2010 7^th Street East in the area of Holliston, will replace the current school at 2141 McPherson Ave, in Buena Vista.

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It’s scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.

The name was chosen to reflect the nurturing of children’s spirits, their connections to ancestors and their future journey.

Consultation started in February, with several groups participating in sharing possible names, including parents and community members, students from St. Frances, school staff, and Elders. A special committee took a long-list of 135 names and narrowed it down to six.

After careful deliberation, awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik– St. Francis School was eventually chosen.

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