Earlier this week the Ile-a-la Crosse School Division Board of Education received the 2023 Premier’s Board of Education Award for Innovation and Excellence in Education.

It was for a “Historic Submission for the First Indigenous controlled Board of Education in Saskatchewan”. Ile-a-la Crosse Northern School Administration Area No. 1 was formed by Minister’s order May 6, 1974.

When the school board was formed it made decisions about the construction of the new school, which was designed by Metis architect Douglas Cardinal and no longer was it forbidden to speak Cree at school.

In it’s submission the Ile-a-la-Crosse School Division said this was the first time Indigenous people were making decision about whoo would teach their child and and administer the school and it became the first Indigenous controlled board of education in Saskatchewan.