Miscigwâcagâsihk Education Authority
Who We Are
Miscigwâcagâsihk Education Authority (MEA) oversees education on behalf of Cumberland House Cree Nation, established through a Band Council Resolution on June 30, 2022. We govern and operate Nisto Awasisak Memorial School, providing Kindergarten through Grade 12 education rooted in néhinaw identity, language, and culture.
MEA represents Cumberland House Cree Nation's commitment to self-determination in education - ensuring our children receive quality education that honours their identity while preparing them for success in all their future endeavors.
Our Journey
In June 2022, Cumberland House Cree Nation leadership made the decision to leave East Central Education Authority and create our own education authority. This decision was based on student needs - the second-level services required to support our children were not being provided adequately or in a timely fashion.
CHCN leadership recognized that to truly serve our students, we needed:
- Direct control over educational decisions
- Culturally responsive programming
- Timely access to supports and services
- Funding that reflects our students' actual needs
- An education system designed by and for our community
Governance
MEA Board of Directors
The MEA Board provides governance and strategic direction for education in Cumberland House Cree Nation. Board members are appointed for three-year terms and meet monthly for board training, professional development, and oversight of school operations.
Current Board Members:
- Sandy Fiddler - Chairperson
- Adelaide McKenzie - Vice Chairperson
- Angus Carriere - Board Member
- Thomas Settee - Board Member
- Myrtle Stewart - Board Member
***All Board members have provided Vulnerable Sector Checks and signed agreements including an Oath of Confidentiality and Code of Ethics.***
2022:
MEA Board appointed (October 2022)
Regional Education Agreement (REA) development funding secured from Indigenous Services Canada
Director of Education Celia Deschambeault hired
2023:
MEA incorporated under Saskatchewan Non-profit Corporations Act (April 17, 2023)
Structural Readiness funding approved ($556,700.75) to establish required education system elements
Community consultation conducted (105 community members participated)
First Annual General Meeting held (November 23, 2023)
2024:
MEA Strategic Plan (2024-2029) developed based on community input
Second Annual General Meeting held (November 14, 2024)
Comprehensive school review and data analysis completed
Performance measurement framework developed
2025:
Delegation Agreement signed between CHCN Chief and Council and MEA (February 11, 2025)
Draft Regional Education Agreement proposal submitted to Government of Canada (June 2025)
Transition plan underway for full operational authority
Nisto Awasisak Memorial School's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan charts an ambitious path forward for our community. The full plan is available below, and reflects our commitment to nurturing academic excellence alongside cultural revitalization.
Our five-year strategy centres on creating a bilingual, land-based learning environment where néhinaw language, identity, and culture are woven throughout all aspects of education. We prioritize student achievement in core academics—literacy and mathematics—while ensuring learning reflects néhinaw ways of knowing through decolonized, experiential approaches that connect students to land and community.
The strategic plan emphasizes holistic well-being across physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions for both students and staff. We prepare students for their futures through comprehensive career development, life skills training, and pathways to post-secondary education and employment, while creative expression through arts, sports, and STEAM programming enriches the learning experience.
Beyond K-12 education, our plan positions the school as a community hub offering robust adult education and lifelong learning opportunities. We recognize parents and caregivers as essential partners in student success, and privilege ketayak/elders as knowledge keepers and mentors who provide foundational teachings and holistic support.
This integrated approach ensures students develop both the academic skills and cultural grounding needed to thrive as confident néhinaw citizens prepared for success in all aspects of life.