The future Parsons Creek Catholic school, an elementary school located in Fort McMurray, will be named to honor Elsie Yanik who is a respected elder of the Metis and who has been a leader in the community for decades. The announcement recently was made by the Fort McMurray Catholic School District, and the school will be named the Elsie Yanik Catholic School. According to Fort McMurray Catholic School Board Chair Tracy McKinnon “She speaks of kindness, love, acceptance and inclusion. These are all the things that make us who we are in Fort McMurray Catholic. It’s our honour to name this school in her name.” The 98 year old Metis elder was picked by a unanimous decision involving the students, staff, and the school board.

Elsie Yanik discussed the honor of having the Parsons Creek Catholic school named after her and said “All my life, I’ve tried hard to help and talk about education to the young people that I visit sometimes at schools. I’m so happy. I think it’s an honour. I’ll be 99 this fall. Never dreaming in my life that this would happen. It was very very hard at times being taken from home into a place where there was so much discipline. But you know, discipline is good. Discipline never hurt me. Education is so important. Because we never had that opportunity in the early twenties when I went to school. I loved Fort Chipewyan, I lived half my life in Fort Chipewyan. And the people are so giving, so easy to talk to.”