October 22, 2026 — Waterhen Lake First Nation, Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatchewan — Indigenous Services Canada
Today, Chief Blaine Fiddler of Waterhen Lake First Nation, together with the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, Council members, Elders, staff, students and partners, celebrated the opening of the community’s new temporary school.
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provided $15 million for the temporary school project, covering site preparation, connections to essential services, 17 ready-to-move (RTM) units, and fencing and deck construction. Planning and schematic design are now underway for a new permanent school at Waterhen Lake First Nation.
The temporary facility will serve students from kindergarten to grade 12 and will consist of the RTM units, which provide space for classrooms, the Head Start program, and daycare. In May 2024, the community’s school was destroyed by fire. The temporary school will be used until a new permanent school is built in the community.
Waterhen Lake First Nation worked with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and ISC to establish a temporary school so students could continue their education in their home community while a permanent replacement is developed.
Safe schools do more than educate. They create the conditions for First Nations students living on reserve to learn with confidence, pursue their goals, and build strong futures. Indigenous Services Canada recognizes the importance of ensuring access to these quality learning environments.