Anishinabek Discovery Centre receives $2 million in provincial money (3 photos)

Sault MPP Ross Romano has announced $2 million in provincial government funding for the Shingwauk Education Trust to complete the Anishinabek Discovery Centre.

The centre will serve as the new home for Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG) and a national chiefs library. 

“It makes me feel proud after almost 30 years of being at this, trying to build a school for our Anishinabek students. It really feels good,” said Lyle Sayers, SKG board of directors chair, in attendance at Friday’s funding announcement, held at the Indian Friendship Centre.

“The $2 million will finish off the facility,” said Harry Huskins, an Anglican Church Archdeacon and Shingwauk Education Trust board member, speaking to SooToday.  

“The building can be occupied now, but the reality is we need the advanced information technology and all the archival facilities inside, and we want to be taking a great deal of care, so the $2 million in large part will go to upgrading the fire suppression system in the archives,” Huskins said. 

Work on the $20 million Anishinabek Discovery Centre began in Sept. 2017, experiencing delays in funding and construction along the way.

“The delays in the project have been to do with the flow of money, and neither level of government (federal and provincial) has been particularly responsible for that. It’s just the reality of what we’re dealing with,” Huskins said.   

“It’s a robust facility,” Huskins added.

It is hoped the centre will be ready for occupancy by April 15, to be followed by an official opening ceremony at a yet to be determined later date.

“This is something very special,” said Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, stating the centre will be a place of learning which will help the truth and reconciliation process.

Romano’s announcement was accompanied by a visit to the Sault by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture.    

“I had the opportunity to visit Algoma University and meet a residential school survivor, and to see their vision, the teachings of togetherness, and I saw that first hand with a residential school survivor and the international students...it was like ‘a world in one province’ exemplified today in the Sault,” MacLeod said, speaking to SooToday.