Students and elders from the Kashechewan First Nation were in Ottawa Monday.
They joined northern Ontario MP Charlie Angus to call for a new school for their community following a state of emergency and a delay to the start of the academic year.
Band leaders say the current portables being used are unsafe.
The message being delivered on parliament hill by people from Kashechewan was clear.
"How do you expect our children to strive, when they're just trying to survive?"
It's a plea for help from the northern Ontario First Nation.
While most kids have returned to school, kids in Kashechewan have not.
Safety concerns pushed the community to decide the portables would no longer work.
"What we're looking for at the grass roots level, in the communities, is a commitment. We want to see the line item. And right now, saying they'll work with us on a modular school, I don't know, would I buy that car? Probably not." said Angus.
Leo Friday is the Chief of Kashechewan First Nation.
"We cannot build a better building in the swampy and flood zone area. That's why we wanted to relocate our community from the flood zone to a drier ground. Our school building portables are full and building mould, starting to build more mould in each building and the level of those buildings are shifting tremendously every year." said Friday.
Portable classrooms were installed 11 years ago as a temporary measure until a new school could be built, something that still hasn't happened.
The federal, provincial and First Nation governments reached a framework agreement in 2017 to explore the idea relocating Kashechewan, but the community is concerned that little progress is being made.
Chief Friday says the kids are not currently in school and for now, they are having homework sent home.
He says the serious safety concerns mean students cannot go back to the portables.
Jane Philpott is the federal Minister of Indigenous Services. She released the following statement on the situation Monday evening:
“I was moved by the actions of the Kashechewan students today and the stories they told; they have a right to a high quality education in a safe and comfortable environment. I met with Chief Friday, students, and other community leaders this evening, and reiterated our government’s support for the community and their needs. We agreed to move forward with modular school options, which will better serve the students' needs in the short to medium term and could be incorporated into other plans in the future. I was also clear that I will do everything in my power to support their long-term priorities, including their desire to relocate the community.”
