A little Seven Generations history

Seven Generations Education Institute has its beginnings in the Rainy Lake Ojibway Education Authority, formed in 1985.
The RLOEA was formed when the 10 First Nations in the Rainy Lake Tribal Area expressed a desire to maintain traditional culture and linguistic values—driving forces in a quest for political self-determination.
CEO Delbert Horton was given a mandate and a mission, and developed Seven Generations Education Institute to increase educational opportunities in the Anishinaabe communities.
Since then, SGEI, which is governed by representatives from the 10 Rainy Lake area First Nations, has worked with elders and traditional teachers to enhance and deliver secondary, post-secondary, and vocational programs to students.
Over the next 20 years, SGEI grew from three people to a staff of 32 full-time and 13 casual, part-time, and contract workers.
SGEI has secondary school sites in six different communities, including at the Nanicost building here, delivering a total of 34 courses at the high school level.
Through partnerships with colleges and universities, SGEI also gives local access to programs that blend Anishinaabe values and quality education. These partners include Carleton University, Sault College, Sir Sanford Fleming, Canadore College, and Lakehead University, among others.
SGEI also offers unique programs, such as the renewable energy program, aboriginal cultural interpretation program, and a Master’s program in indigenous knowledge and philosophy.
Programs are delivered through in-classroom instruction, audio-video conferencing, and on-line.
SGEI’s post-secondary campuses are at Nanicost, Rainy River First Nation, and Wauzhushk FN (Kenora).
SGEI also collaborates with the Rainy River District School Board for educational support services, including counsellors, early literacy workers, curriculum developers, Ojibway language instructors, and aboriginal student achievement and retention.
For instance, in 2003, SGEI put vice-principal Brent Tookenay in Fort Frances High School to work with aboriginal students to increase retention, raise visibility in schools, and encourage positive relationships.
SGEI also is part of the Community Coalition Unified for the Protection of Our Children and Youth (CCIUPCY)—a joint-effort between Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the National Crime Prevention Centre, and the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Its aim is to educate youth regarding crime prevention, and drug and anti-gang awareness.
Besides offering courses, SGEI also hosts annual community events, such as a fall harvest, a career symposium, “Quest for Knowledge,” a golf tournament, summer science camps, and a National Aboriginal Solidarity Day celebration.
It also has held arts festivals and an elders’ conference in the past, among other events.
Possible future initiatives may include expanding its facilities and setting up an Ojibway immersion school.