Students from Berens River First Nation recently toured Frontier Collegiate in Cranberry Portage, a potential temporary home for their education after their local school burned down. The visit occurred last Thursday, allowing students, teachers, and parents to explore classrooms, dormitories, gymnasium, library, workshops, and other facilities before returning home.
The Devastating Fire
Berens River School, serving around 400 students from nursery through Grade 9, was destroyed by an electrical fire caused by faulty wiring in the crawlspace on January 27, 2026. This marks the second major fire in the community within a year, following the arena blaze in January 2025.
Student Reflections
Spencer Fisher, a long-time student at the school since kindergarten, shared fond memories. “There was sport, stuff with friends and everything, chilling with them, talking to them. It’s all memories, since Kindergarten and Grade 1,” Fisher said. He expressed approval of Frontier Collegiate’s offerings but prefers studying closer to home. Fisher also lamented the lost chance to graduate from his hometown school: “I didn’t get to experience, none of us did get to experience graduating in that school. I wish I did, but it’s gone now.”
Fellow student Carson Swain echoed similar sentiments. “Me and my friends were always in the office. I’m going to miss that,” Swain noted. “Most of us on our reserve grew up going to that school. A lot of emotions built up in me and it still hasn’t hit me that my school burned down.”
Community Impact and Parental Views
Larry Whiteway, whose Grade 9 daughter attended the school, accompanied her on the tour. He described the fires’ toll: “It’s almost like they’re missing somebody, or a home, or a friend that was there, close to them that they could go to. Now, it’s not there. They’re wondering, ‘What next?’” Whiteway called for swift federal and provincial government support to rebuild, emphasizing, “I hope the governments help us right away, as soon as possible, both governments. Education is a human right and it’s a treaty right. Every community needs it.”
Frontier Collegiate’s Readiness
Located 384 km northwest of Berens River, Frontier Collegiate serves high school students from several remote Manitoba communities and already hosts some Berens River students in Grades 10-12. Both schools operate under the Frontier School Division.
Principal Josh Mohanraj explained the school’s preparedness: “We are expecting, at some point in the year, where we will need to have extra beds, extra dorm beds, extra dorm rooms. We’ve always kept that in contingency.” Area superintendent Darren Kinden added, “Not only would it be done for Berens River, but it would be for any crisis of any First Nations community, we would do the same—provided the beds are here, and we do have lots.”
Short-Term Solutions at Home
While arrangements progress for Frontier Collegiate, Berens River implements local fixes. Temporary classrooms, textbooks, computers, and resources are en route, with community buildings repurposed for classes. Some instruction resumes soon, though space limits full capacity.
