Mezi Community School

A satellite image of the location of the Mezi Community School in Whatì. The school is located at the heart of the town, with a dirt baseball field.

That was when they made a mandatory law for kids to go to school so that forced people to live in one spot. Indian Affairs colonized people to live here – they dragged them out of the bush to live here.

The very first school was built in 1953. It was a temporary one with a rounded shape and black tent covering. In the 1960's a small building was built and after that a larger log school was built that is still standing on the point. It had a basement where the wood stove was built. A person was hired to keep that fire going all night long in the winter. About 20 children would go to school.

Before these schools were built, children were flown out of the area to go to Residential Schools in Ft. Resolution, Ft. Simpson etc.

Francis Zoe