Chief Jimmy Bruneau School was built in Edzo, and opened in 1971 due to the perseverance of Chief Jimmy Bruneau and the community of Behchoko. This also established the Rae-Edzo School Society, the first Indigenous run school board in Canada where the Tłı̨chǫ people had rights control of their own school, including the hiring of teachers. Before 1991, when CJBS became a regional high school, students could only complete grade 9 in the community and then had forced to board and attend school in Yellowknife or further.
In 1993-94 school year, it was the first time students could attend grade 12 in the community. 20 students registered in grade 12 in September and 14 of these are graduated in June.
Ovide Mecredi, Grand Chief of Assembly of First Nations spoke to the graduating class of 1994. Ethel Blondin MP of the NWT (on the left).
Ovide Mecredi, Grand Chief of Assembly of First Nations presented with a gift hide vest from Rae-Edzo Friendship Centre
Ovide Mecredi, Grand Chief of Assembly of First Nations presented with a gift hide jacket from Grand Chief Joe Rabesca
Photos by John B. Zoe