Sunchild School began with a heartfelt request. In 1992, Sunchild First Nation families asked for a school on their own land, which educated their children while preserving Cree culture and community values.
Parents wanted learning for their children close to home, imparted by educators who understood the Cree community. This request started a journey built on shared effort and strong belief in education as a community responsibility.
Before a permanent school could be built, learning at Sunchild began with determination and care. Our curriculum first needed formal approval, so we thoughtfully developed courses aligned with Alberta K–9 standards. While this process was underway, portable classrooms were set up so children could begin learning right within the Nation, close to their families and community.
During these early years, senior high students travelled daily to Rocky Mountain House to continue their education. Though resources were modest, the commitment to learning was strong. These early steps ensured that education never paused, even as plans for a permanent Sunchild campus slowly and steadily took shape.
Creating a lasting home for learning was a shared dream that took time, patience, and collective effort. After years of thoughtful discussion and planning, federal funding was
approved to support education from Kindergarten through Grade 12, honouring the Sunchild Nation’s Treaty Right to Education.
Together, the community explored three possible locations before choosing the current site overlooking the main Sunchild Road. It offered space to grow and the promise of a strong future. Community members came together to bring this vision to life—building the access road, installing essential services, and using gravel from the Nation’s own pit. Each contribution reflected pride, care, and a deep commitment to creating a school that truly belonged to the community.
In 1997, the first Sunchild School opened its doors. The building had 13 classrooms and over 34,000 square feet of learning space. John Murray Architects of Red Deer designed the school and featured brickwork inspired by the Rocky Mountains.
We saw our classrooms filling quickly, reflecting the Cree community’s long-awaited wish fulfillment for a school rooted in cultural values that felt like home to Cree family children.
Cree families and educators wanted more than space from the very beginning. They envisioned learning laced with Indigenous life and Cree values. Our hardworking teachers came together to draft a curriculum that honoured Cree identity, language, and the community Elders’ lived experiences.
It has since then helped create a school environment where students feel proud, supported, and confident.
As the Sunchild community grew, so did the need for more learning space. By 2008, student enrollment had increased, leading to a thoughtful expansion of the campus by an additional 26,000 square feet. These new classrooms allowed Sunchild School to welcome more learners while continuing to offer the same caring, supportive environment families valued.
Today, the school is home to nearly 400 students across a 62,000-square-foot campus. Believing that meaningful learning goes beyond the classroom, outdoor spaces were created for both students and community members to enjoy. A baseball diamond,
running track, and skating rink bring people together through every season, while the Culture Camp serves as a special place for traditional teachings and land-based learning that strengthen community bonds.
ᐦᐅᐤ ᐁᐧ ᒐrᐁ fᐅr ᐁvᐁrᕀ lᐁᐊ
rᓀr (ᐦᐅᐤ ᐁᐧ ᐊrᐁ uᓂquᐁ)
As our school’s enrollment numbers continue to grow, portable classrooms once again support learning needs. The school community views this as a sign of trust and
progress. We continue to develop and modify the curriculum with a focus on Cree teachings and meaningful learning experiences. Sunchild School is today a respected community school, shaped by the families, leaders, educators, and students of the Sunchild First Nation community.
